Microsoft pairs surface computing with wine

Like every year, the Consumer Electronics Show is jam-packed with gadgets, from shiny new cell phones to giant TVs.

But this year, reporters scouring the CES show floor found a few goodies for the foodies too.

Microsoft's Mark Bolger gives a demo of Wine Bar on the company's surface computer.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

CNET News.com's Ina Fried sat down Wednesday with Mark Bolger of Microsoft's surface computing team to see what types of applications the tabletop technology could be used for. One of the ideas they've come up with is a system called Wine Bar that would allow restaurant-goers to select from a restaurant's wine list based on their taste preferences. So you can imagine selecting traits like acidity or fruitiness and having the tableside computer bring back appropriate wines from the restaurant's wine list. Or those who buy wine based on the pretty labels (you know who you are) could visually scroll through the list and look at each bottle.

Bolger also suggests the system could then make food recommendations based on the wine that's been ordered. That might be the reverse of how most people order their meals, but I like the way he thinks.

Click here to see Fried's video.

[ggerstman]

I recently had an opportunity to watch a live demonstration of the Microsoft Surface platform at the National Retail Federation show in NYC and really believe that it has the potential to revolutionize the way people shop. The ability to compare products by placing them on the table, the ability to easily download information on products to your handheld device, the ability to pay for products by simply placing your credit card on the table...all done with an incredibly unique user interface that makes marketers like me excited. I'm looking forward to seeing Surface in real world situations.

Gregg Gerstman
Quest Market Strategies
http://questmarketstrategies.blogspot.com