MIS case study 2

Yiqi Shi

1. “Multitouch refers to the ability of a touch-sensing surface to detect or sense input from two or more points of contract simultaneously” (Janssen). By using Multitouch technology, it solves the problems of inconvenience or impossibility to use a mouse, and multitouch technology makes the decades-old interface of menus and folders no longer cumbersome (Laudon 179). First, lets focus on the problem of inconvenience that multitouch technology solve. Multitouch technology uses humman gestures which are easy to remember compare to the commands. You don’t need to complete your work by performing different tasks like “moving a mouse, pressing buttons, turning scroll wheels, or striking keys” (Laudon 178). All you need to do is to move your fingers, and it’s easy to learn. In addition, multitouch technology can recognize more than one touch point (Laudon 178). You can quickly undo or flesh the website by tapping with your fingers. Second, multitouch technology solve the problem for people who are impossible to use or grasp a mouse (Laudon 178). People with disabilities can use the devices with a multitouch technology. In the book, the author mentioned that multitouch technology makes it easy for home users to engage in casual computing, which they can playing music when they are preparing for dinner, or get directions easily (Laudon 178). Mutitouch technology is more prevalant for people. Third, the devices with multitouch technology usually are portable. For my own experience, I use iPad, which is designed with multitouch technology. It’s light and I can take it with me to anywhere. However, I don’t usually bring my laptop since I have to take a mouse with me and it is heavy and cumbersome.

2. The advantages of a multitouch interface are fast, convenient, and versatile. Multitouch interface is fast. People who use multitouch interface can quickly go back and forth to different web pages or photos by sliding the screen with their fingers (Laudon 178). The panel under the screen can quickly detect your finger movements. Multitouch interface is convenient. Instead of using the combination of the mouse, the buttons, scroll wheels, and keys, multitouch interface only requires you to use your fingers. It’s more convenient for people to use, because you don’t need to remember different commands (Laudon 178). Multitouch interface is more versatile (Laudon 178). Compared to single-touch screen, multitouch interface can recognize more than one touch point. People can use different finger gestures to perform different tasks. For example, you can separate your two fingers on the screen to zoom in. You can swipe the screen to go to different photos (Laudon 178). The disadvantage of a multitouch interface is that it is hard to input information. When you want to design a project, it’s very slow if you drag the file and do some input with your fingers. It will be quicker if you do the task by using a mouse, because it’s easy to control. Another disadvantage is that multitouch interface is too sensitive that it sometimes detects your movements which you don’t want it to detect. For my own experience, especially when I type

the word using the digital keyboard, I always have to retype the word, because the multitouch interface always detects my movements when I touch it by accident. It’s not like a physical keyboard which you need to press the button to type the word. When your finger touch other key but not press it, the word won’t show up on the screen. In this way, the general keyboard decreases the chance for people to have a type error. If you think this in a business prospect, it saves your time and it is professional because you don’t have a type error. Multitouch interface is very useful for people in different areas. For business use, multitouch interface increases the intimacy of suppliers and customers. For example, Microsoft and Dell’s company use the multitouch interface to display their products with customers (Laudon 178). For education, touch-enabled PCs make it easy to use for students in elementary school. For communication, multitouch interface develops a new way for people to interact with others. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport uses multitouch interface to guide and answer the questions from tourists, even an autistic student is not afraid to speak to others (Laudon 178). For the use of entertainment, multitouch interface makes it easy for home users to engage in casual computing like playing music when they are preparing for the meal (Laudon 178). Multitouch interface is useful for people in all fields.

3. 1. OmniRequest. This is a good application for customers. This application can provide

visitors and customers with “a sample tool to access the information they are looking for” (Omnitapps). It has different features like gallery, selection menu, saving, and form (Omnitapps). You can get information from this application by multitouch. It is easy for customers to use and the multitouch interface increases the intimacy of suppliers and customers. The below are the picture of this application.

2.KAYAK. This is a good application for the flight. The multitouch interface of Apple enables this application to display the flight information by the touch of people. People can touch the screen with their fingers to see the information of the flight they want to book, the total travel time of the flight, and the place the airplane will stop. It’s easier for people to manage their trip.

3. TripAdvisor. This is a hotel application. By having the multitouch interface, people can see the description of the hotel. People can also flick their fingers to check the room pictures instead of going to the hotel directly. The multitouch interface makes it convenient for people to manage their trip and it saves a lot of time for people to reserve a hotel.

4. The first issue for management which has to address before implementing multitouch interfaces is that managers have to know the challenges of their company to implement multitouch interfaces (Laudon 20). For example, how many competitors do we have, what is it going to cost the company for implementing this interface. Second, managers need to allocate the human and financial resources regarding to implementation (Laudon 20). Not all people in the business know how to use the multitouch interface, so managers need to train their employees. Also, managers have to put money into implementation. They need to do something with buget.

For organization, the issue it has to address is that it should have a structure with a clear-cut division of labor (Laudon 18). Organization should have a clear hierarchy for people in the company to take charge for the technology of the multitouch interface. The authority and responsibility increases when it goes up to the top of the organization’s hierarchy. Organization should separate the duties to different level of employees. In this way, everyone knows what they should do with the implementation of the multitouch interfaces. For technology, the issue it has to address is that it should have a wireless connection in the company first before implementing the multitouch interface. Second, it requires people to develop new software applications to meet the needs of multitouch interfaces. Finally, people should know how to maintain the multitouch interfaces.

MIS IN ACTION:

1. If you have a multitouch capabilities PC, you can run different cool software by using your fingers. For example, an application called Microsoft Surface Globe enables you to touch the screen to help you navigate (Bertolucci). The Microsoft Surface Collage offers you the ability to change the size of the photo and reorganize it by touching (Bertolucci). Furthermore, you can also “use gestures to build a virtual machine of gears, fans, and seesaws” (Bertolucci). You can get rid of using a mouse and physical keyboard if you have a multitouch capabilities PC. For me, I don’t have a multitouch capabilities PC. That’s why I don’t want to bring my PC with me anywhere because I have to bring a mouse at the same time. It’s not convenient. However, I have a multitouch capabilities iPad, which I use it more than I use my PC. My iPad is portable for me to bring with and all I need to do is move my fingers. A flick of a finger can go to a different page. The gestures are easy to remember. Here are some:

You can swipe you finger to go to different page of the screen on iPhone or iPad.

Tap your finger to go to an application.

Put your two fingers together to shrink the photos or website.

Separate your two fingers to zoom the photo or website.

You can tilt the screen to make it appear horizontal or vertical.

You can also multi touch your screen.

Works CitedApple inspires me. n.d. 5 3 2013 <http://www.appleinspires.me/gestures/>.

Bertolucci, Jeff. PCWorld. 27 May 2009. 5 March 2013 <http://www.pcworld.com/article/165613/Microsoft_Touch_Pack_Shows_Off_Windows_MultiTouch.html>.

Janssen, Cory. techopedia. n.d. 4 3 2013 <http://www.techopedia.com/definition/24263/multitouch>.

Laudon, Kenneth C. Management Information Systems. Pearson Education, 2012.

Omnitapps. n.d. 5 3 2013 <http://www.multitouch-software.com/omnitapps/overview/omnirequest>.

You can swipe the screen with three fingers to quickly switch

to another application.