Microsoft Announces the "Surface" - 1st Tabletop Computer
May 31, 2007 1:02 AM | Microsoft | Technology | Comments (2)
| Microsoft has announced the first commercially available surface computer called “Surface”. The Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. It's really cool! (See Promo) The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail establishments and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live. In viewing the promotional videos, it seems the surface will integrate with mobile devices by Bluetooth. |  |
Microsoft has announced the first commercially available surface computer called “Surface”. The Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail establishments and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live. In viewing the promotional videos, it seems the surface will integrate with mobile devices by Bluetooth.
Description: Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.
Surface will ship to partners with a portfolio of basic applications, including photos, music, virtual concierge and games, that can be customized to provide their customers with unique experiences.
Surface Computing: Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday content, from photos to maps to menus. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information by using their hands and natural movements. Users are able to access information either on their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, unlike any experience available today. Surface computing features four key attributes:
· Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
· Multi-touch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.
· Multi-user experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
· Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.
Features: Multi-touch display. The Surface display is capable of multi-touch interaction, recognizing dozens and dozens of touches simultaneously, including fingers, hands, gestures and objects placed on the surface.
Horizontal orientation. The 30-inch display in a table-sized form factor allows users to share, explore and create experiences together, enabling a truly collaborative computing experience.
Dimensions. Surface is 22 inches high, 21 inches deep and 42 inches wide.
Materials. The Surface tabletop is acrylic, and its interior frame is powder-coated steel.
Requirements: Standard American 110–120V power
System: The Surface custom software platform runs on Windows Vista™ and has wired Ethernet 10/100 and wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity.
Availability: Beginning at the end of this year, consumers will be able to interact with Surface in hotels, restaurants, retail establishments and public entertainment venues.
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Comments
Posted by: Curseo | October 30, 2007 9:14 AM
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Posted by: Patrick | May 31, 2007 1:29 AM
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