Microsoft's next operating system to be launched in 2009 will feature touch-screen functionality, making it the first operating system to offer the technology for the personal computer.

The company this week previewed its upcoming new operating system at the "D: All Things Digital" technology conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal in San Diego.

According to ComputerWorld magazine, the new operating system will "enable desktop and laptop PC users to use their fingers to draw pictures on-screen, zoom in and out of photos, zip quickly through slideshows, search and skim maps, and even play an on-screen piano. The multitouch features will be available via Windows 7, as well as on third-party software."

Depending on how the technology works, this could be good news for people with hand function limitations. However, it raises the concern that the development of user interface technology has turned in a direction that might not include people with vision limitations. On the other can, the technology's ability to let users enlarge images and other items on the screen could be helpful to people with low vision.

See ComputerWorld's coverage at:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=software&articleId=9090038&taxonomyId=18&intsrc=kc_top