[bokonist]

I'm a bit skeptical that we'll see touch screens or Minority Report type UI's replace the keyboard and mouse. The keyboard and mouse are under appreciated. It's really hard to match the following benefits:

1) keyboards are an incredibly fast way to input human language into a computer system.

2) keyboard/mouse operate on flat surface while your arm is at rest. This makes it easy to use for 8 hours a day.

3) A small movement of a mouse creates a much larger movement on the screen. Yet, because the mouse is flat and at rest, it is easy to control.

4) Mice are far more precise at pointing than touch screens. Although perhaps that's a secret disadvantage, since it encouraged the use of small widgets. A good touch screen would most certainly not be able to use anything like our current UI widgets.

[tstegart]

Picture this in your mind (or look at this sort of bad example: http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/17/taito-introduces-surface-...)

You move the monitor down, and make it very large. Build it into the desk at a slight angle. Your arms rest on the entire surface, so its very comfortable. The entire display and its interface is oversized, sort of like a media center interface. An iPhone like keyboard pops up when you need it, sized exactly like a regular keyboard. But quick keys on either side of the monitor's face can also input commands.