Natural Interface

• A finger is the most natural computer pointing device that anyone could invent. A mouse, on the other hand, is a foreign object that someone new to computers must learn to use a computer. Touch screen interfaces have the potential to make computers more accessible to people who would otherwise be uncomfortable using them. Even very young children know how to point and can use a touch screen computer if the interface is designed correctly.
  
  

Ideal for Artists

• Many touch screen computers have the ability to work with styli. A stylus is a pen-shaped object with a tip designed not to scratch an LCD screen. Using one, a graphic artist can create computer art by drawing directly on the screen. Many computer art programs are designed for touch screen input and allow the artist to use a stylus to simulate many media types, including markers, pencils and paintbrushes.
  
  

New Uses for Computers

• A touch screen interface allows a computer to be used in situations where a keyboard and mouse would be impractical. For example, a touch screen interface could be used for an interactive exhibit in a museum or placed in a business to collect surveys from customers.
  
  

Portability

• Laptop computers are highly portable. However, some of the space on a laptop computer must still be devoted to the keyboard and touch pad. A touch screen computer can be even smaller than a laptop. For example, Apple's iPad is a touch screen computer that has no interface devices except the screen. It performs many of the functions of a full computer and is smaller and more portable than most laptops.
  
  

No Mechanical Elements

• A keyboard has more than 100 keys, and most mice have at least two buttons. Each of these is a mechanical part that can eventually wear out and break. A touch screen has no mechanical elements, which may contribute to increased durability over time.