Microsoft Research Combines Touch And Pen Input For Computing Sweetness

When it comes to interacting with computers and other gadgets, today both pen input and touch input are very common. For the most part the two methods operate independently with most touch screens not capable of working with a pen or stylus and vice versa.

A new video from Microsoft Research shows a project that Microsoft is working on that combines pen and touch input to extend interaction with a computer beyond what either method can offer alone. The video is very cool and the input method looks like it would work very well for many uses.

For instance, you can open a new message with one hand and write on it with the pen in the other. The process makes so much sense once you see it in action that I am surprised we don't have this already. Check out the video below with the good stuff starting at the one-minute mark.