Era of touch computing has arrived

Smartphones and tablet computers have ushered in a new era of computing in which touch capabilities are becoming more essential and are often replacing the need for the point-and-click mouse or physical keyboard.

Writing for Time magazine's Techland, technology analyst Ben Bajarin asserts that touch makes "everyone computer literate," from young children to older adults.

"What strikes me today about watching kids, elderly adults and even consumers in emerging markets who experience tablets for the first time is how natural it is for them to pick up a tablet and start computing," Bajarin writes. "The mouse and keyboard present a steep learning curve, whereas touch computing is natural and makes computing more approachable."

This influence is being seen in other devices as well. Several Ultrabook™ models, for example, are expected to showcase touchscreen capabilities, further marrying the combined functionality of a tablet and a laptop. Touch-enabled all-in-one desktop computers are also becoming more popular, especially in the workplace.

As the popularity of touchscreen devices continues to expand, their functionality will as well. Developers are already creating software that optimizes the touchscreen and will ramp up their efforts as the technology becomes more mainstream.