Microsoft's top-secret touch screen

Even though so many people were left un-wowed by Vista, Microsoft's latest announcement is sure to elicit some excitement.

Five years in the (very secretive) making, the Surface Computer is a tabletop system that allows users to interact with digital media in some truly remarkable ways.

CNET News.com's Ina Fried has video of the system in action, viewable below.

Surface Computer users can fingerpaint digitally, resize and interact with photos and videos, and even "digitize" some real-life events, such as splitting up a restaurant bill and researching wines. The Surface Computer can recognize some real-world objects and creates onscreen versions to interact with.

The innovative system looks a lot like the interface demonstrated in the now-famous YouTube video of New York University researcher Jeff Han.

Alas, the Surface Computer isn't intended for home use--at least not yet. Instead, the tabletop system is expected to be used as an interactive kiosk for businesses, restaurants, and for entertainment in public spaces.

For CNET News.com's full take from Ina Fried, see the following:

Microsoft hopes 'Milan' table PC has magic touch

How the 'Milan' table PC was born

Photos: Reaching out and touching 'Milan'

Photos: On the road to Microsoft's Milan

[Joshua53077]

Isn't this the iPhone

Anyone who saw Steve Jobs demonstrate the iPhone knows that the iPhone has similar capabilities at a price that allows consumers to actually buy it

[silvervein]

this is old tech in Japan...

Go into any arcade in tokyo and you have games that use cards with RFID chips in them to be placed onto tabletop computers to move characters / battle units in and out of the game or around in the game. In addition there is a regular flat screen. This is kinda like a giant Nintendo DS.

Which brings me to my second point... why pay a ton of cash to install one of these in your restaurant when you could just use a Nintendo DS with a RFID reader wired to the table? (RFID adapter would have to be created but the technology is readily available).

[make_or_break]

REAL desktop (er, tabletop) computing

This is truly neat; the interactive possibilities with this system is only limited by one's imagination. How about digital painting that actually uses the same artistic techniques as traditional pigment-based painting. Doing print and web design layouts with an interactive tabletop certainly beats doing the same thing on a monitor with a mouse and/or tablet; a return to real cut and past. Gaming potential could be pretty neat as well. And what could be done with CAD; for once MSFT deserves credit for coming up with hardware that's imaginative and innovative. Certainly works for me.

Now all someone has to do is develop a true tactile holographic 3D interface.

[smokeonit]

typpical M$ rip off...

only thing missing is M$ saying that they invented it...

i hope apple comes out with their new mutli touch displays incl. copyright
before M$ does... 10.5 will have multi touch built in... i bet my behind on it...

[nightspark]

Another mac Crybaby

What do you mean rip off? The only thing that apple has that is like this is the iPhone. I'm sure that Microsoft has already filed patents (that's what you do, you don't copyright it)for their touch screen. Very cool Microsoft.

[freeway8989]

Actually, the iPhone is this.

Read the text bro...it says FIVE years in the making. This means that this Surface Computer was conceived way before the iPhone (or at least the one we saw Steve Jobs showcase). So if anything, the iPhone took ideas from this.

[domerdel]

History Lesson Required

you need a MS/Apple history lesson. Look at what's been copied over the years... M$. and just because M$ talked about "5 yrs in the makind" doesn't automatically put Apple out to copy them.

Typical M$ fanboy.

[mrpiddly12]

Concepts !!!!!!!!!

The original concept for surface was just a drawing. Apple probably had many
drawings of the iphone before.

[Hope M.]

Microsoft's top-secret touch screen

This new gadget as introduced by Microsoft could spark another trend of surface computers for the public use. But for sure this is one big breakthrough, great for businesses, and for entertainment establishments. Great job there Microsoft!

lets discuss this further reach me at:

http://forum.affiliatebot.com/register.php

[sk8flawzz]

Leave a tip?

to who? the waiter? hahaha man i cannot wait for this kind of technology to make it to the mainstream, id love to have that paint on an international flight hehehe

[OscarWeb]

Very cool but not going to take off

Although the video shows a couple of interesting applications for this, the fact that it requires tagging on every object for recognition is going to prevent it from taking off any time soon. Sorry, Microsoft, but maybe in 10 years...

[Rick Cavaretti]

Not a new idea!

This isn't new. I saw a demo of a very similar device about two years ago, either
on tv or one of the online video services. The operator was an Asian man in his
late 20's or early 30's. One of his demos showed a desktop with a bunch of
files on it. He could 'reach' out to it, mess up all of the files as though they were
real physical paper files, and move them around on the desk. That was just one
of the demos I remember. He was a researcher from Stanford University I
believe.

[afakirani]

WOW: Impressive Tech

This is really impressive. It's unbelievable the level of interaction a user can have with their files using this system. I found the ability to move around and resize video very interesting. The potential uses of this device are really cool, from a class room setting in an elementary school to use in the tech industry. I hope to see this tech in the real world in the near future

[alpharay]

same technology different direction

Apple uses the same technology in their next generation of iPod; on the other hand, Microsoft puts it on the table, which is not target on mass market.

The technology is come from here. It is very impressive.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

[JohnBarbagallo]

Special thanks to...

Thanks Jeff Han!

HAHAHA!

[fauxcephus]

Top Ten Apps for a Milan Tabletop Computer:

10. "What's for lunch?" : eat your lunch on the Milan computer and it will the calculate calories, vitamins and minerals contained in your sandwich (important note: all parts of the sandwich including the meat, cheese and mayo need to be barcoded to enable all features)
9. "Virtual Freecell": You can play solitaire using real-word representations of the on screen cards (special barcoded playing cards required).
8. "Flip-off" - the wacky road rage game (not recommended for those with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - requires barcoding of a finger for all features to work correctly)
7. "Windows Cleaner Pro" - learn the most effective way to use a bottle of Windex and end up with a squeaky clean Milan computer when you're done! (requires special barcoded paper towels and barcoded Glass cleaner bottle)
6. "Stacker 2007" - place your paper documents on the Milan tabletop and it will accurately guess how much work you need to do by the end of the day.
5. "Virtual Office Party" - photocopiers are old school! Sit on your Milan instead and it will EMAIL the results to all you co-workers! (requires a Microsoft Certified tattoo artist with a steady hand...)
4. "Quarters 2008" - who needs drinking buddies when you have Milan! When it blue screens, you've won!
3. "MS Poker Champion 2009" - you're not cheating if only the COMPUTER can see everyone's cards, are you?
2. "Portrait Artist Pro" - Create special effects for your photographs with nothing but some dyes and a little bit of sandpaper.
1. "I'm Crushing Your Head - Pro Edition" - Use the sensors in your Milan to their fullest potential by exacting your own private and painfully neurotic revenge against the victims of your choosing. Downloading additional "Head Packs" requires the installation of special facial DRM extensions. Packs available for purchase immediately will include include US Presidents, Apple Computer Execs and Linus Torvalds.