Microsoft SideShow could offer gamers secondary touchscreen

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Microsoftâ??s SideShow system - a secondary sub-display running off of a Windows Vista system - has never been as popular as the company might have hoped, but now theyâ??re turning to gamers to rejuvenate the concept (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/sideshow/Gaming_Solutions.mspx).Â* The idea is a roughly 6.4-inch touchscreen, switchable between portrait and landscape orientation, which would present game-specific controls and free up the main display.

http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_1-480x191.jpg



In that way, an RPG title could shift its control palette to the SideShow display, leaving the main monitor for the primary interface, while a racing game could offer a separate rear-view mirror.Â* Complex games such as flight simulators could use SideShow to keep often-referred-to data such as mapping and instrument panels viewable all the time.Â*

Microsoft arenâ??t flailing in the dark, either.Â* The company claims to have run a research study earlier on this year, in which gamers apparently said theyâ??d be keen to have such a display.Â* WiFi or Bluetooth, rather than USB, has also been suggested, so you could place the screen next to your keyboard or somewhere else more usable.Â* No word on whether such devices will reach the market, however.

http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_1-150x100.jpg (http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_1.jpg) http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_2-150x100.jpg (http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_2.jpg) http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_3-150x100.jpg (http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/microsoft_sideshow_pc_gaming_concept_3.jpg) [via (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090519/microsofts-sideshow-pc-gaming-concept/) istartedsomething]

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[Bman212121]

Screw the 6" screen. I'd rather just have games support multi monitors. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have a touch screen for gaming IMO if you already have your hands on the keyboard and mouse. You'd have to keep moving your hands back and forth to touch the screen.

[CaptNKILL]

Welcome to the forums RSS News Feeder. :wonder:

And I agree Bman. This doesn't make any sense for a stationary computer, especially if they're lower resolution than your primary display. Touch screens are awesome on handhelds and portable systems because they are your only screen and they give you perfect control over the computer (as opposed to touch pads or track balls).

With this solution you'd be looking back and forth between the touch screen and the primary screen, and it isn't even necessary since you could just as easily use a mouse that provides more buttons and a scroll wheel.

The only thing I can see this being useful for is an on screen keyboard and a touch screen that supports multiple inputs at the same time.

[General Lee]

Actually, I see promise in such an idea, but not as it is now. I secondary touch-screen monitor could actually revolutionize many aspects of computer applications, in particular the gaming scene. How to best implement it, however, is another issue. It would be nice to use both voice command and a larger touch screen at the side to help smooth out complicated gaming action.

Not only that, but such a thing would also possess great military training simulation possibilities.

[crainger]

I have just setup a second LCD for my system. I'm gonna try SupCom as it supports dual screens and i have the hardware to power 2 screens. ::D: