Microsoft Surface is a whole new kind of computer technology according to the software giant and it is certainly a new venture for the company with its floor-mounted computer systems. Microsoft Surface is namely literally a computer table, a table with an integrated computer. But Microsoft hasn’t settled for putting performance components under the hood, the monitor measures 30″ and is integrated into the table. The 30″ large display can be navigated by several people at a time and even though it may look like a touchscreen it’s actually cameras that are doing the sensor work. The operating system is a modified version of Windows Vista, although the hardware remains veiled.
“With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to interact with technology. We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision.”
Microsoft is foremost targeting the business market; restaurants, hotels and such, where the system can be used for everything from placing orders to picking playlists for the media player. The first Surface systems will appear later this year, but it will take a few years before the technology will go retail.
Those who want a closer look at Surface should head over to on10.net and their presentation video, which is quite a jawdropper. Among others, we get to see how a Surface computer can integrate with a physical object. Put a mobile phone on the table and the computer shows you the functions of the phone, as you can then drag new ringtones or view media available on the phone. The possibilities seem plentiful and we’re really looking forward to seeing more of Surface n the future.
