A Wider Net

Microsoft officially unveiled Surface, an exciting new way of interacting with a computer. Think of it as a coffee-table computer screen that you can touch to manipulate files and media. But that basic description barely does this technology justice. For starters, the screen is “multi-touch” sensitive, like the iPhone (reportedly) will be - which allows you to use multiple fingers to manipulate media - zooming, stretching, moving, etc. Next, it wirelessly connects to devices you place on the surface like phones and cameras. Then you can drag images and movies in and out of those wireless devices as if they were part of the virtual surface. You have to see it in the video - it’s super cool.

This device is similar to MERL Diamond Touch and the Gesturetek Gestpoint table models, in that you view the content on a horizontal surface and manipulate it with your hands. But it appears to use the multi-touch control system shown at a recent TED conference, and the interface is simply amazing.

This will surely affect us in the media production and marketing industries. Here are some initial ideas:

• As a collaboration and visualization tool, this will be a powerful tool to sit around and view materials.
• In a trade show environment, it will make a great demonstration station. Not only can you give guided tours of your products but you can hand over control to anyone at the table and allow them to access media and fill out forms.
• Attendees can plunk their mobile device on the surface and drag some product shots and PDF’s onto their device for an ultra-slick self-service literature fulfillment kiosk.
• An auto dealership can use it to display digital brochures, then work through financing options and fill out a loan request.

I can’t wait to get one to play with. Dang! We just bought a new coffee table for our lobby… I guess this will just have to go in my office.

More information here and here