All Entries Tagged With: "Microsoft Surface"

Microsoft Surface Unboxing

We’ve done our fair share of unboxings here on GBM, but I don’t think you’ve ever seen anything like this before: an unboxing of a Microsoft Surface.

Checkout this Flickr photoshoot showing the Surface arriving in a huge crate to when the new owner finally gets to move some water around. Fun stuff.

Touch Your Way to That Next BMW

Not that I think a lot of folks have a ton of cash floating around to go buy a Bimmer, but using a Microsoft Surface computer to help pick out that next car is a natural fit for multi-touch and natural user input technology. The application was written for BMW by VectorForm.

Check out BMW’s video below. Notice the use of color blocks that change the color of the car.

via BMWBlog

Discount Pricing on Surface Extended Through End of November

According to this posting at the Surface team blog, developers looking to get on the PDC special pricing on Surface units have a bit more time. The $13,500 discounted price, which includes 5 licenses of the SDK, has been extended to the end of November. Learn more about Surface.com

Microsoft SecondLight on Video

We linked to info on Microsoft’s SecondLight the other day and now there’s some video (albeit a bit dark) that shows off the technology. The idea is that the dual-projection system identifies what is being touch and projects a second image of what you’re working with. Sounds like an interesting extension of the Surface technology.

Microsoft Surface Officially Available To Developers

Microsoft’s Surface team has officially unveiled the limited $13,500 pricing for developers interested in taking Surface natural user interface development to the next level. This limited offer, which also includes 5 SDK licenses, will expire on November 15, so interested developers better act fast. In addition to this limited pricing, attendees at PDC2008 Surface sessions are being given licenses to Surface SDK and the Surface Simulator.

In an interview I had with the team on Friday, I was also told there are plans to launch a Surface marketplace where developers will be able to showcase their apps to interested parties. No timetable was given on when the marketplace / app store would launch, but this is a very good opportunity for some enterprising coders looking to get in on the ground floor of the next big thing.

Here is an interview the Surface team did with Vectorform, one of the leading Surface developing teams out there right now.

Got $13.5k to Spare? Buy a Surface!

At their Professional Developers Conference next week, Microsoft will be making special developer versions of the Surface available for sale at $13,500 each, which includes 5 SDK licenses. Hmm, I wonder what the airlines will charge for that extra piece of luggage……

Engadget Goes Kids-on With the SMART Table

Engadget and a group of kids were able to put their hands on a SMART table, and put up a bunch of cool videos!.  The Haines Elementary School in Chicago had one in their classroom this morning and the video was rolling to show off some of the multitouch capabilities of the table.  Looks similar to the Microsoft Surface technology and can handle up to 40 touches at a time!  Head over to Engadget to watch the 3 videos of the table in action - don’t mind the kids finger fighting to get that triangle moved, I wonder if they ever got it in the right place :)

Microsoft’s SurfaceWare Could Be A Bar Maid’s Best Friend

This, like so much we’re seeing interesting from Microsoft of late, is still a research project for Microsoft Surface, but it looks like it has the potential to increase tips for that waitress or waiter in your local pub. SurfaceWare uses a Microsoft Surface Table, software and a glass with an optical prism designed into the base. When a glass needs a refill a signal can be sent to the server to come and offer a refill. I didn’t know this, having never waited tables,  but apparently refill sales increase if you catch a customer with just the right amount of liquid remaining in the glass.

Via Engadget

Use 10 Fingers with Stantum’s True Multi-Touch

I guess it is just a multi-touch morning here at GBM. A company called Stantum’s product is called “True Multi-Touch” and it allows all you to work with all 10 fingers on the screen. The interface also lets you create a stack of gestures and controls for manipulating the screen. The folks at ElectricPig got their hands and fingers on the device and seemed to be impressed. They alluded to a 3.5 inch version for handhelds as well. That would be interesting, although I’m not sure how you could use more than a few digits at a time on a smaller screen.

Via Gizmodo

SMART Table: Multi-Touch for Kids

When we first started seeing inklings of Microsoft’s Surface and other mutli-touch interfaces I thought that one space we’d see this take off eventually would be in primary education. Turns out the folks behind SmartTech thought that as well and thus we have the SMART Table. SmartTech is well versed in gesture recognition with their whiteboard products. SMART Table doesn’t use Microsoft’s technology instead it uses their own Digitial Vision Touch (DVIT) system for capturing gestures. It will cost somewhere between $7000 and $8000 per installation and is due to launch tomorrow.

Via CrunchGear

Pumpkin Carving With a Surface

Microsoft’s Surface team just posted a video demoing a new multi-touch app from Vectorform that allows you to virtually carve a pumpkin. Vectorform is the same team working with MSNBC and their Surface implementation.

I can’t wait to see what apps get developed once folks get their hands on the Surface SDK.

Video at the Read More link…

Multi-Touch and the Election: Who Is Winning?

