Day 16 – Microsoft Word 2013 adds a special touch
Teaching and Learning with a Windows 8 Tablet3/27/2013
Welcome to Day 16 of working with a Microsoft Surface Pro Windows 8 tablet for educators. Today I would like to discuss some of the new features in the Microsoft Office 2013 suite of programs as well as share some of the adjustments I have made while using Desktop applications on the Surface Pro.
Yesterday, I mentioned the dual-personality of Windows 8 having both the traditional Desktop mode as well as the new modern Start Screen Live Tile mode. This distinction is important to recognize while using the Surface Pro. Each mode has its strengths and weaknesses.
For getting heads-down intensive work done the Desktop interface still has much to offer, but there are drawbacks as well.
One of the biggest frustrations that many have while using a Surface Pro, and Windows 8 in general, is how small some of the items on the Desktop appear on the 10.6 inch screen. This is due to the “high-resolution” 1920x1080 (1080p) Desktop display. While the high-resolution display provides a crisp viewing experience for Desktop applications it can make for very small icons that are difficult to select, especially using your finger. I think this is another reason Microsoft includes the very precise digital Pen that can be used to select small targets on the Desktop of the Surface Pro.
One of the first things I did when I received the Surface Pro was change the Desktop resolution to 1600 x 900. I also deselected the auto-rotate radio button under display settings. Since I use the Surface Pro in Landscape orientation 99 percent of the time I did not want the display switching back-and-forth between portrait and landscape. Deselecting “Allow auto-rotate” prevents this switching. I can always change this setting back in the future if I decide I want to use portrait mode. I have provided a screenshot of “change display settings” options below.
If you are only using your finger to select items on the Desktop you may find them too close to accurately select by touch. This can lead to frustration as many people expect to be able to “touch” the screen to make selections on a tablet.
If you remember that you are in the Desktop environment you do have the option to completely ignore touch and only use the keyboard/touchpad. Or, you can use an external mouse as I often do. I use the very portable Microsoft Arc mouse that has a small USB transceiver that magnetically connects to the back of the Arc mouse for storage. The Arc mouse gets its name from the way that it flexes into an Arc when in use. When you are finished you flatten it and turns itself off. This makes for easy transport when you are finished using it.
Here is a link to the Arc mouse I use:
http://www.staples.com/Microsoft-Arc-Touch-Mouse/product_923878?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:923878&KPID=923878
Microsoft is also advertising a Surface Pro edition of a “Wedge Mouse” that uses Bluetooth. Since Bluetooth is built into the Surface Pro you won’t need a transceiver like the Arc mouse requires. This would free up the only USB port so it may be an option for you if you regularly use the USB port for other things. The downside is Bluetooth may reduce battery-life but I have not tested how much impact this might be.
Adding an external mouse to the Surface Pro when using Desktop applications like Word 2013 gives you the precision that is sometimes needed for applications originally designed for the Desktop. If you are frustrated by the smallness of items on the Desktop an external mouse may be the solution for you.
Now back to new changes in Word 2013…
I would like to bring your attention to a couple of subtle interface changes to the Microsoft Word 2013 interface that will make your experience with a touch tablet more productive.
There is a very tiny icon located on the quick access toolbar located in the top left-hand corner of Word 2013 that looks like a little hand with a finger pointing and sparks coming from the finger. This is the icon to “switch” the Word 2013 interface back-and-forth between “mouse mode” to “touch mode”
I have provided screenshots below of the difference between selecting mouse mode and touch mode in Word 2013. Can you tell the difference?
Mouse Mode
You can see that when Word 2013 is in “touch mode” the icons are spread apart just a little bit more in an effort to make them easier to select using your finger. This touch mode is also available in Excel 2013 and PowerPoint 2013. Nice “touch” Microsoft! Sorry couldn’t resist.
We are seeing Microsoft evolve the Office suite of tools toward a more touch-friendly interface. I believe this is just a beginning and we will see larger touch targets in future versions of Office products.
As I have stated before, the Surface Pro is a transition device. Both the hardware and the software are evolving into what Microsoft calls a “touch-first” experience.
I am very interested in seeing what Microsoft will do with the Surface Pro 2.
Until next time...
Keep on Learning,
Keep on Learning,
Tom Grissom, PhD
Follow me on Twitter @tomgrissom
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