It will be interesting to see how that will translate to computers. Controlling a TV is a pretty short burst of activity. Working at a computer is different - longer more prolonged activity. Add in speech (which the iPhone and the XBox does), getting dictation accurate, may mean that flailing arms and gestures is a fad too.

Mind you, by the time we get to that level, we’ll be looking at Star Trek to educate us into using computers. Note that Jake Sisko wrote with a stylus.

FWIW, I'd love a Cintiq 24HD.
Had a play with one at a suppliers and it's teh sex.
It'd match the iMac quite nicely, I reckon.

Yep, I'd love a Cintiq, but it wouldn't be my primary display or input device. For my work, it would probably spend 90% of its time to one side, while I use a keyboard and mouse for my main work - just an expensive toy, still want one though!

We’d like one each here. Not going to happen.

I’m more likely to get myself one of these: http://adonit.net/product/jot-touch/

I agree that touchscreen really only works on small devices. I thought about a touchpad that was also a screen - the size of say an iPhone - which acts as a touchpad but also as a screen so you could do things like see what you're dragging-and-dropping (as an example).

I can type far faster than writing. Feedback tells me I've hit a key. There's minimal lag time between thinking and typing. I truly think the next leap would be "thought recognition" where what you type is recorded. You'd still have to have something to denote when you're thinking and when you're "think-typing".

It just seems wrong.

Just be grateful that we’re not talking about “touching your laptop” then.

Mind you, this add-on for an iPad seems so wrong.

http://adonit.net/product/writer2-plus/

In a similar ilk, "Your next desktop could be a phone": http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android

With phones having quad core processors and generally higher spec all round than PCs did not so long ago, it does seem a little excessive having a massive tower under your desk these days.

I like the look of this. But then I don't have an iPad.

I see no massive towers at home or at work

Tidy your desk, you slovenly sod

It's tidier than it's been in a while!

That's tidy?

**shudder**

Not tidy, tidier

My desk at home is terrible. Got various bags of beer making stuff all over it...

It is funny, I have a few smartphones and we build and sell touch terminals (15" and 19" waterproof industry terminals), but I don't want a touch screen on my laptop of desktop.

Our industry terminals, which run LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project) or Windows 7 Embedded are for specific tasks on the production line (slaughter, cutting & deboning, milk processing plants etc.), where a keyboard and mouse are not practical. We also can't do multi-touch, because we have to use resistive panels, due to the users wearing gloves (including chainmail gloves) and using things like the butt of a knife to operate the terminal. The terminals are great for their purpose, likewise the smartphones are good for what they do, but when I am working, I want a real keyboard and a pointing device I can use in comfort, not have to keep leaning across the desk top operate.

When we get to an LCARS type of interface, where speech is used for most input and touch for selecting options quickly and the panels are within easy reach, I can see it working for some tasks. I still don't see it working for long passages of text or working in environments where there are lots of co-workers working together.

I realise that the keyboard isn't a good way to enter text into a device, but at the moment, I can't think of a more efficient alternative. I can type quicker than I can write or talk.