One Step Closer To “Minority Report”: Surface Computing by Microsoft

By Max Brenn
16:49, May 30th 2007
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One Step Closer To “Minority Report”: Surface Computing by Microsoft

You surely remember “Minority Report”, the SF movie signed by Spielberg which portrayed the human society twenty years from now. And if you have seen the movie, you know hot the computers look like.

The good news is that Microsoft has already made the first step into the future. The Redmond company announced today its first surface computer. Called Microsoft Surface, it is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that users interact with through touch, natural gestures and objects placed on the surface.

The users doesn’t need a mouse or keyboard, they may interact directly with digital content -- such as viewing, stretching, sorting and sharing digital photos by sliding their fingers across the surface.

Microsoft Surface was unveiled at the Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Beginning at the end of this year, consumers will be able to interact with Surface in hotels, retail establishments, restaurants and public entertainment venues.

"With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to interact with technology," Ballmer said. "We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision."

Surface, which is a common effort of Microsoft Research and Microsoft Hardware, also features the ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes. This means that when a customer simply sets a wine glass on the surface of a table, a restaurant could provide them with information about the wine they're ordering, pictures of the vineyard it came from and suggested food pairings tailored to that evening's menu. The experience could become completely immersive, letting users access information on the wine-growing region and even look at recommended hotels and plan a trip without leaving the table.

The Surface does not use a touch-sensitive screen. Instead, it relies on multiple cameras beneath the table that can see when someone touches it. It recognizes objects based on shape or by using domino-style identification labels on the bottom of the objects.

Microsoft announced that Surface will be shipped to partners with a portfolio of basic applications, including photos, music and virtual concierge applications that can be customized to provide their customers with unique experiences. Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., and T-Mobile USA Inc. will be some of the first companies to provide unique Surface experiences for their customers.



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