Windows 8 is obviously built for touch screens. Touch screens are generally small and built for personal use on smartphones and tablets. What about giant multi-touch displays though? Microsoft sees a future in the market with Windows 8 and is making the necessary investments for the future.
During the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft announced that they have acquired Perceptive Pixel. While the name sounds like a pretentious indie game developer, the company actually creates multi-touch interface displays for companies that use such technologies for collaboration, business meetings, etc.
“The acquisition of PPI allows us to draw on our complementary strengths, and we’re excited to accelerate this market evolution,” said Kurt DelBene, president of the office division for Microsoft, in a statement. “PPI’s large touch displays, when combined with hardware from our OEMs, will become powerful Windows 8-based PCs and open new possibilities for productivity and collaboration.”
It’s obvious that Microsoft is hoping to tap into the Enterprise market with this acquisition. While it would be awesome to own an 82-inch multi-touch panel, it wouldn’t be very consumer friendly in price or size. It’s targeted towards companies that would use the technology for meetings or brainstorming sessions. The combination of Windows 8 on a giant 82-inch screen could help replace those awful collaboration whiteboards that harbor the ghosts of past meetings in barely visible ink.
Microsof will be offered specific versions of Windows 8 for Enterprise like they always have with previous versions. It’s their bread and butter and this new acquisition may pay off for them. While Microsoft didn’t say how much they paid for Perceptive Pixel, they better hope Windows 8 takes off for all the investment they’re putting into it.
[h/t: Mashable]