Having just seen the above video showcasing Windows 7 touch capabilities I have to ask – why? I don’t think that my user experience will be improved with the introduction of the ability to move things around and navigate by touching my screen. I can think of a host of problems with this new feature:

• Smearing. I already have to clean my screen more often that I want to. Using the Windows 7 touch feature means more sweaty fingures leaving slimy trails.
• Wear and tear. Did you see in the video how the screen rocked back and forth under the pressure of its user’s fingers. Good news for pc replacement parts vendors.
• Usability. I’m all for introducing new features but the new features must provide advantages over the system being replaced. I can’t see how being able to drag and drop things on my screen speeds up the process or makes it easier.
• Slows down the process. Think about how slow the transition is when you change from using the mouse to the keyboard. Adding yet another mode of input that doesn’t replace the keyboard/mouse combination will slow down the process still further.
• Increased cost. I’m guessing that monitors that are able to receive signals via the screen will cost more than ‘dumb’ monitors. Call me a cynic.

Touch screens on mobile phones make sense due to space constraints. There is very little room for a keyboard. But desktop machines and laptops already come with fully functioning keyboards that are more than adequate for the job.

According to this blog post on the WIndows Team Blog:

Touch is quickly becoming a common way of directly interacting with software and devices

This lack of insight from people who should know better is laughable. Devices employ touch screen functionality when there is no space for a keyboard or other navigating tool. Of course they know this and are just talking up a flashy feature that is of no value to anybody.

A common complaint is that Microsoft are not listening to their customers. Instead of addressing problems of buggy, resource hungry software with poor usability, Microsoft throw fancy features that are of no use to the average user.

Tags | poor usability, touch