Microsoft launches "Surface"

2007-05-30

Microsoft has launched a new surface computer, which could very well usher a new era of touch based user-interfaces. Almost 6 years in the making the product has been launched with a price tag of $10,000.

Though this concept of multi touch displays is not new (as shown by Jeff Han here & here ) but I guess this would be the first commercial product (on this scale, iPhone is lot smaller

) to be launched.

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

Taken via Gizmodo

My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.

2007-05-30 #2

Business 2.0 Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlZxuqjJDgk

Anik · 2007-05-30 #3

cool very very cool.

nrg · 2007-05-30 #4

Here's another demo: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-972...?tag=cnetfd.mt

dpdp · 2007-05-30 #5

Will they take a check? Haw!!

Codemonkey · 2007-05-30 #6

I've seen various comparable techdemo's from other companies, but ofcourse, Microsoft's presentation is the nicest one so far (to no suprise).

Still as a developer you need to pinch through the presentation a bit and look at the technology at work... which is basically a glorified touchscreen, with intelligent plug 'n play capability. Like detecting mobile phones, which I find very original and appealing because of its potential.

Unclickable · 2007-05-30 #7

Back in the days a family would gather in front of a TV to watch a movie and socialize. It looks like these times are coming back again, except that now family would gather around a coffee table.

more related videos here:

http://yuxt.com/geek/Future

.

v1q · 2007-05-30 #8

you know.....im not against innovation or technological advancement, but somehow im not all that hyped about this table. i mean what else besides the stuff theyve already shown can this be implemented into? besides the leisure part of it, i cant really see a way to use this for professional work. besides that, the technology used is not really that innovative, just the way it is used. the table is actually huge with a bigass projector in it with a machine that has to be able to support all that fun stuff. resizing pictures real time with no stuttering, same for videos etc...my point is, what else is it besides a nice toy?

Matt-Norwood · 2007-05-30 #9

I agree with v1q. Ergonomically, it's a disaster. Keyboards are bad enough. There really is very little practically that this can be used for; makes for a great kiosk. I can see some possibilities with interactive DVD's for home entertainment, but as a "tool", I don't think it will go far.

FabAfrikan · 2007-05-30 #10

reminds me of a smaller version called the iphone =D Sure its neat because of the wireless capability with other devices.. the drag and drop, the reaction to touch, but i would also agree with v1q. its huge.... and not something you would use mostly in a professional manner. It would be a great installment for restaurants.. but i would like to straighten my legs under the table.. oh wat? i cant??!?! coz there is a large block forcing me to keep my legs at 90 degrees =D I wont be suprized if apple released a version of their own.. but a slim flat 30 inch version of their own?

v1q · 2007-05-30 #11

there are just so much issues with this i think...first and mainly: fingerprints. after a while, that thing is going to look like someone made love with that thing, you will have to keep it clean all the time. and god forbid if you ever spilled your drink on that thing.

Andy-M · 2007-05-30 #12

I can see this as being useful for say...a shopping mall's map. But they've already done that.

Perhaps it would be useful in a broadcasting studio...though most equipment now is still pretty old school so I don't see them upgrading.

What I WOULD be interested in is to see how it competes with the Smart Board. Smart Boards (basically a giant touchpad that has your image projected on it) have been around for a long time and we were doing the whole "moving windows with fingers" thing for a long time. But how many people have Smart Boards at home?

I don't see this product being purchased much for personal use unless you're filthy rich and you have money to throw away but I can see this being used in some tech offices in the reception area at first. Basically cool toys that will just function as entertainment pieces.

Once the price goes down, I think this would be a good idea for (from experience) engineering firms. The current process is to print everything out on paper, then everyone takes turn scribbling on them and then it has to be done again on the computer.

To be honest, I want one! ...just like how I want a Ferrari.

(but Ferrari's don't need to be upgraded that often and you can only crash a Ferrari once

)

2007-05-31 #13

This would be a great teaching aid. I have just started teaching kids (unexpectedly) and instead of coloring books and other stuff to try to keep them at the table - this could be the answer.

