A laptop computer is almost inseparable from business situations, college students, or even some pretty serious gamers. Since they’re so portable we often see laptops appearing all around us as more people take their work outside the office or classroom. Seeing this as a great opportunity, many of the big computer companies are developing new technologies and applications that will let us more effectively use our computers.
Recently we have seen a trend toward a more effective touchscreen input. This latest trend has stemmed from all the other smaller gadgets that have taken advantage of touchscreen technologies, and customers are starting to expect it everywhere. A laptop with a touchscreen display isn’t exactly a new idea, but we haven’t had anything like the new products that are coming out.
One of the reasons that there has been so much development in the touchscreen laptop area is because of the upcoming Windows 7 OS. This new operating system is going to have built-in support for touchscreen technology; the big companies are gearing up for its release. Until now, those companies had to build their own hardware and software to make sure everything worked right. Dell and HP have already released some two-finger touchscreen laptop models, and they are both continuing to develop that technology. Another company, Lenovo, recently announced a new screen that will employ multi-touch technology that will have some interesting benefits.
Many of the touchscreen computers that are on the market will allow a user to interface with various applications. They can zoom in or out on maps, manipulate images, and scroll through documents easily and intuitively. With the new four-finger, multi-touch interface, however, users will have a lot more precise control over the applications.
Designers and engineers will find this very useful in their work. As a rule, they work with more images and objects than other computer users and require a higher level of precision as they interact with their programs. A multi-touch application could make a big difference for them.
A laptop computer can be a big part of our modern lifestyle, and the big companies continue to develop new ways for users to use them. Some users, however, have felt that laptops still have inconveniences in some areas, and use a range of different peripherals to interact with them such as full keyboards, mouses, etc. These companies are hoping to eliminate that need with this new touchscreen technology.
More and more we are going to see these new developments in tabletop and laptop computers, but we will likely see it in other places as well. Our phones and other small gadgets have paved the way for casual touchscreen usage, and the laptop industry is poised to take it to the next step.
1. According to the passage, a computer’s performance can be greatly enhanced by ________.
2. Window 7 OS has ________.
3. What special benefit can multi-touch screen technology bring to designers and engineers?
4. With the new touchscreen technology, the computer companies hope to ________.
5. Which is the best title for the passage?