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Windows 7 Touchscreen Details Emerging
nandemoari writes "Microsoft has revealed more about Windows 7 and its support for touch screen technology. The system sounds impressive, however, reports suggest it appears to have a high error rate. In an early version of the system, Microsoft found some problems. For example, both the zoom and rotate functions worked less than 75% of the time, often because the computer confused the two. To rectify this, engineers redesigned the system so that it only looks out for gestures specifically relevant to the program being used. This made a significant improvement: the zoom gesture was now recognized 90% of the time.
The problem is that even a 90% success rate may be too low. If you can imagine how frustrating it would be if one in ten keystrokes or mouse movements didn't do what you intended, you can see why touch screen technology will need to be even more reliable if it's to truly improve the user experience. PC Authority has a related story about statements from HP, who don't expect such technology to replace keyboards and mice any time soon."
Thinking of the Big Ass Table reminds me of Isaac Asimov's Foundation vs. Empire novels:
- The empire built huge ships requiring thousands of men to man them. AKA bloat.
- The foundation had limited resources, so they built small ships that could be run by just 1-2 men. AKA efficient.
For those slow on the uptake, Empire==Microsoft and Foundation==Apple.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall