14 DAY TRIAL // Applications designed for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system will have to have touch capabilities, especially if developers want them to be used on tablet PCs powered by the OS.
We’re referring here to the Metro-style applications that users will be able to download from the upcoming Windows Store.
As in any development process, application builders also need to be aware of the touch capabilities they can implement in their software.
For that, Microsoft released Touch Guidance for Windows 8 developers, available for download today as a four-page PDF document.
To ensure that users can get the most out of the applications they install, developers will need to make sure they use the Windows 8 touch language when building their software.
“Windows 8 provides a concise set of touch interactions used consistently throughout the system. Applying this language consistently makes your app feel familiar to what users already know. This increases user confidence by making your app easier to learn and use,” the said file explains.
As a recent article on IStartedSomething reads, the said document also offers a series of details on the touch capabilities of Windows 8, such as drag-down / up for select / deselect, or semantic zoom and panning and swipe from edge.
Additionally, developers will be able to access some useful guidelines concerning content and interactive element placements for a variety of grid positions, or regarding the way in which their applications should interact with users.
For example, apps should offer immediate visual feedback when the screen is touched, interactions should be reversible, and there should be multitouch enabled.
“Increase user confidence by providing immediate visual feedback whenever the screen is touched. All interactive elements should react by changing color, changing size, or by moving. Items that are not interactive should show system touch visuals only when the screen is touched,” the guidelines read.
The said document is available for download from Microsoft today, and all those interested in coming up with applications for the new Windows 8 platform should have a look at it.