Microsoft launches Surface Computing

wazzledoozle · May 30, 2007, 06:12 AM

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.

Source: Microsoft Surface

Random Murderer · May 30, 2007, 06:40 AM

meh, they stole this technology from some college students who started it as a project to play warcraft 3 using their hands...

wazzledoozle · May 30, 2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random Murderer

meh, they stole this technology from some college students who started it as a project to play warcraft 3 using their hands...

Yeaaaaaahhhhh, because we all know Warcraft 3 was around in 2001 when they first started developing this.

Random Murderer · May 30, 2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazzledoozle

Yeaaaaaahhhhh, because we all know Warcraft 3 was around in 2001 when they first started developing this.

hey, i don't care what money$oft says, we all know they've lied in the past!

Mussels · May 30, 2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazzledoozle

Yeaaaaaahhhhh, because we all know Warcraft 3 was around in 2001 when they first started developing this.

Yeah, and people never ever gamed on a touchpad on a laptop before either...

The shiny part here is the synching of wireless devices (damned handy, think MP3 players/mobile phones/cameras here) and the detection of non-digital devices. I dont know why, but MS saying 'glass of water detected' would amuse me.

Easy Rhino · May 30, 2007, 09:19 AM

i saw a video of this maybe 4 years ago in early development. it was a couple of MIT students doing the work. im certain that people at microsoft saw it and paid them lots of money for the idea and to help them further its development.

demonbrawn · May 30, 2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

i'm certain that people at microsoft saw it and paid them lots of money for the idea and to help them further its development.

Yeah, I'm SURE they actually paid them

M$ doesn't pay anyone.

WarEagleAU · May 30, 2007, 12:14 PM

They would for this kind of technology.

Its like the new Virtual Reality you see in futuristic movies.

demonbrawn · May 30, 2007, 12:17 PM

haha Yeah, I was just joking, although I really wouldn't be all that surprised. I mean, they completely ripped off Apple early on. Just sayin...

lemonadesoda · May 30, 2007, 01:45 PM

Stop bitching.

This is an amazing innovation... for three reasons:

1./ New input technology... since the mouse, what have we had? The Wii controller... not much more... except for that weird $1000 keyboard with mini-displays. Surface PWNS that keyboard

2./ New screen/interface. Is this thing running Vista? Doesn't look like it. Actually, looks like it's running Mac OS. LOL. But if it is Vista... nice to see how skinnable and adaptable it is.

3./ MS goes hardware. This is serious $ for MS. Imagine... history... $50 per household for the OS, and $300 per office workstation of MS office, and $1000 per 25 workers for a Server OS. NOW we are talking about $3000++ per household for hardware. Nice. I better check the share price and start buying

mdm-adph · May 30, 2007, 03:34 PM

Bah -- all else aside, avoid Microsoft stock... with the poor adoption of Vista, the fact that OOXML isn't looking good when it comes to ISO acceptance, and the fact that their stock's been relatively stagnant for the past five years, I wouldn't recommend it.

Not to mention the fact that this technology they're proposing looks almost identical to something created by a guy called Jeff Han from NYU -- I don't know if they're working with him (I doubt it).

kakazza · May 30, 2007, 04:20 PM

Seems kinda exhausting :x

Shyska · May 30, 2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdm-adph

Bah -- all else aside, avoid Microsoft stock... with the poor adoption of Vista, the fact that OOXML isn't looking good when it comes to ISO acceptance, and the fact that their stock's been relatively stagnant for the past five years, I wouldn't recommend it.

Not to mention the fact that this technology they're proposing looks almost identical to something created by a guy called Jeff Han from NYU -- I don't know if they're working with him (I doubt it).

adoption of Vista despite all of the flaws is suprisingly great.

mdm-adph · May 30, 2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shyska

adoption of Vista despite all of the flaws is suprisingly great.

Well, the burden of proof is on you to prove that "suprisingly great" adoption of Vista exists...

