LinkNotes: Microsoft's SecondLight Surface

2009-03-17

Microsoft's SecondLight Surface

Clipped from: InfoNIAC

Second Light - the Second Generation Multi-touch Computer from Microsoft

At the South by SouthWest Festival visitors were told that in just two or three years they will witness the appearance of a second generation Surface - a computing gadget from the software giant Microsoft.
[...]
Surface represents a multi-touch computer that resembles a table.
The device features a flat screen that is able to read multi-touch gestures. Surface may also read content found on printed material that is placed onto the screen. This became possible with the help of five cameras installed inside the device.

Clipped from: YouTube - Microsoft Surface - The Possibilities

Microsoft Surface - The Possibilities

How does Surface work?
At a high level, Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and the result is displayed on the surface using rear projection.

What are the key attributes of surface computing?
Surface computing has four key attributes:

Direct interaction. Users can actually "grab" digital information with their hands and interact with content by 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.

Clipped from: BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft Surface in action

Microsoft Surface in action

Clipped from: Microsoft's SecondLight technology revealed - News - PC Authority

Microsoft's SecondLight technology revealed

Dual projection devices within the screen allow hidden images to exist underneath photographs, which can be rotated and zoomed to show the hidden information in context.