Here’s a Microsoft Surface demo with Bill Gates himself:
Microsoft Surface is an interactive coffee table shaped computer that responds to your touch and items that have special bar codes attached to them. The machines are set to be shown this Wednesday at a technology conference in California and then will be initially released in November at US stores such as T Mobile and at special properties owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. The Microsoft Surface computer is expected to cost between five and ten thousand dollars per unit. There are expected to be a small number of programmes included with the Surface computer which include a programme to help share digital photgraphs between friends and family.
Microsoft Surface is a black shiny table with a thirty inch touchscreen and inside this table is a Windows Vista PC. There are five cameras underneath the touchscreen which are sensitive to nearby objects and any movements. You can interact with the computer by dragging items onto the touchscreen such as paintbrushes or items that have a special bar code attached to them. You can use the touchscreen to create pictures using either paintbrushes or your fingers. Microsoft Surface is aimed more at the retail and hospitality industries rather than for personal use. It is hoped that people will able to order food and drink and then split their bill by placing their cards or room keys onto the touchscreen. T-Mobile is also planning to take advantage of this product by encouraging people to use the touchscreen computer to pick out cell phones. For pubs and clubs, Microsoft Surface can be used for choosing songs, buying drinks and food, and possibly even refilling your pint glass when it is empty! Hopefully this product may be able for individual people in the future to play games or to interact with other people.
