Oh calamity (or should that be “Calam I.T”?) Such sad news, Microsoft has opened up Windows to advertisers. Until October 2010 Microsoft are trialling the advertising possibilities of Windows by producing themes for Windows 7 that reflect a commercial brand.

Various desktop themes will be available shortly including themes from the two cola firms, Porsche, Ducati and 20th Century Fox among others. While these offerings are by user request I cannot help but wonder how long it will be before the sacrosanct PC desktop succumbs to the pervasive encroachment of advertising and the “ad” is foisted upon us while we work and play.

I suppose, to a certain extent, it already is through the medium of computer games where product placement is becoming increasingly important. Advertising slogans appearing on billboards in virtual cityscapes are as much paid for as those that appear on billboards in the real town centre but this is almost subliminal advertising compared to the in-your-face advertising in newspapers and television. Can you imagine the PC desktop should the marketing department get hold of it?

I can picture opening an application and instead of a small splash screen appearing while the program loads you get a full-screen video with a manically-cheerful voice-over saying something like “This application has been brought to you by Sparkling Soap, keep clean and fresh with Sparkling Soap, click here for more information and to get your FREE sample”.

I find this hard enough to cope with at the best of times to the point that I no longer watch commercial television but record everything so I can fast forward through the ads. The thought of having this thrust upon me first thing in the morning even, heavens forbid, pre-coffee makes me shudder!

Even worse would be your use of the computer being interrupted with “To comply with Health and Safety regulations you need to take a 5 minute break to avoid Repetitive Strain Injury......meanwhile a message from our sponsors.....” followed by one of those sprightly jingles that make one want to go out and strangle the nearest composer.

I think if that ever happened I would return to using an abacus, probably one with nice brightly coloured balls situated in a comfy padded room somewhere.