Touch to drive online sales

From companion devices like smartphones and tablets, through to slate-type notebooks and electronic reading devices, touch screen computing is becoming a commonplace fixture across all forms of consumer technology, says TERENCE BARTER of Tarsus Technologies.

But, it’s not just in the consumer sector that this trend is proliferating.

The huge uptake his company has seen in the all-in-one desktop realm is driving touch-based computing into the business sector.

And while he admits it is totally plausible that businesses are interested in all-in-one desktops because of their aggressive price points, better power-efficiency, and reduced footprint over conventional desktops, touch-capabilities are a nice addition.

The main reason for this, he says, is that Windows 8 is due for release during the second half of 2012.

And since Windows 8 at its core utilises touch far more than any of Microsoft’s previous operating systems, it’s great that users today are becoming more accustomed to touch screens.

Interestingly enough, Barter says that once Windows 8 arrives, we can expect a role reversal to take place and for the operating system to begin driving the hardware platform.

Of course, there will be a number of touch-sensitive screens coming to market over the next year. However, these will be sold at a price premium because they need to incorporate touch sensitivity and feature a desktop stand that allows for tilting.

The all-in-one already does that and this is something that will result in it becoming one of the most significant hardware platforms of 2012.

Thankfully there are also no major trade-offs to negotiate.

The performance and drive space available on all-in-ones is consistent with that of a desktop, while desktop footprint is reduced, power-efficiency is increased and capabilities (like touch) are expanded.

It’s becoming more of a no-brainer for companies and when touch becomes an intrinsic part of how businesses use their computers, we will see a real boom in all-in-one sales.

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