Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We got to play around with a SMART Table in a classroom full of lucky kids at Haines Elementary School in Chicago this morning, and we came away impressed with how much they loved it. The multitouch table is built on the same basic idea and hardware as Microsoft Surface — Vista PC, XGA projector, infrared camera — but it’s a custom patented SMART design, not Surface lite or anything like that. That said, the multitouch system isn’t quite as responsive as Surface, and the kid-proof plastic screen felt a little weird, but it certainly works well enough — the Table recognizes up to 40 touches (enough for six kids to play comfortably, we were told) and we saw some interesting demos, ranging from the standard rotate / zoom photo app to painting and puzzle games. Teachers get admin access with a special USB key that enables them to manage apps, and there’s an SDK in the works, so hopefully there’ll be quite a few to manage. SMART says the Table should start shipping next spring for somewhere between $7,000 to $8,000 each — obviously the company will be targeting school systems with its extensive SMART Board sales network, but well-off parents will be able to score one for their hopelessly spoiled darling children as well. Check a few vids of the table in action after the break.

Continue reading Kids-on with the SMART Table

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It’s just a kooky, Surface-related R&D project for now, but Microsoft’s SurfaceWare holds the promise of optimizing your time-to-alcohol consumption ratio. Combining software with a level-sensing tumbler, SurfaceWare effectively measures the amount of liquid remaining in your glass. The specialized drinking glasses are fitted with a prism that works in combination with Surface’s infrared detecting camera to reflect light as it rises above the level of your beverage. As it empties, Surface will alert bar staff of your progress or automatically purchase another round at just the right time. You certainly don’t want to be wasting time in Vegas waiting on your disco fuel. Video walkthrough after the break.

[Thanks Divesh J.]

Continue reading Microsoft’s SurfaceWare gets you drunk faster than drinks through a straw

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Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets, Household

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_Ponders_Consumer_Surface_Oahu_2′;

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Filed under: Displays

In a fashion not dissimilar from one tiny multitouch device (save the outcry), Microsoft’s large multitouch device — the Surface — will be getting its very own SDK at Microsoft’s Professional Developer Conference this month. The package, which the folks in Redmond have apparently been promising since April, will introduce developers to “vision-based object recognition” and something called ScatterView, and a session at the PDC will detail how the kit “aligns with the multitouch developer roadmap for Windows 7.” All exciting stuff, but if we don’t see a giant, multitouch version of FreeCell soon, we might just stop paying attention.

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Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

So you’ve got a spare Microsoft Surface and Wii Balance Board laying around, whaddya do? Well, you could try stacking them on top of each other and hope that big-ass table doesn’t crush your little plastic Nintendo toy, and with some code slapped on what you’d end up with is pressure-sensitive surface computing. This clever little concept was cooked up by Josh Santangelo from “Stimulant.” In his demo, featured after the break, he rocks Surface from side to side while colored spots roll back and forth, using a physics engine he developed for MS Silverlight. It’s a great start and we would love to see this resourceful hack put to good use — beyond that of a totally awesome yet ridiculously expensive tilt-a-maze game, minus the maze.

Continue reading Microsoft Surface made pressure-sensitive with Wii Balance Board

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Filed under: Displays

CNN’s John King might have that sick multitouch electoral map, but MSNBC’s not going down without a fight — as dozens of you noticed, the network started using a Surface table yesterday as part of its election coverage. NBC News political director Chuck Todd will be the main handsman, using it to map out electoral votes and battleground states at first, but there are some other apps in the pipeline, according to Microsoft. Looks like the multitouch news wars have begun in full swing — anyone taking bets on when the green screen gets totally replaced in the weather center? Video of Surface in action after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Screen Grabs: Microsoft Surface plots out the election on MSNBC

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Filed under: Desktops, Displays

Microsoft had better hurry and get more than one Surface rig out on the market, because there are plenty of other companies working on large-format multitouch hardware — the latest is Finland’s Multitouch Oy, which recently demoed its Cell display for jkkmobile. Just the usual photo pinching demo, but it’s running at an impressively fluid 60fps on desktop hardware, even with multiple users. Multitouch Oy says it’ll run about $7,000 for a 32-inch model when it hits — yeah, we’ll stick with the DIY kit for now. Video after the break.