When the kids are out of the way... I like the water video interaction. I can imagine changing the water video to someone - er, i mean something else and watching all the different things wobble upon my touching. (Although too many beers and the wrong kind of mates at the table and this screen might not last long.)
..goes off to take a cold shower..

miko · 2007-05-31 #14

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...y/4217348.html

Renjamin · 2007-05-31 #15

Thanks for the link Miko.

I see this as an awesome client or presentation tool. Have this thing in a boardroom. There is so many possibilities with this when it comes to communication, visually!

Your clients dont need to wait that long to have something either done or explained to them, when you can visually show your customers what you want to do and exchange ideas.

I think at first this technology will be applied on only the business end and as seen in bars perhaps and grocery stores, movie theatres, hospitals maybe even.

Now with the Combination of CS3 you might get the integration of that somehow in the future.

We'll see the progression of this technology over time.

pixelone · 2007-05-31 #16

I've dreamed of seeing stuff like this. I've watched AntiTrust, 6Th Day, heck even Minority Report I said we should have tech like this available today. A dream come true for real. When is it available for purchase I wonder?

t3x · 2007-05-31 #17

WOW, great stuff

Andy-M · 2007-05-31 #18

Originally posted by Renjamin
I see this as an awesome client or presentation tool. Have this thing in a boardroom. There is so many possibilities with this when it comes to communication, visually!

I was talking to some people about this today. We all agree it would be amazing to have as a boardroom tool.

Put it this way...I very frequently have conference calls where it would be one boardroom in one city talking to another. We usually use NetMeeting and a speaker phone for that.

Now imagine if we replaced NetMeeting with that. Now, most of us have to describe our paper ideas and sketches and hope the other side figures it out or try to doodle it on the screen with a mouse. Imagine if you could do that and have the other parties make modifications and highlighting right there and then?

There will be no more need to get everyone together in the same boardroom so you can all scribble on a large piece of paper. The video says it will be $5000 to $10000 per unit. But if you think of how much a company could spend on travel expenses just for these meetings, buying one of these products could save a ton of money. I could see this product being a great corporate tool. As for home use...hmm not yet.

MadDog-555 · 2007-05-31 #19

that great stuff right there!

but i have to say, at first i was like, that is so cool, but then agreeing with v1q, isn't it just a big toy, you can only do small things on it and i only see it as a nice big boy toy

but in all seriouness, it is a great technology and i see its potential. I see it replacing the mouse or running photoshop and flash not just on that basic operating system that you see in the videos but on Windows 7 (the next OS after Vista)

this kind of thing may be good for meetings and conferences in a boardroom. it may not be big enough though.

oh and how does it interact with external devices like cell phones and cameras without a usb cable by only setting it down on the table?

aprado · 2007-06-01 #20

Originally posted by v1q
you know.....im not against innovation or technological advancement, but somehow im not all that hyped about this table. i mean what else besides the stuff theyve already shown can this be implemented into? besides the leisure part of it, i cant really see a way to use this for professional work. besides that, the technology used is not really that innovative, just the way it is used. the table is actually huge with a bigass projector in it with a machine that has to be able to support all that fun stuff. resizing pictures real time with no stuttering, same for videos etc...my point is, what else is it besides a nice toy?

This can revolutionize the resturant market. It will also hurt print media where they have their stands outside of them considering you can get more dynamic news and interact with in a way print media can not. But print has epaper to worry about for now.

v1q · 2007-06-01 #21

what i have tried to express is that i see very limited use of this technology. in no way i think this will replace the pc as we know it right now, as someone mentioned that we can use this with cs3. i have been watching the videos from the D5 conference where steve jobs and bill gates talked about the future of computing/mobile devices and my personal guess is that if there will be a revolution in computing anytime in the near future, it will no necessarily spawn out of this technology.

aprado · 2007-06-01 #22

I agree.

sherali · 2007-06-01 #23

Microsoft is still using Flash Technology

for SilverLight

Keep it up Flash Player

pixelone · 2007-06-01 #24

I see some very strong uses for it. Most of my days are occupied with designing 3D environments for engineering projects and on the side character modeling, etc.. With that said - picture zBrush on this. You could sculpt, model and manipulate your 3D objects with precision. It's an old tech but being used in very different ways. Let's be a little more optimistic - of course marketing wise you have to show the entertaining side of things. It's what get's us hooked.. Check out the demonstration by Jeff Han (creator) of the multi-touch screen device. You'll see some better practical uses for it. Yes - I agree we can do all of what they've shown on the Microsoft surface in flash.. Heck I'm working on something like that now. I've always hated the keyboard and mouse it's like a leach on a dog. Wireless is okay - but still you’re bounded to I/O devices. This is freedom people, this is the future. give it 2-3 years before laptops adopt this type of tech.

