From the Nintendo DS, to the iPhone — and now Apple's Magic Mouse — it seems like you can't go into any electronics store without being overwhelmed by touch-operated and optical devices anymore.

It seems to have taken over the gadget world, but there'll always be space in my heart for analogue gadgets.

Don't get me wrong, touch screen controls are awesome — after all, who wouldn't want to experience the internet with the ease offered by something like the iPhone? But there's something special to be had for typing on a mobile phone's miniscule keypad. Sure, the numbers may get scratched off the buttons after much use but nothing can compare to the tangible feeling of pressing something.

Imagine a world where analogue devices were replaced by their touch-happy counterparts...

Imagine the final scene in an action movie — where the hero has to disarm the bomb — but instead of cutting a wire, he touches a screen and presses the "stop detonation" icon...

It's a terrible world to live in, isn't it?

Imagine a world with touch screen-capable computers... Would you want your children to experience life with no keyboard?!

It will take time for me to accept touch as the future of electronic interfaces, because analogue has its advantages. Take keyboards for example: typing fast isn't an issue on them, whereas touch-operated devices often don't allow for multiple touches at once.

Oh the joy of turning your keyboard upside-down and giving it a good shake. Yes, it's one of the most germ-infested places you'll ever encounter, but I'll take a cocktail of viruses over fingerprint smudges any day.

Playing games is also infinitely more preferable on a keyboard or analogue joypad than using touch-operated devices.

And then there's my trusty old analogue mouse. Sure, I could get a shiny optical mouse but where's the fun in that? Nothing says "wow, he knows his stuff" like opening up an analogue mouse with a flourish and cleaning the "gelatine" out from the recess.

But I have to admit that I'm intrigued by Apple's mouse — I can definitely see myself lazing around on my laptop, Magic Mouse in hand. I think it's about time that companies step up and think outside the box on these non-furry critters.

I guess part of loving technology is the ability to let old technology go and embrace new technology but some things are just too hard to be replaced.

Do you agree with Hadlee? Is technological innovation always a good thing?

Can't touch this! Hadlee Simons thinks touch-screens are a bit silly. His first Dashboard Diatribe explains why.

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