Microsoft launches Surface Computing

Microsoft Surface:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

Announced at 12:01 this morning(Wednesday, 30th). It looks interesting, but also seems kinda like a gimmick that will sparkle for a minute and then die, kinda like the virtual boy. This is announced the day of the much anticipated talk between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Obviously it's supposed to give ol Billy boy something to hang over Jobs' head, and say "Look what we've got that you don't have!". Though it does look to have some neat tricks, I don't see what it can do that a tablet with a good sensitivity couldn't. I may be wrong though, and completely miss the point.

Anyway, Doesn't seem to be the saving grace that Microsoft needs to keep apple and Linux down for much longer.


btw, anybody else like how similar the surface page is set up to the leopard page? http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

 

Wow..that looks really cool. Stuff like this shows Microsoft is really the leader and is poised to stay that way in the future. Windows is the center of an increasingly digital home.

 

Sorry, but this isn't "leading" technology. Yes, it is pretty cool. The graphics are nice. But once again, Apple did all this touch screen first with the iPhone. And did you see the price tag on that? Its $5000-10000 US. This touch screen product is meant for businesses, and probably the "consumer" version is still going to be expensive - or cheap but crappy.

 

It is completely useless and a novelty. Not what Microsoft needed. Oh, great I can order a meal with my Surface computer or get driving directions. Problem is little to no restaurants, hotels, and businesses are going to buy one.

The sharing songs and images looks more complicated than using a normal computer.

 

All pretty and "bright lights" and whatnot, but I wish Microsoft would quieten down on the innovation front. Sure its meant for the business rather than the consumer for the price tag but I imagine its use would be limited? Sure the potential for interaction may indeed be 'the sky is the limit' but I'd have preferred the updated Zune or 360 or something for the here and now

 

Wow expensive lets see a bar with one of those for a table for every table...

Is it totally stand alone? or do you need to hook it to a PC is my big question.

Also its very simular to an "instrument" that has been out for quite some time, I have a feeling they rip'ed it from there.


I forget the name of it, but its almost exactly the same as this but you put diffrent blocks on it for diffrent sounds and its all touch sensitive and stuff.

 

AWESOME!!

Seriously, this will add a lot of ideas to the way people can interact and provides ways of solving problems in a team environment.

I think it is ideal for designers or architects as they could show case their works in a new way. Or even system designers as they conduct their brainstorming on a new horizon.

Can't wait to see when they will mix the biometric (fingerprints) and touch screen security the level of access. E.g. certain users are restricted to certain parts of the screen.

Or better when someone come up with a program that is designed to exercise your fingers. Seriously, there has to be a market out there.

Tempted to put your cup of coffee on top? Or a cup of Java for that matter? Java on Vista?

 

The demonstration currently does not show anything really new or innovative. It's just a very high quality touch screen with a good OS designed for businesses, nothing else. But it's only been announced, so who knows what other new features we can expect from this thing. Furthermore, its pricing is pretty just if you think about it. A Wacom tablet of A4 size costs hundreds of pounds (£ , so a high quality touch screen of table size, with a high quality bespoke operating system for a few thousand pounds is pretty good value for money.

I am slightly concerned with the wireless thing however, seems like a security issue to me. Just placing your objects on the surface and all your data will be accessible automatically. Could mean that the surface could be re-programmed so that if you put your object on the surface, it automatically emails all your sensitive data to some third party or something, which could be painful if that object was your credit card or something.

 

Well until technology becomes Hollywood like; iris scans and whatnot, you have to remember chip+pin and other security measures are in use and will continue to be until a better method replaces it Just because its flash doesn't mean anyone would allow, neither would Microsoft advocate something like it scanning your bank card without going through exisiting security protocol

Edit: have re-read the post Well we can only speculate on security measures... but for something like that I don't anticipate something like a bank card being allowed to be used on anything outside of what banks issue, e.g mini chip+pin readers

 

Very cool, interesting too!

 

Tablet PCs predate the iphone. Palm pilots predate Tablet PCs. Newtons predate Palm pilots. Using the transitive property from algebra, the company that made newtons should sue Apple for stealing their idea. All ideas do not originate with Apple.