I love the fact that you can snap photographs and simply place your camera on the surface and have it sync. No wires, no fuss, no looking through your small office for that dam mini-USB cable. I am excited to see where it’ll go and I just wished most people were.

I like that meeting idea andyMah… See it’s up to us to write killer UI in flash for this system. I just pray Adobe is working on adopting its Creative suite to the Microsoft Surface.

Does anyone know what OS is powering it?

TED http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

v1q · 2007-06-01 #25

its powered by vista.

pixelone · 2007-06-01 #26

Thanks v1q..

pixelone · 2007-06-04 #27

I'm surpised this thread is not on FIRE... Seems as if I'm the only one excited about this tech.. I hope I'm not overthinking it's uses too much. But I do see some killer Flash Apps for it..

Xponential · 2007-06-04 #28

Here is another link showing the inventors of the technology that microsoft bought to make "surface"

http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

and this one

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

jassh · 2007-06-07 #29

I could only imagine the damage that could incurred during a Bar Fight...

BTW, this get me all excited and the only word that came out of my mouth while watching the FLVs is: "Daymn.. we are here already?"

ba1306 · 2007-06-07 #30

Originally posted by sherali
Microsoft is still using Flash Technology

for SilverLight
Keep it up Flash Player

The surface computer is all WPF technology (Silverlight's big brother).

nonak · 2007-06-08 #31

Originally posted by Xponential
Here is another link showing the inventors of the technology that microsoft bought to make "surface"

http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

and this one

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

"How primitive, the humans are still stuck on the outside..."

Seriously it's cool, and because of the delay of technology release to the public, you know THEY have even more advanced immersive features.. I'd bet they have that in virtual reality

or even in holographic projection.

If not, then soon either way

red pill or blue pill ?

Anik · 2007-06-08 #32

red pill of course

B-Rhapsody · 2007-08-25 #33

This is so exciting.

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	Ultrashock Forums > Community Essentials > News • Microsoft launches "Surface"


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	Mime	2007-05-30 #2
	Business 2.0 Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlZxuqjJDgk

	nrg 11 Creative Assets	2007-05-30 #4
	Here's another demo: http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-972...?tag=cnetfd.mt

	Codemonkey	2007-05-30 #6
	Last edited by Codemonkey : 2007-06-02 at 05:48. I've seen various comparable techdemo's from other companies, but ofcourse, Microsoft's presentation is the nicest one so far (to no suprise). Still as a developer you need to pinch through the presentation a bit and look at the technology at work... which is basically a glorified touchscreen, with intelligent plug 'n play capability. Like detecting mobile phones, which I find very original and appealing because of its potential.

	Unclickable	2007-05-30 #7
	Back in the days a family would gather in front of a TV to watch a movie and socialize. It looks like these times are coming back again, except that now family would gather around a coffee table. more related videos here: http://yuxt.com/geek/Future .

	v1q	2007-05-30 #8
	you know.....im not against innovation or technological advancement, but somehow im not all that hyped about this table. i mean what else besides the stuff theyve already shown can this be implemented into? besides the leisure part of it, i cant really see a way to use this for professional work. besides that, the technology used is not really that innovative, just the way it is used. the table is actually huge with a bigass projector in it with a machine that has to be able to support all that fun stuff. resizing pictures real time with no stuttering, same for videos etc...my point is, what else is it besides a nice toy?

	Matt-Norwood	2007-05-30 #9
	I agree with v1q. Ergonomically, it's a disaster. Keyboards are bad enough. There really is very little practically that this can be used for; makes for a great kiosk. I can see some possibilities with interactive DVD's for home entertainment, but as a "tool", I don't think it will go far.

