Interactive Windows Live Tiles shown off, could it be a part of Windows 9?

Microsoft researchers in Asia are apparently experimenting with interactive Live Tiles in Windows, according to research videos which were uploaded (and subsequently removed) by Microsoft. Is this a sign of things to come with Windows 9? 

“This project features an Interactive-Tile UI system that enables users to access and manipulate Live Tiles in an interactive way with touch gestures. Interactive Tile’s UI is responsive and flexible to an app’s content and function. Users can provide quick input to the Interactive Tile on the Start screen. With a perception of Start as an entrance page, Interactive Tiles were introduced to empower the start screen with an intermediate access level to applications,” the project description reads.

In the demonstration, which we have embedded below for your viewing pleasure, Human-Computer Interaction Group researcher Jiawei Gu shows off the Interactive Live Tiles research project and how you can drill down a Live Tile to get more information on the app.

The idea is to allow for “parallel tasking.” For example, the Interactive Desktop Tile lets you interact or even open apps from the tile! As ZDNet points out, this can “help Windows 8 users who find moving between the Desktop and Metro-Style environments less than smooth and intuitive.”

Of course, this is just a research concept and there is no guarantee that this feature will ever make it to a future version of Windows. Microsoft has apparently pulled the demonstration videos as well, but thankfully the internet was able to snag them before they disappeared. Hey Microsoft, were we not supposed to see this just yet? 

You can take a look at the Interactive Tiles below. Do you find this useful?

Thanks for the tip, @Steveo!