Microsoft Demos Windows 8, New Interface
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 2nd Jun 2011 00:39 UTC
Windows It's 2am here (edit: I'm done writing, it's 2:38am now), and I really ought to be sleeping right about now, but for some stupid arbitrary reason, the D9 conference is held at honestly irresponsible hours for us Europeans (and we rock, damnit). So, here I am, MacBook Air on my lap, camomile tea (the Empress of Teas) in my cup, because Microsoft just had to show Windows 8's new interface for the first time at this ungodly hour. Oh, and they unveiled some more interesting stuff about Windows 8. Update: The videos from D9 are up. Mossberg talking to Steve Sinofsky, and the Windows 8 demonstration by Larson-Green.
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oiaohm
Member since:
2009-05-30

"More generally, touchscreens are probably the dirtiest general-purpose computer interface ever invented. People were not satisfied enough with what hides under their keyboard keys, so we have created an interface where the finger must be consciously dragged on a surface in order to enforce better unhygienic coating, and which is left exposed to exterior dirt when not in use.


You are aware that the human body has an immune system?

Many people touch my desk during the day, however I am not constantly wiping it. Many people are touching door handles but they are not constantly cleaned and nobody really worries about it.
"
Really you missed it. A keyboard and mouse is harder to proper clean than a touch screen. Good grade touch screen devices have very few groves and other locations for infections to hide. Also good grade stand isopropyl alcohol. Generally a highly effective kill anything solution in high enough concentrations. Packages up into nice sealed throw away wipes.

Basically touchscreen beats keyboard and mouse. Of course no touch is better again. But using no touch interfaces has really not be sorted out.

Exterior dirt coats keyboards and mice just as badly in some cases worse. Hand does not drag across mouse so areas of mouse just builds more and more build up.

So the wiping actions of users on a touch screen is part self cleaning. Ok not ideal that the cleaning material is another human. It reduces what the infections have to grow on.

Yes door handles have the same self cleaning system. Yes ugly. Touch screen is not much worse than door handles. Of course in case of major surface spread infection out brakes I don't recommend touching either directly.

Also depending what the final coat of the touchscreen is and the backing light. Yes its possible even if slightly unhealthy to intentionally fit a back light that gives of bacteria and virus distributive light.

Now that is the thing touchscreens don't have a rating on how anti bacteria and viruses they are to the general public. Their are medical grade ones surface and back-lighting makes them a lot safer than a keyboard and mouse.

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