Windows 10 becomes more tablet-friendly with new thumb and pen support

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Microsoft Research is testing new pen and thumb support to make Windows 10 more tablet-friendly.

Microsoft Research team is currently testing

After two months of announcements, hardware reveals and conferences, Microsoft has released news regarding new thumb and pen interaction testing. This follows the YouTube video the team released detailing what these interactions could look like in Windows 10. The whole idea is to compliment the current pen support with a more natural users flow. The team is currently testing drawing capabilities, as well.

Thumb and pen interaction on tablets addresses the use of pen and touch for interaction in laptop scenarios. These scenarios include using a Surface tablet on the couch, for instance, because in this case the nonpreferred hand must hold the device. In this particular case, the thumb is available and mobile enough to manipulate controls, enabling a whole new space for thumb and pen interactions.

For instance, you would be able to allow the use of a pen between annotation and cell-selection on a spreadsheet. You would also be able to select cells and copy them to another location on the sheet, illustrating how the pen and touch can afford a simpler form of productivity through the thumb usage.

A new focus for the Microsoft Research team

The testing of thumb and pen interactions has obviously become the latest focus of the Windows team. A lack of interest for the tablet portion of its hybrid OS has been an earlier complaint from Windows 8 users, and also from users who wanted to try out Windows.

With the help of thumb and pen support, business workers who have to deal with Excel sheets will be able to find more efficiency in what could become Microsoft’s re-focus on tablet workflow.

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