Awesome Thingy of the Day: May 30, 2007

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Dubbed "The Minority Report Table" for it's "The Future is NOW!" wow-factor, Microsoft's Surface is the first mainstream step toward computing of this kind. We may find it hard to imagine Surface's true usefulness as a sole home computer at this point, but we have become so fully entrenched in the mouse/keyboard/window-style computing of Mac/PC/Linux/BSD that it's not surprising we'd question such things. The current windowing paradigm of computing was not very useful until a billion 3rd party developers hopped on the bandwagon and created software to complete the experience. I'm sure the same thing will happen in this case, although developers are much less reluctant to try to be the first or most successful these days, so we may see Surface's full integration into our lives quicker that previous new computing methods.

From the Microsoft website

Overview:

"Microsoft Surface is the first commercially available surface computing platform from Microsoft Corporation. It turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live.

Description:
Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and will be able to recognize actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.

Surface will ship to partners with a portfolio of basic applications, including photos, music, virtual concierge and games, which can be customized to provide their customers with unique experiences.

Surface Computing:
Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday content, from photos to maps to menus. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information by using their hands and natural movements. Users are able to access information either on their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, unlike any experience available today. Surface computing features four key attributes:
Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.

Multi-touch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.

Multi-user experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content."

See some great eye-candy over at the Surface home page here and hands-on video report by Popular Mechanics here.

So what's the most you would pay to have one of these in your home? Leave a comment here.