From a technology persepctive, this election might be known as the birth of multi-touch. CNN has been using a multi-touch wall, while MSNBC.com has utilized a multi-touch Microsoft Surface table with an overhead to display what is being moved around. Two different approaches to accomplish the same thing: engage the audience with dynmically changing content scenarios.

Personally speaking, I’ve found CNN’s approach to be more engaging and a better use of the technology: a vertical mult-touch wall that the presenter, John King, interacts with. The audience has the benefit of seeing the map change while also listening and watching the presenter. John King has done a masterful job in his use of the vertical wall, and his use of it comes across as very fluid and natural.

Conversely, MSNBC’s approach uses a flat multi-touch table. The audience sees one of two scenarios at various points: a picture of the presenter, Chuck Todd, manipulating data on a flat table which displays in an insert above the presenter; or a picture of the Todd’s hands moving objects around. The flat table approach is a couple of steps removed from the audience, and in my opinion, less engaging. In addition, Todd also uses some hardware objects to manipulate and change how he is navigating the system. The audience can hear them make noise while they are moved about the Surface. While I applaud MSNBC’s use of the Surface, the strength of Surface is when folks gather around the table themselves, like in a AT&T store, a home, a resturant, etc. Using the Surface as a media presentation tool for television is not nearly as engaging as the vertical wall solution that CNN employs.

All of that said, I think this election cycle has done a good job introducing the audience to multi-touch in some big screen ways, paving a good path for Windows 7.

Get Surface SDK at Microsoft PDC Conference

I’ve been following everything Microsoft Surface since its’ grand unveiling. There is so much potential for the technology that reaches beyond the current “big table” approach. Whatever we see come out of Surface will make its way in to many other techologies. I suspect we’ll see Surface’s imprint all over Windows 7.

If you are headed to Microsoft Professional Developers Conference from October 27 - 30, then you must put the Surface session on your agenda. Everyone who attends their session will get registered to receive the much coveted Surface SDK and Surface Simulator. If I hadn’t been out of town so much lately, I most surely would be at PDC, even if Windows 7 were not getting unveiled.

Microsoft’s Robert Levy has all the details:

I’m really excited about the “Developing for Microsoft Surface” session Brad Carpenter, Doug Kramer, and I are delivering.  The conference schedule has now been published: we’re in room 151 right after lunch on Day 1.  Mark your calendars!

The abstract posted on the PDC site explains our session well, but I like to summarize it as “We’re changing the world.  Here’s how.  Come join us.”  But wait, there’s more!  Everyone who attends our session will get to swipe their badges at the door afterwards to get an exclusive email invitation for joining the Surface developer community website where our SDK & Surface Simulator tool can be downloaded.

Microsoft: Would You Buy a Surface for $1499?

Long Zheng uncovered a Microsoft survey asking for input into a consumer-based Surface type of computer called “Oahu” that sits on a table-top, is embedded into furniture, even in a counter top.

Here is some intro text on Oahu, but head over and checkout some of the survey questions for much more detail:

The following questions refer to a computing device called “Oahu” that has an innovative multi-touch screen. Oahu is a flat screen that sits horizontally like a table top. You can interact with Oahu by touching the screen, instead of using a mouse, and more than one person can interact with Oahu at the same time. You and others can move objects on the screen with your hands and touch icons to open up programs, games, or music. People using the device can also use their fingertips to expand and shrink objects on the screen. The screen recognizes people’s hand movements and touches and reacts accordingly. You can bring up an on-screen keyboard to input information. Oahu also works with other devices (such as digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 players) by getting information from or sending information to them. Oahu is on with no waiting time to start up.

Long further enlightens regarding the name “Oahu”

For those who are curious, the name “Oahu” has some symbolic meaning. Besides being the name of the Hawaiian island - home to Honolulu, Pearl Harbour and Lost, it is indirectly translated as “The Gathering Place“. Fitting as the Surface computer encourages multiple people to interact at the same time.

It’s Not Too Early To Be Thinking About the 2009 CES Tablet PC Meetup

Oh, my how time flies. Lora Heiny is reminding us that it isn’t too late to be thinking about the 2009 CES Tablet PC Meetup. Each of the last several years we’ve seen new interest in each new wave of mobile devices including UMPCs and MIDs. Lora is interested in making sure that as the industry looks forward, the opportunity for inclusion of newer technologies is there as well.

The industry is advancing and I want to make sure that the product interests represented are forward looking. Yes, I’m sure there will be plenty of Windows 7 chatter and hardware comparisons. A couple years ago we expanded the gathering to include mini-Tablet PCs more commonly known as UMPCs. Last year people interested in MIDs attended. My observation is that the common connection is an interest in natural input. Do you agree?

Following that logic, what do you think if Surface is included? What about… yep, I’ll ask (gulp) — iPhone? (Of course, Macworld may overlap, as the gathering has most recently been on the 3rd day of CES. So, it might just be like ‘08 where people are welcome to pull out their iPhones.)

And yes, then the gathering will need a new name…suggestions?

So, what do you think folks, a new name? Is it time? I notice Lora doesn’t include Netbooks. Should they be included.  The discussion is open.