He's not a Microsoft designer but Windows 10 was his idea

Like many Windows 8 users, self-taught user-experience designer Jay Machalani was frustrated by the inconsistencies of Microsoft’s touch-friendly operating system. Instead of moaning online or ignoring his frustrations, Machalani set out to prove things could change for the next major release of Windows in a series of concepts. Machalani doesn't work for Microsoft, but his ideas caught their attention. As I sat and listened to Windows chief Terry Myerson introduce Windows 10 at Microsoft’s special press event last week, I was immediately reminded of Machalani’s concepts. From a modern Start menu to windowed apps, Microsoft demonstrated many of the exact same features that Machalani called for almost a year ago. If Windows 7 was everyone’s idea, Windows 10 appears to be his.

Machalani’s concepts centered around a method of easing the jarring switching between desktop and "Metro." He even produced a prototype of a way to switch between the "Metro" part of Windows 8 and a traditional Start menu on a hybrid device like the Surface. Microsoft created its own concept in the form of Continuum, a way for hybrid devices to use both touch and keyboard / mouse features. They’re both very similar, aiming to improve the experience of mouse and keyboard on hybrid machines with touch / tablet modes.