Touch Interfaces - A New Age in Human Computer Interaction

Sometimes I don't think folks realize how big of a transformational event we're going through in IT right now.  For the first time in about 25 years, a new human-computer interaction (HCI) model has taken hold.  From the evolution of the punch card, to the keyboard, to the mouse; Touch has now taken hold as the next preferred mechanism of HCI.   Early adopters are now going to their touch smartphones and tablets "first" when they have a question that needs to be answered.  If it's not accessible from their touch based devices, they are then retreating to their keyboard and mouse driven PCs.  Smartphones are being brought into the field instead of ruggedized laptops.  Tablets are slowly making their way into conference rooms, laboratories, doctors offices, sales meetings and class rooms.  

Touch devices are being adopted more rapidly than any other HCI transformational shift in history; namely because the layer of abstraction between the human need and the machine has been steadily decreasing.  In each shift, computer interaction has become more intuitive.  

Punch cards:  Not so much.  

Keyboards: Well if you spend a semester learning how to type.  

Mice: Kind of intuitive but takes some coordination and practice.  

Touch: Boom, no learning curve.  

I know how to pinch, zoom, swipe and drag because I do it everyday. Everytime I pick up a piece of paper, turn a page in a book, move an object to the side of my desk or open up a file in a file cabinet.  I don't have to learn how to use a touch interface.  There is no abstraction between me and the machine.

The intuitiveness of touch is going to open up HCI to every demographic, regardless of education level or age.  From 18 month old babies to 95 year old senior citizens, touch just makes sense.

Get ready, because we're just getting started.