Microsoft Touch Pack

The Touch Pack from Microsoft is a bundle of six application is specially crafted to work on any Windows 7 system connected to a touch-ready monitor.

If you have Virtual earth 3D installed, the developer recommends removing it from the system in order to avoid compatibility issues that might occur.

The Touch Pack features a total of six games, all ready to be played by tapping on the screen instead of using the mouse.

These are casual games designed to provide a fun pastime as well as to put your intelligence to the test. For instance, Microsoft Blackboard requires you to solve a puzzle of getting a balloon to a light bulb. It involves creating a contraption, which, according to the laws of physics, achieves the goal.

Less demanding choices include Garden Pond, Rebound, Surface Globe and Surface Collage. There is also an interactive screensaver, Surface Lagoon, with water simulation that can be manipulated in different ways in order to make the fish respond to the changes.

In the case of Surface Globe users have the possibility to explore various areas around the world by simply dragging the fingers on the screen. You can zoom in and out, spin the globe or search for a specific location.

Surface Collage enables you to play with multimedia files (video is also supported) and mix them up on the touch-ready display. You can change their position in the collage, bring them to the foreground, resize or rotate them just by letting your fingers glide on the surface.

Microsoft Touch Pack is a simple way to demonstrate the touch capabilities of Windows 7. It is not rich in options or applications but it manages to give a hint on how Windows works on a touch screen.