Microsoft Launches Multitouch Surface Computing

[Bengt77]

Wow!

Yes, wow! And yes, I've seen Jeff Han's demos of touch screen interfaces. Never really thought commercial uses of it were this close to readiness, though. Very cool! Too bad everybody here is saying that it's not even remotely original. So what? Just because it's coming from Microsoft it's suddenly not cool? Well, I for one really like what I'm seeing. Great things don't come at once. They are invented and improved upon at multiple places by different people/companies. This is one such a thing.

Very cool indeed: wow! Would love to play with it sometime...

 

[alwaysaangel]

Goodness you guys are cynical. I think its pretty cool. My favorite was definitely the restaurant stuff. No, its not going to show up at every Red Lobster or Outback in the next year, but there will be a few upscale "trendy" bars and restaurants that will probably incorporate it. I would totally go to a restaurant at least once just to try one of those things. And the splitting the bill thing was AWESOME.

plus i hope with the credit card payments they are doing in the restaurants they have some amazing way to keep privacy of typing your pin, i wouldnt want to type my pin on a table that everyone is using..

I'm assuming once you finalize the amounts a click pay, a receipt prints out at the waiter station and they bring it to you to sign - just like any other credit card payment. I've never ented a pin for a credit card payment in my life.

The whole point was most waiters/waitresses won't split bills at all, let alone for big groups. I dunno about everyone else here but when I can't have a waitress split the bill, then whenever I eat out with 3+ people I always end up screwed on the bill because someone ends up "forgetting" that $12 martini they ordered and I don't feel like arguing about it. To be able to drag items and calculate tip that easily is AWESOME! No one gets screwed and its all automated.

 

[Stella]

Those of you saying that Surface isn't anything special or innovative should really watch the videos linked.. then come back and repeat your original statements.

There are so many applications that Surface could be used for... seriously cool.

If this was from Apple, [most] people's negative opinions would be changed. :-\

 

[DMann]

That's Right!

for 600 dollars next month I'll be using my own multitouch device where I want, when I want to!

No call for couch potatoes here......... One in the hand beats staring downward anytime. With all the cameras and moving parts beneath the monstrosity, Leopard and Core Animation will be able to do the same processes using Pixel Image Capture within flat screens and mobile devices. Good to see that ol' MS is still in the game, though

 

[Avatar74]

Those of you saying that Surface isn't anything special or innovative should really watch the videos linked.. then come back and repeat your original statements.

There are so many applications that Surface could be used for... seriously cool.

If this was from Apple, [most] people's negative opinions would be changed. :-\

There are a lot of high-tech professional applications. Military was mentioned in regard to Perceptive Pixel. I can also see some application in video editing and also possibly network news, even replacing the ubiquitous and demonstrably clunky chroma key process in weather reporting (as cost declines)... but the big one is medical diagnostics and surgery.

Apple, I would reason, is already all over this. Their patents show a trend of developing everything the MS product can do and more... and targeting specific indusries like medicine.

Combining diagnostic imaging with multitouch and possibly even remote robotic surgery could link up the world's best specialists with patients unable to be physically moved from remote locations for what today are high-risk, invasive procedures that would tomorrow be low-risk and minimally invasive given the type of technological convergence between the interface, the surgeon, OR-portable diagnostic feedback, and precision surgical control.

Additionally, the every day usages are tremendous... if Apple's Mobile Mac people are doing what I think they're doing, we're going to see a new class of PDA-like devices that have wi-fi, WiMax/4G or another next generation connectivity that will link users from anywhere to their LAN's at home. Imagine being on the road with the kids and forgetting their favorite DVD, and punching up Finding Nemo on the Mobile Mac in your car and streaming it directly from your LAN to the car. I think we'll see this level of personal computing in the next 3 to 5 years from Apple.

