Microsoft Unveils Surface Computing

Very cool, but will I ever be able to afford it?

Published on May 30, 2007 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

In the past year, the idea of multitouch interfaces has spread like wildfire. It started with conference demos of graduate student research projects showing amazing new opportunities in UI and application design when you aren't limited to an artificial pointer, and really hit the mainstream with the unveiling of the iPhone at this year's MacWorld Conference. You even saw a hint of the technology in Bill Gates' CES 2007 keynote speech, with the interactive kitchen countertop.

Well, this week, Microsoft is taking the wraps off of Project Milan, from the Surface Computing Team, and boy does some of this stuff look cool. Here are just a few good links on this new tech:

Click the link below to go to Microsoft's official website for Surface Computing. It's pretty cool stuff. I can't wait until these appear on the consumer market!

Comments (Page 1)

thomassen

on May 30, 2007

meh wants! Imagine skinning that beast.

you can imagine that this might actually include the kitchen sink....

ZubaZ

on May 30, 2007

I can see it in locations where a kiosk would be useful and maybe as a coffee table or countertop as a secondary computer but not as a work interface.

That's not to say I don't want one of course.

RoseNell

on May 30, 2007

I can see this being our furture. Pretty awesome. I loved the camera picking up the picture as soon as he laid on the surface of the table. It amazes me. Great article.

Alternate Setting

on May 30, 2007

Great link, thanks Zoomba.

vStyler

on May 30, 2007

Pretty cool i reckon, If I were them I'd have gotten a bit more in depth than drawing smiley faces..seemed very MSPAINT'y and I can just imagine a table full.. no, a bar full of drunks trying to learn that system ! Nightmare waiting to happen imo...

I would get tired of looking down..I like my screen in front of me and it seems like WAY too much moving around to accomplich the same things I can with a wrist click.

I wish them luck...Im gonna go out on a limb and predict that although future computing may resemble this, it will be dramatically different in implementation.

thomassen

on May 30, 2007

I would get tired of looking down..I like my screen in front of me and it seems like WAY too much moving around to accomplich the same things I can with a wrist click.

The thing is that it's not suppose to replace the PC. It's a completely new way to interact with services.

Zoomba

on May 30, 2007

But imagine one of these large touch systems mounted on a wall-arm that you can swing out from the wall or up from a table to have in front of you. Very Minority Report ish

vStyler

on May 30, 2007

But imagine one of these large touch systems mounted on a wall-arm that you can swing out from the wall or up from a table to have in front of you.

That sounds a lot better..you whip one up Zoomba.. I'll skin it

Zoomba

on May 30, 2007

That sounds a lot better..you whip one up Zoomba.. I'll skin it

I'm a little short on cash to start the project up. Got $20 grand you can spare?

vStyler

on May 30, 2007

Got $20 grand you can spare?

ZubaZ

on May 30, 2007

skybright

on May 31, 2007

I saw this on the late news. Looks future fantatic. I see it as more recreational like having the family sitting around the coffee table and having some fun.

seldomseen

on May 31, 2007

Virtually unlimited application. Musical instruments...the ideas are just amazing. I'm waiting for holographics, but this will do 'til that comes along.
A once-upon-a-time gf, strawberry-blonde and not believing in underwear, used to sit on the office fax machine and send it to me, usually right when I was with an important client. Can just imagine the consequences with a setup like this.

messiah1

on May 31, 2007

This is just amazing, would be veeeerrrry cool to have.

Lantec

on May 31, 2007

I think you could expand the idea to an virtually unlimited input device, something the size of a keyboard that can BE a keyboard or a "hand manipulation" screen or a wacom type tablet, etc. with a separate monitor for output. The input device could bring up pics of a keboard or paint colors like he was showing or thumbs of pics etc etc

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