Microsoft Surface, a Touch-sensitive Table

This isn't the first time that we've seen a touch-sensitive desk concept from Microsoft, but that first video was for a fairly boring industrial application. What about consumers? Well, the Microsoft team has just revealed the Microsoft Surface, a literally touch-sensitive table that employs multi-touch technology and wireless communication with a variety of devices.

It is particularly well suited for sharing photos, because using the multi-touch interface, you can move the pictures around as if they were physical photographs. What's more, you can make use of the instant resizing feature, much like that found on the Apple iPhone. What I think is the greatest, though, is that when you plant a Bluetooth or WiFi-capable device on the table itself, it instantly syncs up so that data (like photos) can be shared and moved easily. You just literally drag the photo to your T-Mobile Dash, as demonstrated in the video below.


For the time being, Microsoft is largely marketing the surface -- more info here -- to commercial locations like T-Mobile Stores, Harrah's and Sheraton hotels. I was listening to the radio this morning, and the deejay said that Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas will be among the first to receive one of these fun tabletops.

In the future, Microsoft hopes to implement their "surface" technology in the home, transforming coffee tables into giant TV remotes for instance. Looks like the world depicted in Minority Report isn't that far away. In the meantime, one of these innovative tables will run you between $5,000 and $10,000 a piece.





Written by Annie Groer
Published in Technology News