Either way, it's a minor point -- did you see Jeff Han's video, though? It's like Microsoft just watched it and said, "Hey, this looks great, let's throw something together quick." The <i>OS</i> mind you, not the hardware -- I know Microsoft's had plans for that since years ago, but then so has everyone else (Jeff Han even mentions that in the early part of his video, I think, that "the idea's been around since the 80's").

Sky · May 30, 2007, 09:11 PM

http://news.com.com/1606-2-6186146.html?tag=cnetfd.mt

May 30, 2007, 06:12 AM	#1
wazzledoozle Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,316 (1.35/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 166 Times in 89 Posts System Specs	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. Source: Microsoft Surface Last edited by wazzledoozle; May 30, 2007 at 06:34 AM.

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May 30, 2007, 06:40 AM	#2
Random Murderer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Florida, where it's hot as hell. Posts: 4,094 (1.73/day) Thanks: 1,002 Thanked 674 Times in 505 Posts System Specs	meh, they stole this technology from some college students who started it as a project to play warcraft 3 using their hands... __________________ “People just need a reason to live. Some peoples reason is to bitch on the Internet. W1zz is just giving these sad souls a reason to live. Hes like a saint. Saint W1zzard.” -TheMailMan78 Mars: Apparently I have been there before, but I don't recall. Not all who wander are lost...

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May 30, 2007, 09:19 AM	#6
Easy Rhino Linux Advocate Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10,223 (4.29/day) Thanks: 1,207 Thanked 2,775 Times in 1,793 Posts System Specs	i saw a video of this maybe 4 years ago in early development. it was a couple of MIT students doing the work. im certain that people at microsoft saw it and paid them lots of money for the idea and to help them further its development.

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May 30, 2007, 12:14 PM	#8
WarEagleAU Bird of Prey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gurley, AL Posts: 9,994 (3.98/day) Thanks: 3,810 Thanked 557 Times in 521 Posts System Specs	They would for this kind of technology. Its like the new Virtual Reality you see in futuristic movies. __________________ =-TheEagle-= http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=62454 “You crazy? Surfing any website without an antivirus is like freaking with a dirty woman without protection” -OzzmanFloyd120 - Edited for content and clarity

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May 30, 2007, 12:17 PM	#9
demonbrawn Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 812 (0.32/day) Thanks: 38 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts System Specs	haha Yeah, I was just joking, although I really wouldn't be all that surprised. I mean, they completely ripped off Apple early on. Just sayin... __________________ Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people look bright until they start talking.

May 30, 2007, 01:45 PM	#10
lemonadesoda Eligible for custom title Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,337 (2.17/day) Thanks: 749 Thanked 960 Times in 710 Posts System Specs	Stop bitching. This is an amazing innovation... for three reasons: 1./ New input technology... since the mouse, what have we had? The Wii controller... not much more... except for that weird $1000 keyboard with mini-displays. Surface PWNS that keyboard 2./ New screen/interface. Is this thing running Vista? Doesn't look like it. Actually, looks like it's running Mac OS. LOL. But if it is Vista... nice to see how skinnable and adaptable it is. 3./ MS goes hardware. This is serious $ for MS. Imagine... history... $50 per household for the OS, and $300 per office workstation of MS office, and $1000 per 25 workers for a Server OS. NOW we are talking about $3000++ per household for hardware. Nice. I better check the share price and start buying

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May 30, 2007, 03:34 PM	#11
mdm-adph Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Your house. Posts: 2,426 (1.08/day) Thanks: 401 Thanked 344 Times in 247 Posts System Specs	Bah -- all else aside, avoid Microsoft stock... with the poor adoption of Vista, the fact that OOXML isn't looking good when it comes to ISO acceptance, and the fact that their stock's been relatively stagnant for the past five years, I wouldn't recommend it. Not to mention the fact that this technology they're proposing looks almost identical to something created by a guy called Jeff Han from NYU -- I don't know if they're working with him (I doubt it).

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May 30, 2007, 04:20 PM	#12
kakazza Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 470 (0.19/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Seems kinda exhausting :x

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May 30, 2007, 09:11 PM	#15
Sky Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 128 (0.05/day) Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts System Specs	http://news.com.com/1606-2-6186146.html?tag=cnetfd.mt

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