 

[oldwatery]

You're kidding, right? Gosh, I'm getting a Mac soon, but I'm starting to become paranoid that being a Mac user means automatic deduction of vast amounts of brain cell-age. This thread has been home to the most absurd, immature posts, all of which reek of a very distint tone of defensiveness against the idea that *gasp* MS came up with something cool.

One thing that is probably worth mentioning: just because it's made by Microsoft doesn't mean that it was personally developed by Bill Gates himself. He seems to have nothing to do with this project. If he is the object of all of your hate, remember that he has nothing to do with this and maybe you'll like it more then...

Well said kingofkolt

I always knew that there were some fervent Macophiles out there but this thread more than any I have read in the past is showing me that the things people have said about Mac fans is true.
What a bunch of inbred MSphobes.

Grow up people. This is very amazing technology regardless of who introduced it and if the complainers and naysayers would get their blinkers off for just one moment they would see that it is good for everyone that this has been developed.
Bravo Microsoft and bravo the posters who can see through the hatred and bias.

 

[DMann]

Multi-Touch

I haven't read all the posts.. but I'm a little confused. I've seen videos demos of multi-touch interactive displays floating around the net for the past few years, and the upcoming iPhone also has multi-touch features. So I'm not exactly sure why the press is touting this display technology as an introduction from Microsoft.

Secondly.. I thought there was a patent on multi-touch displays.. so the multi-touch aspect of the upcoming iPhone is not patented by Apple? Could someone shed some light on this?

Multi-Touch technology has been in development for over six years. Jeff Han at NYU was the first to bring it out into the open last year within the Medical and Research community. Meanwhile, Apple and Microsoft had been working on their own patented versions. As you can see, Apple's version is mostly OS driven while MS's version is highly dependent on hardware (cameras, sensors, moving parts). This is Microsoft's way of 'bringing new technology to the table' and claiming they 'invented' it. Developed, perhaps, and some nice functionality indeed. Great for hotels, casinos, and restaurants - but a bit too bloated for the rest of us

 

[DMann]

Apple's Response

Wow. I don't care if this is coming from the evil, hated MS. That is some seriously cool technology. Very nice job. Can't wait to see Apple's response, and especially can't wait for it to become common in the home (5, 10 years maybe?).

Apple has responded, nearly 6 months ago - iPhone. Apple's Pixel Image Capture will take it to the next level - video conferencing without a camera,
flat panels with no moving parts. (unlike Surface) Great to see MS contributing.... means we'll be seeing even greater things from Apple.

 

[Intarweb]

Apple has responded, nearly 6 months ago - iPhone.

Yes, lets compare an iPhone that's designed to make calls to this, it makes perfect sense.

Let me know when you and 4 friends can simultaneously control what's on your iPhone.....

 

[psycoswimmer]

How can people be so ignorant to admit that this is pretty cool and useful. Just because it's from Microsoft, do we have to hate it? No.

I can't wait to see if this becomes mainstream in the future.

 

[DMann]

Surface

I'll have to apologize in advance, because this has the makings of a longish post.

First off, I'll admit I'm impressed with Surface (Microsoft Surface, the Surface?). No, they didnt invent the multitouch display concept, but they did do two things which makes this thing a big deal. First, they introduced the interaction of objects placed upon the table. Second and most important, they are the first to commercialize the multi-touch concept ( ok, second after the iPhone, but we can all agree that both products serve very different needs and demographics).

However, I'm a little confused as to how many buyers Microsoft will have for Surface. Their press release states that it will soon (Winter of this year) be available in "restaurants, hotels, retail and public entertainment venues". Given the price, it would be very expensive for restaurants to replace every table with a Surface. I do see a good use in upscale bars, where there are not that many tables, and it would give them more reason to charge $25 for a martini. Surface would be useless in hotels, except as a gimmick, or, once again, in an upscale bar in a fancy hotel. Retail has some possibilities, in fancy jewelry or electronics stores (I can see Sony's stores having a few). Entertainment venues I guess would mean casinos, and it would be interesting to have surface built in to some casino tables. There are already some all-electronic poker tables present in some casinos.

