Intel showcases the power of touch

This was echoed by the customer panel, comprised of industry experts:

Ade Allenby, online marketing manager, TalkTalk Business Dave Smith, computing and ICT advisor, London Borough of Havering School Improvement Services Guy Lidbetter, CTO, Atos Origin Global Managed Services Mike Elliot, lead architect, Unilever

In addition to the presentations and customer panel, the event proved an interactive experience for attendees, who were encouraged to ask questions throughout.

The showcase area outside the main session provided an opportunity to see some of the technology and touch-capable solutions in action. Attendees were treated to real-world examples of line of business and other applications running on a range of supporting devices from traditional tablets to detachables, convertibles and Ultrabooks. In total, there were nine OEM partners, including Microsoft, showcasing the breadth and depth of the applications and hardware the touch world and more than 50 devices on show.

The event and panel discussion was hosted by Cloud Pro and IT Pro group editor Maggie Holland.

"The timing of this event couldn't have been more perfect as questions around touch and striking the balance between what employees want and what businesses need fills the air across the IT community," she said.

"Business and technology decision makers have been mulling over the potential benefits and pitfalls of the consumerisation of IT and increased device and platform choice for some time and 2012 provided a great forum for some thinking time. However, 2013 will most certainly, in my opinion, be the year of action.

"The time to sit and ponder is over. Those who continue to do so will find themselves at a disadvantage as well as denting employee productivity/moral and customer satisfaction. Those ready to act must now decide on the right way of addressing their particular situation. This event, bringing together technology and device demonstrations, expert speakers and the chance to network with peers, provided a prime opportunity to match meaningful solutions to business problems."