Surface computing is an advancement that allows for direct interaction through touch and gestures without mouse/keyboard. It features multi-touch recognition of many contact points simultaneously, a horizontal design for multi-user collaboration, and object recognition to trigger digital responses. Microsoft Surface is the first commercially available surface computing platform, consisting of a 30-inch display table that recognizes fingers, tags, and objects to power applications. It uses rear projection, cameras, and image processing to enable its touch and gesture controls.
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Presentation 2
1. Presentation 2
P NTRODUCTION
Surface computing is a major advancement that moves beyond the traditional user
interface to a more natural way of interacting with information. It features four key
attributes:
Direct Interaction : Users can actually "grab" digital information with their
hands - interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or
keyboard.
MultiTouch : Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not
just from one finger like with a typical touchscreen, but up to dozens of items at once.
MultiUser : The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around
Microsoft Surface together, providing a collaborative, facetoface computing
experience.
Object Recognition : Users can place physical objects on the display to trigger different
types of digital responses; in the future, this will include the ability to transfer digital
content.
c SURFACE COMPUTER
A surface computer is a computer that interacts with the user through the surface of an
ordinary object, rather than through a monitor and keyboard.
The category was created by Microsoft with Surface (codenamed Milan), the surface
computer from Microsoft which was based entirely on a Multi-Touch interface and using
a coffee-table like design, Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging
their fingertips and objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by setting real-
world items tagged with special bar-code labels on top of it.
w MICROSOFT SURFACE
Microsoft Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. It's the
first commercially-available surface computing platform from Microsoft. The product
provides effortless access to digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical
objects. Today, it's a 30-inch diagonal display in a table-like form factor that's easy for
individuals or multiple people to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the
real world. In essence, it's a surface come to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating,
buying and much more. Today Microsoft Surface is available in the retail, hospitality,
automotive, banking and healthcare industries. Consumers can interact with Surface at
the iBar located in the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and at select Sheratons
in the U.S
2. HOW IT WORKS
Microsoft Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input
is then processed and displayed using rear projection. Specifically:
Microsoft Surface uses a rear projection system which displays an image onto the
underside of a thin diffuser.
Objects such as fingers are visible through the diffuser by series of infraredsensitive
cameras, positioned underneath the display.
An image processing system processes the camera images to detect fingers, custom tags
and other objects such as paint brushes when touching the display.
The objects recognized with this system are reported to applications running in the
computer so that they can react to object shapes, 2D tags, movement and touch.
c SPECIFICATONS
Surface is a 30-inch (76 cm) display in a table-like form factor, 22 inches (56 cm) high,
21 inches (53 cm) deep, and 42 inches (107 cm) wide. [ . The Surface tabletop is acrylic,
and its interior frame is powder-coated steel. The software platform runs on a custom
version of Windows Vista and has wired Ethernet 10/100, wireless 802.11 b/g,
and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity. Surface applications are written using either Windows
Presentation Foundation or Microsoft XNA technology.
Intel Core Quad Xeon "WoodCrest" @ 2.66GHz with a custom motherboard
form factor about the size of two ATX motherboards.
4GB DDR2-1066 RAM
1TB 7200RPM Hard Drive
However, the current commercially available version has the following specifications
Intel Core 2Duo @ 2.13GHz (normal motherboard)
2GB DDR2 RAM
250GB Sata Hard Drive
2 MICROSOFT SURFACE COMPUTER
2 MULTI-POINTER X
Multi-pointer X (MPX) is a modification to the existing X.Org implementation of the X
Window System. MPX provides multiple independent pointers (mouse cursors) at
3. the windowing system level. These cursors are all connected to one computer. Unlike
many other multi-pointer applications and toolkits, MPX allows many existing X
Window applications to run unmodified, whilst still providing additional input features.
For instance, multiple users can simultaneously operate different applications at the same
time. Some applications do not work as expected due to limitations in the toolkits they
use. The limitations are caused by the assumption that only one pointer exists.
u MP-X
u DIAMOND TOUCH
The MERL DiamondTouch table is a multi-user, debris-tolerant, touch-and-gesture-
activated screen for supporting small group collaboration. The DiamondTouch product
line has moved operations from the MERL research lab and into a separate company
called Circle Twelve Inc.
c DIAMOND TOUCH
c SMART SURFACE
SmartSurfac e is a surface-computing solution powered by multi touch technology that
simplifies the way you interact with computers.
SmartSurface allows users to interact one-to-one, directly, with the Glide of a
finger. SmartSurface allows easy, natural and direct interaction with your
computer. SmartSurface allows multiple users to simultaneously download music, chat
with friends and manipulate pictures on the same screen while at the same time still sit
face to face talking and laughing.
You can pay bills while allowing you to write memos from its virtual screen keyboards
that can be accessed with a Glide of a finger. SmartSurface can turn any surface-coffee
tables, desks and even walls-into a surface computing tool. With SmartSurface,
ubiquitous computing comes one step closer to reality.
SMART SURFACE
APPLICATIONS OF SURFACE COMPUTING
On April 17th, Microsoft Surface made its public debut - launching at 5 AT&T stores
across the U.S. At the stores, Surface will help customers shop for mobile phones. To use
Surface, just put the phone down on the display and an onscreen menu appears showing
features, options, tech specs, etc. The table can also be used to get more info about
AT&T's various cell phone plans, pricing, and coverage area. You can see Surface in
action at one of these stores:
a MICROSOFT SURFACE AT AT&T STORE
Surface computing is also being used to help educate the young minds of tomorrow
with the use of the Smart Table
4. The SMART Table allows children to work together on different ready-made activities
that teach them the basics of reading writing, and counting. This innovative new way of
learning provides an exciting new way for children to pick up the necessary reading and
writing skills they need.
w SMART TABLE
Surface computing is also picking up around the world with a handful of companies
producing their own brand of the surface.
Leading companies in Europe are Britain Arcstream with a variety of multitouch walls
and surfaces and Sweden NUI with their Horizon table and Snowflake application. In
Asia and the Middle East, Malaysian based Smart Surface Sdn Bhd is pioneering the way
with their SmartSurface tables and walls
It is also starting to gain use in the broadcasting industry and has been used
by MSNBC during the 2008 US Presidential Elections.
2 THE FUTURE OF SURFACE COMPUTING
There are other new and innovative surface computing applications that are still being
developed, one of which is from the MIT Media Lab where students are developing
wearable computing systems that can be used on almost any surface.
w MINOR REPORTS ABOUT SURFACE COMPUTERS
Apple ROSIE 59
The Rosie Surface Computer is an Apple based surface computer. It was created by
Savant home A/V computer and uses a 40 inch coffee table running apple technology to
create integration between computing and everyday tasks. The Savant surface is an
evolutionary technology that can download and share photos from digital cameras, and
also play music, movies, TV shows right onto its surface and accomplish complete home
control all from within one elegant interface. Savant plans to offer the ROSIE Surface in
a number of different furniture styles ranging from contemporary to traditional.The
hardware specs havent been released yet. However some features that have been verified
are:
Interaction with iTunes速 multimedia content, digital cameras, IP network cameras,
business card readers, and many more digital devices on the horizon.
Touchscreens readily created & customized via RacePoint Blueprint design tool
Customizable Hot Launch Buttons
Custom tailored to suit any d辿cor with the ROSIE Surface Kit