Microsoft Surface Tabletop - Overview

About Microsoft Surface

Surface Computing

Surface computing is a more innovative way of working with computers. It moves beyond the traditional and the conventional forms of computing experience. Surface Computing can be referred to as a natural user interface that allows people to interact with digital content with their hands, with gestures and by putting real-world objects on the surface. It is the possible invention enabling the physical and the virtual world to combine into one experience.

Microsoft Surface

The initial perception about Microsoft Surface was that it is another glorified and hyped touch screen computer. But as the word about the features spread, it changed the opinion of the critics. This touch screen computer enables users to do away with the traditional forms of computing, i.e. the keyboard and mouse. You can navigate the menu by touching various options to reach a logical end of viewing data or printing.

The development of this product took over 5 years. It was in 2001, that Microsoft formed a team to make Microsoft Surface a reality. After a hard core research and analysis, the complete presentation about Microsoft Surface was given to Bill Gates in 2003. The first prototype was nicknamed T1 (Codenamed: Milan) and the development team began designing specific applications like photo browser, puzzles, games etc. It was only after over 85 prototypes were designed, that the hardware design was chosen in 2005

Microsoft Surface - a complete surface computing experience

The key attributes to such as an experience are:

• Direct Interaction-It allows you to grab digital information and interact with the content using natural gestures and touches.

• Multi-touch Contact-This technology has the feature to sense different points of touch at one time.

• Multi-Users-The physical shape and form of this surface allows multiple users to work simultaneously, allowing a unique computing experience.

• Object recognition-It allows users to place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content without any wire or cable attached.

The introduction of this technology has broken down the traditional barriers between people and technology, providing effortless interaction with digital content. This new product of Microsoft is targeted to change the way people interact with all kinds of everyday content, including photos, music, a virtual concierge and games. Day to day tasks will become more entertaining, enjoyable and engaging once this technology is accommodated in our lifestyle.

Microsoft Surface has no cables or external USB ports for plugging in peripherals.In fact, it has no keyboard, no mouse, no trackball.The only obvious point of interaction is is its screen. The 30-inch wide tabletop screen allows users to drag and drop virtual contents to physical objects

Microsoft has a long history of bringing innovative product experiences to market – such as Xbox, IPTV and Zune. Its Entertainment & Devices division is determined to deliver end-to-end hardware, software and services across different pillars of Connected Entertainment, such as music, video, communication and gaming. The strategy for Microsoft Surface is quite similar. The E&D strategy is all about connections and so is surface computing - connections to content, connections across physical objects, connections of virtual and digital content to physical objects.

Quick Facts about Microsoft Surface Computer Table

Design: Microsoft Surface has been designed in the form of a table, using the hard acrylic tabletop as a high-resolution screen.

How it works: As the general belief, the surface itself isn't touch-sensitive, but a series of cameras inside the table enables it to sense the touches. Internal projector lights screen from beneath the acrylic surface and recognizes movements over the top.

Interface: It provides a user friendly interface where people can use their hands to touch and move virtual objects on the screen, just as they would with a mouse on a traditional personal computer.. The system is also programmed to recognize objects placed on the surface, based on their shape or on special codes affixed to them.

Size: 22 inches high, 21 inches deep, 42 inches wide, with 30-inch screen.

Technology: Surface uses a custom software interface on top of Microsoft's Windows Vista. It comes with wired Ethernet, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless, hard drive and 1 GHz processor. Apart from this it also has a 2GB RAM and 256 MB graphic card.

Microsoft Surface Tabletop - www.AboutMicrosoftSurface.com