A gradual but very intentional shift has been taking place in the world of personal computing. With usable and affordable touch screen phones, whether Apple (iPhone) or Google Android Devices, dominating the marketplace and the dramatic and somewhat unexpected rise of the touch screen tablet (ie. Apple's iPad and a host of Google Android Devices), it has become increasingly commonplace to expect your electronic devices, from handheld gaming systems to your refrigerator, to include a screen with touch capabilities.
Movies have been hinting at this for years. I remember sitting in the theater mesmerized as Tom Cruise deftly manipulated a holographic touch screen of sorts in Minority Report. However, technology has come a long way since 2002. While not yet as advanced as that handled by the "precrime" division (hey, the movie is set in the year 2054), I would have never expected to have a device that dwarfs my first desktop computer in every conceivable benchmark test resting inconspicuously in the front pocket of my blue jeans.
This is a device on which I check, read, write, and send email, create, read and edit documents, take pictures and videos, play games, watch movies, do all my banking (including depositing checks), watch/read the news, check the weather forecast, read the Bible, keep a prayer journal, surf/search the internet, update client websites, practice music (metronome/tuner), listen to music, video chat with friends in other states/countries, instant message/text message my wife/friends, update my social media status, track my daily run/exercise/diet, search for work, search craigslist, charge client credit cards (with a swipe dongle), shop online (amazon/ebay), manage my calendar, etc. And yes, I actually do all this and more on my outdated touch screen HTC One V phone (Android 4.0.3) regularly. This is pretty amazing and, in my mind, signals the end of computing as we've known it for the past 2 decades.
I'm typing this on a hybrid Lenovo Yoga 13 Windows 8.1 touch screen ultrabook that functions equally well as both a tablet and a traditional laptop (really rad). With Sharp's recent announcement of a 32" touchscreen LCD with Apple OS X support, the handwriting is on the wall indicating the direction Mac will be heading as they develop their next generation of laptops. My kids have gotten so used to the idea of touch screens that they sat down to use an old laptop (the family laptop was out of order) and kept touching the screen repeatedly with a look of confusion on their faces. Then they looked at me and said, "Dad, something is wrong with this computer, can you fix it?"
Yes, the age of touch screen computing has begun.