Microsoft Surface Table

Microsoft is going to unveil a new technology for consumers that are usually called Surface Table as a product named “Microsoft Surface”. Microsoft previewed the latest version of Microsoft Surface named as Microsoft Surface 2.0 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011. The company starts working on the project in 2003 when DJ Kuelander, Joel Dehlin, Bathiche and Wilson presented the idea to the Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.


Microsoft Surface was first unveiled on May 30, 2007. It grabs attention of many business owners who were willing to provide unforgettable hospitality and experience to their consumers. Till 2008 various companies deploy the Microsoft Surface technology. AT&T launches Surface in April 2008 and was the first retail location that launches Surface table which is followed by Surface launch at Rio iBar Tomorrowland, Sheraton Hotels.


Features:
Surface has a 30 inches display at the top and as a whole it looks like a table. The tabletop of the Surface is created by 850-nanometer-wavelength LED light source. When any object touches the surface, light is reflected to multiple infrared cameras with resolution of 1024 x 768 that allow it to sense, and react to items touching the tabletop.

Microsoft Surface mainly incorporates four features in it:

Direct Interaction: It refers to interaction with the application without any need of mouse or keyboard. User will be able to touch the application’s interface directly

Multi-Touch: This feature refers that unlike mouse which has single cursor and only one interactive point at a time, it has multiple contact points. In fact every single pixel on the screen acts as an interactive point.

Multi-User: Multi-touch makes possible Multiuser because due to several interactive points, several users can simultaneously interact with application at the same time.

Object Recognition: Surface table has an interesting feature that it can recognize any object placed on the table top in accordance with its shape or by using domino-style identification labels on the bottom of the objects. For an example in a mobile phone store you can put any phone on the Surface and it shows all its features, pricing list and allow the customer to drag icons representing elements of a service plan onto the phone, before sending the virtual package to be register for purchase. In addition it is also capable of scanning the text on a piece of paper.

CrunchBase Information

Microsoft Surface

Information provided by CrunchBase