…where is the user interface design for multi-touch systems?

My friend Jean sent me a link to a blog on the Microsoft Surface concept. Surface combines the power of multi-touch with table-based Space Invaders games of the early 80s. A couple of cameras monitor where the glass top is touched. That information is passed to a bit of software running on Windows.

Instead of talking about artists collaborating, how about thinking how the majority of people will benefit from multi-touch interaction. Most people read documents, write documents, calculate figures, look up information and make presentations. How will these activities be changed by multi-touch?