Technogory

Okay, I have to call “technology crap announcement” when I see it announced as a technology breakthrough.  Maybe for Windows, it really is.  The idea of touch screen technology, interactive White-boards running Windows software, and then their big “Touch Wall!”  Quite frankly, it’s ho-hum.  It’s already here, already in use, and touch screens for that matter have been in use by other antiquated O/S technology since 1988!

The Kansas Transportation Authority hired IBM back in the late 1980’s to develop a network to connect all of their ticket terminals to their main computer systems.  The KTA is the private organization that runs tohe Kansas Turnpike.  The requirements were hardened PC’s model 70’s, floppyless, keyboardless, mouseless…how in the world?  Touch screen technology and IBM OS/2 WARP was the ticket!  Guess what, we plugged in the monitor, applied a driver, and voila!  It worked!  I was a part of the development team for a large majority of this technology.  To this day, drive through the KTA, and you will see the same technology running today!  Great investment on the KTA’s part.

In 2004, our local elementary school system in Lee’s Summit, MO, had a technology team recommend white board touch screens.  Interactive white boards that would allow both interface to Windows software (or Mac software) and allow the teachers or students to draw on the eraseable whiteboard at the same time!  Although fairly expensive, they became invaluable tools to the classroom.  Nothing special was needed to run the old Windows XP software.

So, is the announcement by Microsoft just a ploy to take attention off of their flop Vista?  Is it a way to artificially pump their falling stock price?  Who knows, but understand, this is no technological advancement in terms of where we have been for almost 2 decades!  Come on Microsoft - announce something of real use!