4. What is surface computing?
A form of computing that offers
“A natural way of interacting with information” , rather than the
“traditional user interface.”
“Direct Interaction”
“Multi–Touch”
“Multi–User”
“Object Recognition”
5. How is the Surface used?
• Wireless!
• Digital interactive painting
• At a phone store?
• At a restaurant?
• Play games and use the Internet.
• Jukebox! Browse music, make play lists.
• Maps
6. How does it work?
(1). Screen (2). Infrared
(3). CPU (4). Projector
7. How does it work?
(1) Screen: Diffuser -> ”multi touch" screen. Can process multiple
inputs and recognize objects by their shapes or coded "domino"
tags.
(2) Infrared: The ”machine vision" is aimed at the screen. Once an
object touches the tabletop -> the light reflects back and is picked
up by infrared cameras.
(3) CPU: Uses similar components as current desktop computers ->
Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 256MB graphics card.
Wireless communication -> WiFi and Bluetooth antennas .OS->
modified version of Microsoft Vista.
(4) Projector: Uses a DLP light engine ( rear-projection HDTVs).
8. Specifications
Display
Type: 30-inch XGA DLP® projector.
Graphics card with 256 MB of memory.
Input
Camera-based vision system with LED infrared direct illumination.
Bluetooth® keyboard and mouse.
COMPUTING SYSYTEM
2.13-GHz Intel® Core2 Duo processor.
Memory: 2 GB dual-channel DDR2.
Advanced version of Windows vista.
10. Pros & Cons
Pros:
• Intuitive User interaction with
natural gesture.
• Collaborative computing
experience.
• Object Recognition.
• Mediator between devices.
Cons:
Surface is not portable and very
expensive.
Privacy and security issues - Open
for many to view.
Screen Visibility - Glare, finger
prints/dirt and human interaction
obscuring interface.
Objects needs to be tagged (domino
tags or RFIDs).
11. Who’s using the Surface today?
• Currently only commercially available and used in the retail, hospitality,
automotive, banking and healthcare industries.
• Current customers are AT&T, T-Mobile, the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino
in Las Vegas, Sheraton Hotels, Disney Innovations House in California.
12. Surface’s Future…..
• Surface will continue to be sold to and used by restaurants, retail, leisure
and public entertainment venues.
• Microsoft wants to expand to the consumer market by making a product
people can use in their home environment.
• Computer scientists hope to incorporate this kind of technology
in peoples’ daily lives… Future goals are to surround people with intelligent
surfaces.
13. Conclusion
Microsoft Surface is the future of computers.
Fundamentally changes the way we interact with technology Surface takes
existing technology and presents it in a new way.
It isn't simply a touch screen, but more of a touch-grab-move-slide-resize-
and-place-objects-on-top-of-screen, and this opens up new possibilities that
weren't there before.