[Via jkkmobile]

Continue reading Multitouch Oy demos Cell multitouch display

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Most unboxings don’t require a forklift and crowbar. Then again, most of us aren’t unboxing Microsoft’s 125-kg (275-pound) Surface computer — so big that one recipient quipped, “That’s a big-ass box.” How apropos. The recipient is Australian marketing agency Amnesia, making this the first international shipment of Surface we’ve heard about. That’s good news as the platform seems to finally be taking off.

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Filed under: Displays

If you’ve been looking for more nitty-gritty on Microsoft’s Sphere, you’ve come to the right place. An in-depth video reveals Sphere’s photo browser and video browser complete with multi-touch “pinch” resizing, object rotation, a circular menu that pops up when you place both hands on top of the sphere, omni-directional camera, and a “send-to-the-darkside” gesture that tosses an object to the sphere’s opposite side. In addition, a diagram (pictured above) reveals sphere’s innards, including a projector and all sorts of IR magic. All this, and more, in the video after the break.

Continue reading More on Microsoft’s Sphere revealed in new video and diagram

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Alright, Microsoft: we take it all back. It was wrong, just wrong of us to impugn your promotional filmmaking skills. That Bruce Springsteen parody? Spot on. Awkward Vegas flirtations? True pathos. And now, to promote the launch of your latest version of the Surface table for Sheraton Hotels, you’ve crafted the touching story of a curious kid, a smug photo-twirler, her tardy date and a loving asian family. We don’t want to spoil anything, but complications ensue, folks, and this is one nail-biter worthy of a sequel. Do they all end up going to dinner together? Or are they destined to troll Craigslist that evening, seeking their missed connection…

You: Cute family.
Me: Sultry Surface spokeswoman.
My date was a disaster, and now I’m all alone for the weekend, let me teach you how to pair your phones with the table over Bluetooth, and then we can all go get ice cream together!

Heartbreaking, simply heartbreaking. Video is after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft Surface checks into Sheraton Hotels

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Filed under: Displays

There it is, right on cue Microsoft’s Surface has gone spherical over at Microsoft Research. Rumored since March, the prototype relies upon an infrared system to detect hands, fingers, and objects as well as an internal (not external like Surface) projection system developed by Global Imagination (and customized by Microsoft) to deliver its multi-touch UI. At the moment, Microsoft is demonstrating photo manipulation, a spinning globe, 360-degree video, and a simple Pong-like game, the latter giving us a taste of future gaming possibilities. Sphere is expected to make its first public appearance Tuesday at Microsoft’s Faculty Summit in Redmond. Ultimately, it will appear in public spaces like lobbies as part of a larger ecosystem of Surface gear. The prototype UI looks a bit jumpy compared to its tabletop cousin — hit the read link to see for yourself.

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Filed under: Displays

Who knew closely investigating expo floor layouts could be so fun and rewarding? Sure enough, the 2008 DemoFest Booth Map hosted up for Microsoft’s upcoming (July 27th - 29th) Research Faculty Summit shows allotted space for one “Multi-Touch Spherical Display.” Of course, Redmond-based exhibitors may end up dedicating slot 110 to carbonated beverages and unhealthy snacks, but whether those sly cats are ready to admit it or not, we know this thing is real.

[Via ZDNet]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Continue reading Video: Viva Las Surface

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Filed under: Displays

We’ll go ahead and get this out of the way: the fantastic product you’re about to hear more on has “no plans” to go commercial. Now that we’ve thoroughly killed your buzz, let us introduce to you the LaserTouch. Said device is a prototype that recently emerged from Microsoft Research’s labs, which essentially allows people to retrofit any display (monitor, projector, etc.) so that they can use their own hands to control the on-screen action. According to Andy Wilson, who played a vital role in the unit’s creation, an infrared camera is used to track how a person touches the screen, while software that he developed handles the majority of the magic. Too bad this could totally undercut Surface sales, right?

