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The personal computer (PC), which first hit the market over 30 years ago, has undergone
tectonic changes that, in turn, launched the PC era. PCs were primarily used in
the workplace where software was simple and optimized for use with the keyboard;
touching a screen was unheard of until recently. Slowly computers began creeping into
the home and many users didn’t know what to do with them; they were glorified typewriters.
When PCs started connecting to the Internet, possibilities reached a new level, which
had a snowball effect. It allowed academia to share research; it spawned new means of
communication from email and online chat to social networking, captivating the minds
of people young and old. Soon consumers started using laptops and unplugging from
the conventional desktop setting.
This shift had little impact on applications, but helped define a new wave of form factors
in phones, tablets, and slates. Eventually, users started demanding more and we ushered
in a new era, the modern consumer era. We are all modern consumers, not only
consumers of goods, but consumers of information. We are constantly connected
through the use of mobile devices as well as more traditional computers. Whatever type
of device, be it static or mobile, content is synchronized and up-to-date. These new
devices are used as gaming machines and personal entertainment centers, and they are
replacing books and magazines for many avid readers.
Today, consumers expect developers to create apps where touch, mobility, and good
battery life are a must. Tablets and slates leverage touch as a primary form of interaction
while playing a critical role in the adoption of sensors and cameras in everyday computing.
They are small and lightweight, making them extremely portable. Devices boot
almost instantly so users can get to their content and put them right back in their bag
without missing a step. Despite their youth, these devices are being embraced by work
forces and consumers worldwide and they appear to be on a relentless progression.
With all this excitement, it’s hard to believe we’ve only begun to scratch the surface.
We need a platform built from the ground up with these objectives in mind. This next
version of Windows, code-named Windows 8, ships with a new application model for
building user experiences tailored to the next generation of devices.
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