REDMOND. Wash.--First, Microsoft showed off its tabletop Surface computer. Then it showed what that might be like as a sphere. At TechFest on Tuesday, Microsoft actually let the user get inside the sphere.
Microsoft's latest surface computing prototype uses a dome constructed from cardboard that serves as a giant display for all kinds of three-dimensional data. The main demo at TechFest featured the dome acting as a planetarium using data from Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope project. But, researcher Andy Wilson also showed the dome as a good backdrop for other things, such as video conferencing or mapping.
Microsoft's Andy Wilson inside a dome-shaped surface computer shown Tuesday at Microsoft's TechFest. In the background is an image from Building 99 on Microsoft's campus.
(Credit: Ina Fried/CNET Networks)Since it operates in the dark, the new surface computer relies largely on speech commands and hand gestures for navigation. Although it is probably a good choice in general, it made for some laughs when the speech recognition proved less than perfect.
"Earth," Wilson said, prompting the computer to bring up a perfectly stunning image--of Mars.
Overall, though, the experience was quite impressive, with Wilson taking me through a rapid fire tour from Venus to the Crab Nebula before showing a 360-degree video image of the TechFest show floor. (I shot a couple of videos that I am working to upload now and will embed in the story once I have done so).
Beyond researchers, though, there is the question of who is going to have the space for their own dome. Although the cardboard dome wasn't that expensive to build, not everyone is going to want to carve out a separate dome room in their house. With a somewhat brighter projector, the same effect could be done in a fairly dark room, Wilson said.
... Read MoreLike 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.
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
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