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Filed under: Cellphones, Features

So what you see here is exactly what AT&T and Microsoft will be deploying to a handful of stores on April 17 — 12 stores in four cities, to be exact — and we have to admit, this appears to be a pretty flawless execution of the Surface’s user interface concepts and a great business model for the 30 inch, multitouch monster to undertake. Being able to throw down a phone or two and get specs, review plans, and compare features is simply jaw-droppingly cool, though what really got us was another feature that AT&T has apparently been tossing around as a future possibility: device-to-device transfer. The idea is that a customer would walk in to purchase a new phone, place both phones on the surface, and contacts, photos, music, and so on stored on the old handset would appear on the Surface, where they could be selectively dragged to the new one or discarded. Even better, you have the exciting opportunity to pick up the last user’s norovirus as you run your hand along the thing. One suggestion, AT&T: keep some bleach handy. Please. For our sake. Follow the break for the video!

Continue reading Video: AT&T’s Surface makes comparing phones, transmitting illnesses a breeze

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

No, Microsoft hasn’t suddenly transformed its 30-inch, multi-touch Surface into a big-ass cellphone. It has, however, chosen AT&T to launch the world’s first Surface into retail. Shoppers in New York, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be treated to what amounts to the novelty (at least initially) of learning about a device (Samsung BlackJack II, pictured) by simply placing it atop the Surface. They’ll also have the ability to explore interactive coverage maps. Later, users will be able to drag ringtones, graphics and video and drop it into “the phones.” Note their use of “the” and not “your” phone in the press release. Nevertheless, we’re happy to see Microsoft get the technology out the door on its long march towards consumerdom.

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Filed under: Desktops

The last we heard about a consumer-oriented version of Microsoft Surface, Steve Ballmer was saying that the company was trying to get it out ASAP — which is apparently three years, we’ve just learned. That’s the word from Tom Gibbons, the MS VP in charge of Specialized Devices and Applications, who says Microsoft can “absolutely see how” to get Surface to consumers by 2011, but that it’ll try to beat that deadline if possible. Of course, the $10,000 commercial version of Surface still hasn’t been released to high-profile customers like T-Mobile and Harrah’s, and although it’s starting to make semi-random promo appearances here and there. Still, though, 2011? We’re getting pretty sick of old-school Hungry Hungry Hippos here, people — let’s make this happen.

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Filed under: Desktops, Displays

While we wait for those Microsoftees to pull it together and get real with a shippable version of Surface, we can enjoy the valiant efforts of modders like Xylomn. This guy built his very own touchable coffee table PC with a 24-inch display and a ceiling-mounted camera for tracking hand motions. Since it’s part of his dissertation for his software engineering degree, Xylomn also worked up some custom software which allows users to beam media to the PC via Bluetooth, and then geotag it on a touchable map. The table allows for multiple users at once, and the interface part of the software rotates automatically towards whoever is grubbing up the display at that point.

[Via Geeky Gadgets]

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Filed under: Displays

While we’ve yet to see the rollout of Microsoft’s Surface, rumor has it that other versions have at least made it to the prototype stage. According to ZDNET’s sources, Microsoft has a “spherical Surface prototype” bouncing around the Redmond campus. What’s intriguing is how they managed to stuff a rear projection unit and IR cameras into a ball. Presumably, we’re talking about a different touch-sensitive technology to that used in the table-top surface. You know, assuming the rumor is true.

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Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

We were originally supposed to see a “limited rollout” of Surface in 2007, which obviously didn’t happen — but despite the delays, Microsoft is apparently now feeling confident enough in the tech to let B- and C-list celebrities grope at it during the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Drawing Party at Harrah’s Casino. Unlike the standard demos we saw at CES which involved relentlessly upbeat hipster presenters doing things like making custom snowboard designs, the motley crew at Harrah’s was apparently only allowed to crudely write their names on photographs of themselves. You can almost see the joy in Jason Alexander’s face, can’t you? Sadly, it looks like Don Cheadle wasn’t able to erase whatever’s printed on his jacket (seriously, uh, cool jacket, Cheadle) and poor Shannon Elizabeth didn’t seem to be able make anything happen at all. Maybe Microsoft should have fired up that Hungry Hungry Hippos clone and let these fools battle out instead. All the photos at the read link for the crazed VH-1 fans in the house.

Continue reading Microsoft and Harrah’s confuse B-list celebs with Surface

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