initiated by bhukku on May 31, 2007 (http://surface.com)
What is Microsoft Surface? Microsoft Surface™, the first commercially available surface computer from Microsoft Corp., turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. 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. 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.
How does Surface work?
At a high level, Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and the result is displayed on the surface using rear projection.
What is surface computing?
Surface computing is a new way of working with computers that moves beyond the traditional mouse-and-keyboard experience. It is a natural user interface that allows people to interact with digital content the same way they have interacted with everyday items such as photos, paintbrushes and music their entire life: with their hands, with gestures and by putting real-world objects on the surface. Surface computing opens up a whole new category of products for users to interact with.
What are the key attributes of surface computing?
Surface computing has four key attributes:
• Direct interaction. Users can actually "grab" digital information with their hands and interact with content by 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.
How does Surface benefit consumers?
Surface breaks down the traditional barriers between people and technology, providing effortless interaction with digital content. Similar to the way ATMs changed how people got money from the bank, Microsoft is changing the way people will interact with all kinds of everyday content, including photos, music, a virtual concierge and games. Common, everyday tasks become entertaining, enjoyable and engaging, alone or face-to-face with family, friends or co-workers.
This is the future of computing...
Simply GREAT!
Simply great. Check out the link http://surface.com
Korea and Japneese designed the protocol, and this is possible wiht the help of freescale [motorola's Image Processor], the table has a projector in its stem, from where a mirror image of the ouput is thown on the seen, people on the table can see that image. There is a glass top on the table with a white coating at bottom. fde to projection methos, when surrounding is of high ambience, thje table seems dull, and this is yet to be achieved. These coffee tables are powered with capacitive based touch senson. a small transparent wire mesh of 0.005 mm thick mesh is spreded beneth that glass top which acts as an antenna. When We touch the table, since our te is touched to the ground, the circuit completes and there is a change in capacitor, this change is translated into cordinate, and transmitted to computer and effects are produced. --- This is the secret behind surface computer. You want to make one:
1.The capcitive based touch sensor is a patented stuff by QJ in U.K., that sensor, needs and antenna, and it gives a BCD output of cordinate.
2. The projector can be a normal projector with mirrored mode on, and kept behing a white sheet, with glass top.
3. Connect a normal system monitor output with projector, and attach the QJ Sensor with Micro to a serial port or USB. Write a small driver in VB, and you are done.