All in all, Surface brings a lot of interesting and very cool-worthy concepts, but its practicality is limited. Microsoft knows this, and thats why they are targeting restaurants and such as its demographics and not consumers. Despite this, I keep reading comments about "I would never buy one" or "iPhone is better" or "way too expensive". Most of these negative comments are probably there because its a MS product and we mac faithful are basically trained to hate MS products. However, Surface will never be a competition to Apple, even if Apple releases the next iMac with a multitouch display (although I'm sure microsoft is already working on a consumer version of surface, and then we can all hate that).

Beware of the iceberg, an enormous mass lies below the surface.....

Try to imagine a desktop monitor containing cameras, lenses, and infra red sensors attached to mechanical arms, with several motors to control them - This would make the CRT of yesterday seem like a flat panel. Although the concept is great, the implementation is not practical. Do you remember the first demo of Longhorn back in 2003, which made documents wobble and wiggle like real paper? The problem was that it required a mainframe using 4 Ghz processors and a graphics card the size of a table top. This too, was not very practical for the consumer.

 

[DMann]

iPhone

Yes, lets compare an iPhone that's designed to this, it makes perfect sense.

Let me know when you and 4 friends can simultaneously control what's on your iPhone.....

Incidentally, 5 people will be able to simultaneously manipulate images on an iPhone. By the time Surface surfaces, (2008) Apple will have taken Multi-Touch to the next two levels. Don't get us wrong, we love the new stuff MS has brought to the table. We also loved the Longhorn demo in 2003 which could animate paper wobbling. It's great for show, but it is highly demanding in terms of hardware, space, and resources.

 

[Intarweb]

Incidentally, 5 people will be able to simultaneously manipulate images on an iPhone. By the time Surface surfaces, (2008) Apple will have taken Multi-Touch to the next two levels.

Please, stop talking out of you know what. Makes you look foolish. Guessing what Apple will have in '08 is dumb. The iPhone isn't even out yet and you're already talking about it's next two incarnations (software or hardware wise).

right now the iPhone is a cell and a PDA, nothing more nothing less.

The fact that you, and others, are trying to compare and iPhone and Surface is downright laughable.

 

[TMay]

You can back up that statement?

Scratches head at an Apple fan making this comment. The device that saved Apple, iPod, is one of the biggest rape jobs that has ever been seen.....

Bold talk, but fantasy.

Please link to sources on the "rape".

 

[Photo Monkey]

You'd get a bad back if you used this a lot. It has some very good business uses, particularly if you could get it on the wall – say for booking train tickets in the station.

 

[DMann]

Multi-Touch

The iPhone isn't even out yet and you're already talking about it's next two incarnations (software or hardware wise).

right now the iPhone is a cell and a PDA, nothing more nothing less.

The fact that you, and others, are trying to compare and iPhone and Surface is downright laughable.

No guessing involved here, Pixel Image Capture is very real. Let me state again, Bravo to Microsoft for introducing a great implementation of Multi-Touch, with some awesome interactive functionality involving digital cameras and phones. This is wonderful, and I do not downplay that greatness. We are not comparing the iPhone to what Surfaces brings to the table, we are pointing out that they both utilize Multi-Touch technology, which makes the cool stuff happen. While MS needs a large housing to contain the engines, cameras, lenses, and mechanical arms for it to operate, the capabilities are beyond great. This is a major breakthrough in interactive technology, and a great arcade machine. It is also impressive that the iPhone (which I have seen) can implement Multi-Touch without all the bulk - this is the point.

 

[Intarweb]

Bold talk, but fantasy.

Please link to sources on the "rape".

All the did was take an existing technology, that had been available to consumers for YEARS prior and marketed the hell out of it. The iPod was nothing new. Just different. But since it was Apple the Fanbots on this site praise it. But MS does something similar and it's "OMG teh r teh coppiers!"

