Microsoft unveiled their new 'Surface' multi-touch computer. A 30in touch screen monitor is mounted into a table top to give you that $10,000 coffee table you always wanted for your living room. The articles I read don't say much about how the screen actually functions, but it is said that the screen sits below an acrylic surface - 5 cameras are also mounted below the surface of the table to sense nearby objects. It's the acrylic surface that really brings to mind Jeff Han's multi-touch display. The method used in the presentation -- showing off paint and photo manipulation abilities of the interface by starting with one finger and then spreading all five fingers across the screen (each finger carrying it's own thread from the display) sounds like it is straight from Jeff Han at TED.

Of course, since I haven't seen a video of the Microsoft project - and the only multi-touch demo I have ever seen is from Jeff Han - it is possible that I am just projecting my limited knowledge onto this Microsoft 'Surface' project. Although I think it is completely within Microsoft's MO to steal an existing idea if they think they can get away with it.

The final word? A neat idea that will eventually be a consumer item - but obviously a derivative work.

More Pictures

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | reddit | furl | technorati