EDIT:Apple developed the Newton. :laugh:

Newton PDA

EDIT EDIT: Tablet PCs were the first products that combined the touch screen with a decent operating system. I know Apple did not develop the first tablet pc.

 

How durable is the surface of the Surface? What if you turned it off and your roommates/friends use it as a coffee table, or arm wrestling stand...

 

If you want to see better shots of what this kind of tech can do, check out these guys at NYU.
http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/

They've done the same thing.
Microsoft is almost a year and a half behind this guy in introducing their "innovation."

You should particularly watch the video on their spinoff company site- http://www.perceptivepixel.com/
Note that theirs is about 4 times bigger than what Microsoft is talking about.

And check this video of the inventor demoing it in February 2006. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65
GG MS, you're almost a year and a half later.

and this is WAY beyond the touchscreen on apple's iphone.

 

Well, for every idea there's probably at least 100 different ways to implement it. Everyone's just trying a different way to do it, and eventually one or two will show to be the "best" idea given cost, engineering limitations, and performance.

 

The biggest difference with MS's thing is the "interaction" with other devices. this is most likely done with RFID and bluetooth.
The dragging and dropping "objects" between pda's, phones and mp3 players is pretty cool.

 

Without being technical:

I watched all three vids and if thats our future, then I'm all for it. VERY NICE INDEED. Like the videos shown, I think it's better for businesses that want to give customers a easier/better experience. Like the menu/checkout at a restaurant, Jukebox, or Google Map at a hotel lobby. ETC:

As for personal use, I rather have a nice Multi-touch Tablet Notebook. I can't see anyone doing alot of surfing, watching vids or making docs while bent over a table.

 

No, no, I know the whole "touchscreen" thing didn't originate from Apple. But what I meant was some of the more "advanced" functions of the touchscreen, such as using finger movements to enlarge or minimize photos and stuff were introduced first in the iPhone. And now Microsoft introduces it as if no one's ever seen it happen before.

 

Update:
Bill went on the today show to show off his new toy.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/sticker-...es-showing-off-his-expensive-table-264453.php

Look at the size of that thing from underneath! It's huge! It's like 4 or 5 atx cases side by side.

As you guys have been saying, he is directing it more towards businesses. I like the split the check thing, and the tip modulator, but I also like to have a reason to tip my server. If I have to dig through a computer menu to find my drink, and then dig through a computer menu to pay, they aren't as deserving of those who actually memorize the menu, and ring everything up for you.

I would say we may see a few of these things pop up in high dollar bars and restaurants(think the ones who server kobe beef), but little else.

Again, I say it's not what Microsoft needs to be spending time and money on right now. They need to get service packs out for Vista, and get gen 2 of Zune on the market.

 

http://www.ultrasharpware.com/blog/2007/05/30/microsoft-launches-surface-computing/:

The launch of Microsoft Surface marks the beginning of a new technology category and a user-interface revolution. Surface, Microsoft’s first surface computer, provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural hand gestures, touch and physical objects. Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday information — from photos to maps to menus.

Key features demonstrated in the videos included:
Multi-touch ability.
Recognition and syncing of wireless devices by placing on touch panel
Ability to identify non-digital devices, such as a drink glass, based on shape.
Hand gesture system to further interact with the touch panel.
New, non-windows based interface.

The videos really speak for themselves. According to the website, Surface technology will be
available in Winter 2007.

Watch video here

 

Actually those advanced features were developed by Tablet PCs long before Apple stole them and patted themselves on the back for being so creative.

 

OHHH Microsoft caught my eye. Very interesting. Imagine gameplay with that technology. No more single tasking and more multitasking.

 

Of course the PDA/Smart phones they showed will look differ if this ever becomes reality.

 

Two words: rip off. As previously mentioned, research into this has been done in this area at NYU for a while; here is the website to the company that was founded over a year ago doing the same thing (not a PDA or Tablet or iPhone, etc). Their interfaces seems faster as well. Did anybody notice how in the Surface video things took forever to load and on-screen motions were always trailing behind the hand gestures?

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html

The main innovation on Microsoft's part is that it automatically recognizes and interacts with bluetooth devices, or other objects that are placed on it, whereas in the perceptivepixel displays, any contact is simply an input device.