 

[akadmon]

Material science challenge

Yes, this is cool and all that, but what about durability? Until somebody invents a surface that will not scratch (when handled by a woman fresh back from a nail salon), smudge and stain (can you say "kids"), deform (when someone puts a hot cup of coffee on it or spills some liquid nitrogen), and that will support a 300 lb man while he tries to shatter it with a 40 lb sledgehammer -- this will remain just a hookah dream.

 

[Intarweb]

No guessing involved here, Pixel Image Capture is very real. Let me state again, Bravo to Microsoft for introducing a great implementation of Multi-Touch, with some awesome interactive functionality involving digital cameras and phones. This is wonderful, and I do not downplay that greatness. We are not comparing the iPhone to what Surfaces brings to the table, we are pointing out that they both utilize Multi-Touch technology, which makes the cool stuff happen. While MS needs a large housing to contain the engines, cameras, lenses, and mechanical arms for it to operate, the capabilities are beyond great. This is a major breakthrough in interactive technology, and a great arcade machine. It is also impressive that the iPhone (which I have seen) can implement Multi-Touch without all the bulk - this is the point.

Ok, that point didn't come through like that in your previous points.

You're talking about how each company decided to implement the "touch." Agreed on that point. Apple, with regards to touch, did it a "better" way. IF Apple can implement the same features that Surface can (using their touch tech), on the same scale, then without a doubt they will be head and shoulders above MS's tech. Right now, it's only available in a 3x5 form factor.

 

[TheAnswer]

"OMG teh r teh coppiers!"

Surely you mean "OMG tehy r teh coppiers!"

 

[trevorlsciact]

This thing (whatever it is called) is to the Lisa as the iPhone is to the Macintosh. Both great products, but just watch which one changes the world.

Oh, and Microsoft, finally an innovative product, well done! *claws out own eyes*

 

[TPALTony]

Can we stop the "rip off" talk?

Guys, come on. If you're going to argue "who came up with it first" then everyone is a rip-off artist.

After all, Apple didn't invent electricity, they were one of the first to harness it in an affordable computer that could do things for you though.

It's not about what you come up with "from scratch" and nothing else. It can just as easily be about how you use existing technologies in ways people haven't considered before. After all, who had ever thought of putting a really tiny hard drive in a white plastic box, sticking a few buttons on it and calling it an "iPod"? Apple didn't invent the hard disk, the firewire connection or the display for the iPod, but they put it together in a way that was new, and made it intuitive to use. All credit to them, their business accumen is incredible and I have a huge amount of respect for that. But they "get it." They use technology to achieve a goal. It's not about the technology, it's about what you do with it.

So give Microsoft a little credit please. There's some new stuff in there. Yes, they use cameras to detect things on the table, yes the UI looks a lot like the Jeff Han stuff. Yes there might be some patent squabbles in coming months, but the bottom line is, I don't recall seeing anything thus far that made objects on the screen interact with objects _placed_ on the screen in the way the camera, credit card and phone examples showed with Surface. It represents creative thinking and I'm all for that.

I am confident that Apple has something up their sleeve here, and my guess would be that their version will be more intuitive, because their track record is better when it comes to making things easy to use. But what MSFT showed last night was impressive, I won't deny that. I'm interested to see what happens next.

be well

t

 

[TMay]

All the did was take an existing technology, that had been available to consumers for YEARS prior and marketed the hell out of it. The iPod was nothing new. Just different. But since it was Apple the Fanbots on this site praise it. But MS does something similar and it's "OMG teh r teh coppiers!"

And you would recognize fanbots because you have been a member of this site, for oh, I don't know, maybe about 4 hours?

Funny that you've only been on this thread and the Palm thread.

More to the point, Apple created the infrastructure that made the success of the ipod possible, and yes, as a matter of fact, they bought some of the technology, and contracted the right people for some, but mainly, they figured out how to make an mp3 player that people liked.

Your Zune called. It wants a paint job in watermelon so it can be popular.

 

[twoodcc]

it's a cool idea....but not worth the money, methinks

 

[blab]