Gates demos TouchWall computer

Microsoft user experience designer Russ Burtner tests out TouchWall ahead of Chairman Bill Gates' Wednesday keynote at the CEO Summit. The touch screen, which is approximately 4 feet by 6 feet, is a research prototype.

(Credit: Microsoft)

In his waning days as a full-time employee, Bill Gates is getting a little touchy-feely.

I'm not sure whether Gates is getting more emotional, but he is definitely big on the power of new user interfaces, especially touch-screen devices. On Wednesday, he is set to show off Microsoft's latest prototype, known as TouchWall.

The device to be shown Wednesday is something like a giant Surface unit turned on its side.

TouchWall is one of several multitouch prototypes Microsoft Research has created, in addition to the tabletop unit that Microsoft's Surface group has begun to sell commercially. Among the other devices the company is also reportedly working on is a sphere-shaped device.

Others also have multitouch walls. Multitouch pioneer Jeff Han has begun to sell one, while Hewlett-Packard showed one at last year's "D: All Things Digital" conference.

Han's unit was offered for $100,000 in Niemen Marcus' luxury holiday catalog last year, and CNN is using one in its election coverage.

Gates' demo comes as part of the company's CEO summit, an annual gathering of business leaders that runs through Thursday at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

A Microsoft representative declined to offer any details about whether or when TouchWall might be available commercially. The device is not being developed by the Surface unit, but rather is a collaboration between Microsoft Research and the company's newly formed Office Labs unit.

[Ian Kirkland]

At least this looks more usable than the big ass table!! Too bad there isn't more detail about how it works!

Once again, you see Microsoft showing off a technology they copy/stole from elsewhere. Any MS version of stolen technology is always inferior, MS jams its version down your throat, the public thinks MS is great never knowing the truth in how MS truly harms society and has severely stunted IT development for many years.

[haraldbeck]

Copied/stolen? Microsoft has been working on touch/multitouch for many years. Surface goes back 5 years. Bill Buxton, principal researcher at MSR has been at it for 20 years.

[underbrink]

How does the Blue Screen of Death look on a wall-size monitor?

[onlyauser]

Why such size? I just do not get it. I mean the cost, the space, the size. This idea just seems a bit off to me, but what do I know? Not much, except this stuff won't be in my home.

[digitaldummy]

All these new concepts and productivity wise innovations in the home and workplace are brillant yes I will agree, but I worry about our health. As a young lad I was always told not to sit to close to the TV because it will damage my eye sight aswell as putting plastic bags over my head. Now not only do they want me to stand less then arm's lenght from it, there going to give me things to do so I'm there for a while. I really hope it comes in a plastic bag.
I do wan't one thoe.