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Why Did Touch Take 4 Decades to Catch On?

Posted by timothy on from the perhaps-no-one-knew-of-the-happy-ending dept.

theodp writes "You probably saw media coverage of Bill Gates showing off touch-screen technology to his CEO play group last week. With the introduction of the iPhone and iPod Touch, touch (and multi-touch) technology — which folks like Ray Ozzie enjoyed as undergrads way back in the early '70s — has finally gone mainstream. The only question is: Why did it take four decades for its overnight success? Some suggest the expiration of significant patents filed during '70s and '80s may have had something to do with it — anything else?"

4 of 245 comments (clear)

  1. The Apple-effect? by magnus.ahlberg · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    This will sound like I'm a total Apple fanboy, but I'm not and I don't think that everything that Apple does is great. However, Apple has a way with understanding consumer needs and to make geeky technology attractive and useful for the average person (and by average, I of course mean anyone rich enough to by their often overpriced gear).

  2. because of size you dumbass by timmarhy · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    duh, pc's and screens were large and bulky in the 70's and 80's. what are you going to carry that 10kg PC around to use it's touch screen? a keyboard and mouse are still a way better interface for most things.

    this has to be the most braindead post on /. ever.

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    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  3. Not really by vurg · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It hasn't caught on really. The technology has just gotten cheaper to whore to the general consumers by corporate dictators like Steve Jobs. People are still oohed by the coolness factor.

  4. Re:For the same reason as the Wiimote. by Slashdot+Suxxors · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Or did you mean p-p-p-powerbook?