Microsoft Surface, a multi-touch interface device May 30, 2007
Popular Mechanics has a video of Microsoft Surface, a table-sized multi-touch interface device. It is based on the work of Jeff Han, whose work I have blogged about before. Although it seems remarkably similar, I am not sure if this is the same technology that is used in Apple’s iPhone. However, I somehow doubt there will be a real patent dispute here.
What is interesting about Microsoft Surface is that it combines a huge touch screen with cameras that allow the system to detect objects such as cameras and phones. It looks cool in the video, but I wonder if the system could discriminate between two wireless devices (both using Wifi, say).
(If you’re interested in this: See previous blog posts on the work of Edward Tse, which is somewhat similar, as well as on Sony’s DataTiles. And I thought I linked to a video showing an interaction between a large horizontal screen and physical objects in order to make music, but I can’t find it.)
Update: Aaaaaaand here is a pretty funny parody video of Microsoft Surface. Warning: this is ONLY funny with SOUND. Without sound, it’s just a normal PR video.
Woops, my last comment was meant to be attached to this post..
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I’ve not had a chance to watch the video properly, but this looks a bit like playAnywhere, also done at Microsoft. It could be a progression from that although it’s different enough that I imagine they are separate projects, possibly sharing some of the texhnology though.
http://research.microsoft.com/~awilson/
http://mtg.upf.es/reactable/?media