If you have a multi-touch compatible PC then pretty soon you will be able to enjoy a new collection of six multi touch applications for Windows 7.
Brandon LeBlanc wrote on the Windows 7 team blog that the touch function was written into the “DNA” of Windows 7 and the pack will be available for pc makers to pre-install on multi touch compatible systems if they want to.
So what is in the multi touch pack?
Included are three applications and three games. The applications are Surface Globe, Surface Collage and Lagoon, and the three games are Blackboard, Rebound and Garden Pound. Here’s a brief summary of what they can offer.
Microsoft Surface Globe – uses Virtual Earth 3D engine so that you can touch your way around the globe, view buildings and places of interest from all angles and access information along the way. You can even point and pin down your favourite locations.
Microsoft Surface Collage – all the pictures and photographs stored in your computer can be used to make a collage and you will have the ability to resize and organise them purely by touch
Microsoft Surface Lagoon – a screensaver where you can also interact with the fish in the water
Microsoft Blackboard – this is a physics puzzle game to stimulate those brain cells
Microsoft Rebound – a simple ball hitting game on an electrified court
Microsoft Garden Pond – a virtual pond where you can more around your virtual origami creations
Do we like it? Probably! It’s true that touch interfaces don’t appeal to everyone, some find they are just too awkward and more of a nuisance than anything of value, and yet others adore them. Regardless of what we as individual’s think we are starting to see more and more touch screen interfaces on the market and these devices are selling. Just look at the success of Apple’s iPhone and how popular that turned out to be.
It seems strange that not so long ago some people were reluctant to adopt the mouse when it made its first appearance on the scene and yet it’s hard to imagine life without a mouse now. I reckon it will be the same with touch screen interfaces, once we get used to them we won’t be able to do without them.
The new Multi Touch Pack for Windows 7 ships this coming autumn.
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