In a press release issued by Microsoft Tuesday, the announcement of the first commercially available surface computer was made.
Expected to be released late this year, Surface will first appear in places like Casinos and hotels.
“With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to interact with technology,” Ballmer said. “We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision.”
Surface also has the ability to recognize physical objects equipped with id tags. Examples noted in the press release include usage in restaurants. When a patron sets his wine glass down on the table, Surface could automatically bring up information about the wine they have ordered and display photos of the vineyard from which it came.
The retail industry could also see a practical application. When a product is placed on the tabletop display, information about the product could be brought up including price and specifications, and, with multiple products placed on the display, comparison information could be shown. The possibilities are really endless.
“With Surface, we can actually grab data with our hands and move information between objects with natural gestures and touch.
Surface features a 30-inch tabletop display whose unique abilities allow for several people to work independently or simultaneously all without using a mouse or keyboard.”
More information on this exciting technology can be found at http://www.surface.com/