Surface Computer Launched by Microsoft

If you've been following Jefferson Han's Perceptive Pixel Multi-Touch developments, you'll notice similarities with Microsoft's new Surface Computer which was announced today at the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference by Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft Surface is the first in a new category of surface computing products from Microsoft that "turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, dynamic surface that provides effortless interaction with all forms of digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects." You won't be using the Surface computer at home any time soon, but Microsoft promises that by the end of this year you will be able to interact with Surface in hotels, retail establishments, restaurants and public entertainment venues including Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., and T-Mobile USA Inc.

Surface demo video below!
 

Surface is all about multi-touch screen computing, with its 30-inch display and table-like form factor. You can do anything from digital finger painting, to ordering a beverage during a meal with the tap of a finger, or browse through music, photos and videos.

"Surface also features the ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes. This means that when a customer simply sets a wine glass on the surface of a table, a restaurant could provide them with information about the wine they’re ordering, pictures of the vineyard it came from and suggested food pairings tailored to that evening’s menu. The experience could become completely immersive, letting users access information on the wine-growing region and even look at recommended hotels and plan a trip without leaving the table."

More | Microsoft Surface Press release