TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

Affective Design has a fascinating interview with Ms. Adams, of Microsoft. The article talks about the “understanding that products communicate meaning through their form”. This is called product semiotics. She mentions the HP TouchSmart by name as a product that encourages social interaction by its design.

Stereotypically, computers are seen as a device that isolates us, at least physically, from others. Yes, there are vibrant communities within cyberspace, and there are those that meet up in person with friends found online. The TouchSmart PC is one of the first that facilitates social interaction in person. HTPCs (home theater PCs) also do to some extent, but since they often replicate the television experience, which is not the best social environment, they are lesser examples. With a HTPC, the user with the remote is “in charge”. Yes they can pass the remote around, but it still limits interactive use. On the other hand, the TouchSmart, with its touch screen, allows for all those viewing it to touch it and perform a desired action like opening up a picture.

The Surface computer from Microsoft, with its ability to let multiple users interact at the same time, is the natural progression from a simple PC with touch screen attached. It will be very interesting to see how the product, and those similar to it, unfold.

World Tech has a good write up on the state of touch computing, focusing on the HP TouchSmart, MS Surface, and Apple iPhone. The article ends with saying how touch computing will compliment, not replace, keyboards and mice, which I highly agree with.

 The old Yellowpages ad about letting your fingers do the walking is about to get a modern twist. Touch user interfaces (UIs) are all the rage.

They are hardly new in function, but have taken a dramatic leap in form. Remember the early days of touch screen ATM’s or ticket dispensers, and how they never seemed to know if or where you touched the screen? Technology has improved to the point that they now just work. With the work being done by Apple with the iPhone, Microsoft with the Surface platform, and others, we are on a verge of a breakthrough with how we interact with gadgets, phones, electronics in general.

And this site is here to help us all get the best experience possible as this technology becomes pervasive in our lives. Anything Touch related will be fair game, although we will be focusing on the consumer space primarily, with only periodic features on industrial Touch applications.

As Touchsmarter.com is new, please join with us in providing content and commentary. Together, we will give our fingers the power.