Touch-screen use in next Windows

Microsoft said Tuesday its next operating system will be made for touch-screen applications, an alternative to the computer mouse.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer unveiled the iPhone-like touch-screen feature at The Wall Street Journal’s "D: All Things Digital" conference, calling it "just the smallest snippet" of the Windows 7 operating system slated for release in late 2009.

A Microsoft employee showed possible applications such as enlarging and shrinking photos and navigating a map of San Diego by stroking the screen.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates framed the new feature as an evolution away from the mouse.

"Today almost all the interaction is keyboard-mouse," Gates said. "Over years to come, the role of speech, vision, ink — all of those — will be huge."

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

The Associated Press

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