	FabAfrikan	2007-05-30 #10
	reminds me of a smaller version called the iphone =D Sure its neat because of the wireless capability with other devices.. the drag and drop, the reaction to touch, but i would also agree with v1q. its huge.... and not something you would use mostly in a professional manner. It would be a great installment for restaurants.. but i would like to straighten my legs under the table.. oh wat? i cant??!?! coz there is a large block forcing me to keep my legs at 90 degrees =D I wont be suprized if apple released a version of their own.. but a slim flat 30 inch version of their own?

	v1q	2007-05-30 #11
	there are just so much issues with this i think...first and mainly: fingerprints. after a while, that thing is going to look like someone made love with that thing, you will have to keep it clean all the time. and god forbid if you ever spilled your drink on that thing.

	t3x	2007-05-31 #17
	WOW, great stuff

	aprado	2007-06-01 #22
	I agree.

	pixelone	2007-06-01 #26
	Thanks v1q..

	Andy-M	2007-05-30 #12
	I can see this as being useful for say...a shopping mall's map. But they've already done that. Perhaps it would be useful in a broadcasting studio...though most equipment now is still pretty old school so I don't see them upgrading. What I WOULD be interested in is to see how it competes with the Smart Board. Smart Boards (basically a giant touchpad that has your image projected on it) have been around for a long time and we were doing the whole "moving windows with fingers" thing for a long time. But how many people have Smart Boards at home? I don't see this product being purchased much for personal use unless you're filthy rich and you have money to throw away but I can see this being used in some tech offices in the reception area at first. Basically cool toys that will just function as entertainment pieces. Once the price goes down, I think this would be a good idea for (from experience) engineering firms. The current process is to print everything out on paper, then everyone takes turn scribbling on them and then it has to be done again on the computer. To be honest, I want one! ...just like how I want a Ferrari. (but Ferrari's don't need to be upgraded that often and you can only crash a Ferrari once )

	Mime	2007-05-31 #13
	This would be a great teaching aid. I have just started teaching kids (unexpectedly) and instead of coloring books and other stuff to try to keep them at the table - this could be the answer. When the kids are out of the way... I like the water video interaction. I can imagine changing the water video to someone - er, i mean something else and watching all the different things wobble upon my touching. (Although too many beers and the wrong kind of mates at the table and this screen might not last long.) ..goes off to take a cold shower..

	miko a lot of Creative Assets	2007-05-31 #14
	http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...y/4217348.html

	Renjamin	2007-05-31 #15
	Thanks for the link Miko. I see this as an awesome client or presentation tool. Have this thing in a boardroom. There is so many possibilities with this when it comes to communication, visually! Your clients dont need to wait that long to have something either done or explained to them, when you can visually show your customers what you want to do and exchange ideas. I think at first this technology will be applied on only the business end and as seen in bars perhaps and grocery stores, movie theatres, hospitals maybe even. Now with the Combination of CS3 you might get the integration of that somehow in the future. We'll see the progression of this technology over time.

	pixelone	2007-05-31 #16
	I've dreamed of seeing stuff like this. I've watched AntiTrust, 6Th Day, heck even Minority Report I said we should have tech like this available today. A dream come true for real. When is it available for purchase I wonder?

	Andy-M	2007-05-31 #18
	Originally posted by Renjamin I see this as an awesome client or presentation tool. Have this thing in a boardroom. There is so many possibilities with this when it comes to communication, visually! I was talking to some people about this today. We all agree it would be amazing to have as a boardroom tool. Put it this way...I very frequently have conference calls where it would be one boardroom in one city talking to another. We usually use NetMeeting and a speaker phone for that. Now imagine if we replaced NetMeeting with that. Now, most of us have to describe our paper ideas and sketches and hope the other side figures it out or try to doodle it on the screen with a mouse. Imagine if you could do that and have the other parties make modifications and highlighting right there and then? There will be no more need to get everyone together in the same boardroom so you can all scribble on a large piece of paper. The video says it will be $5000 to $10000 per unit. But if you think of how much a company could spend on travel expenses just for these meetings, buying one of these products could save a ton of money. I could see this product being a great corporate tool. As for home use...hmm not yet.

