Microsoft Surface Introduction:
After establishing the lead in software industry, Microsoft toyed with various hardware. We saw xBox, Zune etc. Then a bigger project was under development under code name Milan, which was all about Microsoft Surface. Milan was aimed to leverage the perfect combination of hardware and software. Manipulating digital content using hand gestures, motions and physical objects is all about Microsoft Surface.
The 30-inch screen brings on all the excitement about Microsoft Surface. This 22 inches high, 21 inches deep, 42 inches wide innovative product costs as much as US$ 10000 and it takes some time to be affordable to all. Probably in another 4-5 years, the surface becomes so common that, every house and business will have a Surface and think about Microsoft Surface as part of their furniture, which is intelligent.
Many had a wrong impression about Microsoft Surface. They thought it is another glorified and hyped touch screen computer. And they are proved wrong by the features provided in the Microsoft surface. The touch screen computers enable users to do away with keyboard and mouse.
They can navigate the menu by touching various options to reach a logical end of viewing data or printing. And there ends the comparison. Microsoft Surface can do many more things, which you think are not possible!
The number of fingers detected by the multitouch sensor is limited only by the individual software designer’s desire – the hardware itself supports as many simultaneous prods as you can throw at it.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled Microsoft Surface on May 29, 2007 and the whole world came to know about Microsoft Surface. Microsoft has some partners like Star wood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, International Game Technology , Harrah's Entertainment, T-Mobile etc readily willing to experiment Microsoft Surface in real world situation in their business.
Microsoft Surface Features:
Direct interaction: Facility to manage digital information with hand gestures and touch instead on mouse and keyboard.
Main interface components: Direct interaction, multi-touch contact, a multi-user experience, and object recognition.
Multi-touch contact: User need not use only one finger to manage digital data. If user dips five fingers in five different colors in the on screen paint palette and draws five lines with five fingers, you get five lines with five colors.
Multi-user experience: Typical computers accept only one keyboard and a mouse. Microsoft Surface accepts multiple inputs from multiple users. More than one person sitting across the Surface, can do independent work on the same Surface.
Orientation: Horizontal – like a table to allow users to use, share and create experiences together.
CPU: Core 2 Duo processor
Processor: 1 GHz processor.
Installed Memory: 2GB of RAM
Hard drive: Yes
Object recognition: The system can identify physical objects placed on the Surface. It can relate the appropriate software for the appropriate item placed on surface. Objects may be recognized based on their shape or on special codes affixed to them.
Display Type: 30-inch Flat panel display
Graphics Card: 256MB graphics card.
Projector: DLP light engine like the one used in rear-projection HDTV.
Cameras: Five cameras with infrared filters - net resolution of 1280 x 960
Material: The tabletop is acrylic, and its interior frame is powder-coated steel.
Surface: Not touch-sensitive surface. When you place or drag a finger, internal projector lights screen from beneath.
Power Supply: Standard American 110–120V power
Operating System: The custom software platform runing on Windows Vista
Network Connectivity: Wired Ethernet 10/100 and wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity.
Dimensions: 22 inches high, 21 inches deep and 42 inches wide.
Weight: 150 pounds
Ideal for: Restaurants, games, shops and Entertainment
Microsoft Surface Approximative Price: US$ 10000
Other features:
Drag & Drop: Like any widows Operating system, all items can be dragged and dropped.
Automatic Identification: Can identify objects. Place your Digital camera on the surface and you can see the photos displayed on the surface without actually downloading!
Initial customers: Harrah's Entertainment, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, T-Mobile and IGT.
