April 11, 2008 4:00 AM PDT
Microsoft's director of federal government affairs, John Sampson, demonstrates one of the kiosks, all of which run the company's Windows Vista presentation foundation on a back-end SQL server. The accompanying Web site is built on Microsoft's Sharepoint Server content management software, and the interactive features use Microsoft's Silverlight plug-in, its Adobe Flash rival. "It's breathtaking," Sampson said at a press preview of the exhibit this week.
Microsoft's involvement in the project dates back to 1997, when several members of Congress wrote to Bill Gates inquiring about his interest, Sampson said. Since then, Redmond has donated more than $3 million in "technology, consulting services, and cash" through a cooperative agreement but has not been paid directly by the Library for any of its work.
Photo by Anne Broache/CNET News.com
Caption by Anne Broache