	MadDog-555	2007-05-31 #19
	that great stuff right there! but i have to say, at first i was like, that is so cool, but then agreeing with v1q, isn't it just a big toy, you can only do small things on it and i only see it as a nice big boy toy but in all seriouness, it is a great technology and i see its potential. I see it replacing the mouse or running photoshop and flash not just on that basic operating system that you see in the videos but on Windows 7 (the next OS after Vista) this kind of thing may be good for meetings and conferences in a boardroom. it may not be big enough though. oh and how does it interact with external devices like cell phones and cameras without a usb cable by only setting it down on the table?

	aprado	2007-06-01 #20
	Originally posted by v1q you know.....im not against innovation or technological advancement, but somehow im not all that hyped about this table. i mean what else besides the stuff theyve already shown can this be implemented into? besides the leisure part of it, i cant really see a way to use this for professional work. besides that, the technology used is not really that innovative, just the way it is used. the table is actually huge with a bigass projector in it with a machine that has to be able to support all that fun stuff. resizing pictures real time with no stuttering, same for videos etc...my point is, what else is it besides a nice toy? This can revolutionize the resturant market. It will also hurt print media where they have their stands outside of them considering you can get more dynamic news and interact with in a way print media can not. But print has epaper to worry about for now.

	v1q	2007-06-01 #21
	what i have tried to express is that i see very limited use of this technology. in no way i think this will replace the pc as we know it right now, as someone mentioned that we can use this with cs3. i have been watching the videos from the D5 conference where steve jobs and bill gates talked about the future of computing/mobile devices and my personal guess is that if there will be a revolution in computing anytime in the near future, it will no necessarily spawn out of this technology.

	sherali	2007-06-01 #23
	Microsoft is still using Flash Technology for SilverLight Keep it up Flash Player

	pixelone	2007-06-01 #24
	I see some very strong uses for it. Most of my days are occupied with designing 3D environments for engineering projects and on the side character modeling, etc.. With that said - picture zBrush on this. You could sculpt, model and manipulate your 3D objects with precision. It's an old tech but being used in very different ways. Let's be a little more optimistic - of course marketing wise you have to show the entertaining side of things. It's what get's us hooked.. Check out the demonstration by Jeff Han (creator) of the multi-touch screen device. You'll see some better practical uses for it. Yes - I agree we can do all of what they've shown on the Microsoft surface in flash.. Heck I'm working on something like that now. I've always hated the keyboard and mouse it's like a leach on a dog. Wireless is okay - but still you’re bounded to I/O devices. This is freedom people, this is the future. give it 2-3 years before laptops adopt this type of tech. I love the fact that you can snap photographs and simply place your camera on the surface and have it sync. No wires, no fuss, no looking through your small office for that dam mini-USB cable. I am excited to see where it’ll go and I just wished most people were. I like that meeting idea andyMah… See it’s up to us to write killer UI in flash for this system. I just pray Adobe is working on adopting its Creative suite to the Microsoft Surface. Does anyone know what OS is powering it? TED http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

	pixelone	2007-06-04 #27
	I'm surpised this thread is not on FIRE... Seems as if I'm the only one excited about this tech.. I hope I'm not overthinking it's uses too much. But I do see some killer Flash Apps for it..

	Xponential	2007-06-04 #28
	Wow Here is another link showing the inventors of the technology that microsoft bought to make "surface" http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ and this one http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

	jassh	2007-06-07 #29
	I could only imagine the damage that could incurred during a Bar Fight... BTW, this get me all excited and the only word that came out of my mouth while watching the FLVs is: "Daymn.. we are here already?"

	ba1306	2007-06-07 #30
	Originally posted by sherali Microsoft is still using Flash Technology for SilverLight Keep it up Flash Player The surface computer is all WPF technology (Silverlight's big brother).

	nonak	2007-06-08 #31
	Re: Wow Originally posted by Xponential Here is another link showing the inventors of the technology that microsoft bought to make "surface" http://www.perceptivepixel.com/ and this one http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65 "How primitive, the humans are still stuck on the outside..." Seriously it's cool, and because of the delay of technology release to the public, you know THEY have even more advanced immersive features.. I'd bet they have that in virtual reality or even in holographic projection. If not, then soon either way red pill or blue pill ?