One of the things I’m really excited about with Windows 7 is the native support for touch screens. Especially given that so-called “all-in-one” PC’s are starting to come out into the mainstream as well.

So how can this be a game changer? And how can it benefit your business?

Previously, touch screen support was limited to a few expensive displays, and required special drivers to make it work. Not any more. In most cases, these all in one PC’s already have the drivers build in. And they’re not that expensive either; you can get an 18.5″ Dell, for example for under $1100, with a decently powered computer driving the whole thing (dual-core processor, 64-bit operating system, and 3 GB of RAM memory).

Now combine this touch screen idea with the trend toward web-centric computing. Building a decent web page has been coming down in price for a while, and the tools are becoming more and more consumer friendly.

Remember a few years back where a select few shopping malls had touch-screen information kiosks? Anybody want to bet that they make a resurgence? Or what about trade show displays… where they key is to grab the attention of the passer by in less than 3 seconds. If you have an interactive, well designed web site running internally from the local computer, that will grab the attention of passers-by. If they can interact and play with it it, that will KEEP their attention… right at your trade show booth.

The same holds true for the customer service sector. What if a customer service line-up had a few touch screen panels spaced along its length. The customer can tap the screen a few times while they’re waiting for the next agent, and communicate what they’re looking for, why they’re there. The customer perception can be one of attentiveness and speed, since the information gathered during the lineup can be passed to the CSR, and by the time the customer is at the front of the line half the questioning is already done. Electronically.

Really, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Anywhere there’s visual interaction can be changed by this technology. So talk to your technical support provider about some of the options and possibilities. And get ready to interact with people in a whole new way.