Apple has revolutionized the touchscreen interface. The iPhone and iPad showed consumers that touch devices could work smoothly and intuitively. Everyone has seen the videos of 1- and 2-year olds picking up iPads and quickly learning how to interact with them.

Touchscreens have become so popular that manufacturers are putting them on everything from coffee makers to wrist watches. They are now the height of interaction design!

But not everyone agrees they are an enhancement.

I came across this blog post from Bret Victor who knows a thing or two about Interface Design. He calls touchscreen interaction “Pictures Under Glass” and claims that these interfaces are actually further removing us from the world around us. Victor urges designers to be visionary and create interfaces that take full advantage of our complex bodies and not just stick to siding a single finger over some cold glass. The article also has some great visuals that strengthen his argument.

Take a moment to read his inspiring “rant on the future of interaction design.”