Any questions for Surface Computing team?

What other form factors do you see this expanding into?

What's your favorite application of the tech so far?

Have you apologized to the Silverlight team? :)

Well, more of a question for the Brand Manager that helped them launch their product. Why did they miss so many domain names?

http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/05/microsoft-s...

"Are you absolutely sure that this has not been done before?" (you can refer to 3d desktop in Vista that they claimed it is the first 3d desktop ever).

It obviously will be compatible to Microsoft Partners, but what sort of 3rd party support will they have? Will they be releasing a sort of API allowing anyone to develop applications?

What kind of (new) OS is in it
When can we expect a first price drop
What kind of hardware is used
Are there some known problems, or things that can't be done with the surface computer?
How is it related to Jeff Han's device?

3D?

Jaap--I think I read somewhere that it uses a modified version of Vista. But I really don't know. I'll post the link if I find it again...

1. Why did they choose the market they did? While the ultra rich can afford anything, this seems like a classic 'sony' style marketing blunder.

If Apple indeed does announce a similar 'touch' product that costs less but is more accessible, programmable, and like-able, will this be the PS3 to the seemingly unstoppable Wii?

[I know it's alot of "if" style probability, but what the hay, it's late and i just kicked out a post about a BLT. If I can write about a delicious BLT with avocado at night, anything is possible =) ]

I have one... Considering this is a serious mix of hardware, software, new GUI and apps, where's going to be the focus in the short term?
I mean, trying to get this to be use in your kitchen's fridge? Making the GUI better and better? Inviting developers and manufacturers to add their "widgets" to the platform?

Sorry for my English, I'm sure you'll find a better way of asking what I mean.

Ask them if they're familiar with the PLATO project, which your old boss Ray Ozzie cut his teeth on at the University of Illiois:

"By the early 1970's the PLATO IV terminal would incorporate touch sensitive screens that would allow you to interact with the onscreen data in a manner similar to a mouse - literally allowing you to drag and move objects on [a plasma] screen."

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/...

In one of the Surface site's clips, the guy puts two mobile phones on the Surface, and the specs for the phones are displayed.

"Now the phones practically introduce themselves"

So the questions are:

- how does the Surface identify which phone is placed on it?
- by which means the Surface connects to other devices (bluetooth/infrared/wireless/visual scanning/...)?

What's the estimated price?

Tomi, I heard it was bluetooth, but now that you mention this, it would be great to also know how is the interaction with the credit cards, as seen on the shot where they distribute the bill.

[... Scoble will be talking to the guys from the Surface team in the morning so head here with questions on what'd like to know... ]

Ping back from Samiq Bits

How did they keep it secret for so long?

How will this be any different than the Segway? (grandiose expectations, still relatively nothing several years after release)

Do they plan to version the device, say to turn the table on a TV (for IPTV for example) or playing games? I am imagining something that I could spin, then I could either have a table, a displaying for photos or a game console (for I suppose it will be browser compatible and X-Box compatible).

when can we expect to see some of 'spin off' technology onto small devices such as 'tablet pc', umpc and windows mobile?

jon

Hi

In the demo video you can see waiter putting a glass on the 'table'. In the real (i.e. not demo) world that can be quite an impact. Also, condensation of air cooled down by the cold glass will cause water to materialize on the (I guess somewhat warm) surface.

So the question is, how tough is the surface for robust operation in real enviroments.

Thanks.

Is it true that it works with flash player? What about Silverligth?

In what ways do they see touch computing enhancing PC tasks? In what ways is a traditional interface superior (if at all)?

Will they be integrating a version of Windows Live Search with tiled screenshots of websites?

the estimated price i've read is $5000 to $10000 for those asking, they're looking at a price drop to consumer level within 3-5 years.

Aha, there's an answer to my question in Robert's previous post:

"Easy, each chip has an invisible bar code in infrared-reflecting ink."

Yep, stick that bar code to the back of the mobile phone...

When do we get the SDK? :-)

Will it be open or will it only work with MS (Zune and MS smartphones) products?

Q: Why only 1Ghz machine running it, and not a Core2 etc?
Q: Because of the projector/cameras, is there any way of making it shallower? (and quieter!)
Q: Any patent issues with perceptive pixel? (jef Hann)
Q: Programming: how does it deal with concurrency? multithreaded? using the .NET CCR for multicore?
Q: Outside of America this year?

Why didn't they use Silverlight for their site? It's Flash. Quite funny really.

"Why didn’t they use Silverlight for their site? It’s Flash. Quite funny really."

Maybe because they wanted people to talk about the technology and not just moan about having to install the silverlight plug-in.

Fascinating development, how long before this technology trickles down to portable and mobile devices?

I'd love to just wave at a Tablet PC to bring up a browser or check email and tap to delete spam.

"Yep, stick that bar code to the back of the mobile phone…"

Think you'll find it's bluetooth... you're forgetting the data transfer, if not then WiFi

Will they be releasing non-table screens, perhaps just the screen itself that we can plug into our own computers?

When will this cross the pond to the UK?

Will this new technology be available to schools & education?

We are, after all teaching the next gen of Computer users, we should be teaching them with new technology Surely?

Doesn't look like it Will(at least not initially), they have spent a lot of time in development of what the actual system will look like. it's also rear projection hence the size of the system and features multiple cameras to track the multitouch input.

OK, here goes. I can see touch computing being useful in a car GPS or on the go. BUT, how do they justify somebody eating a bucket of fried chicken then using a touch screen on a PC?
Or even a touch pad.
When I am using my laptop, I can't stand the pad and always have to plug a mouse in. How can they get around that annoyance?
I also don't like tablets.

In the clips we can see using this table-device at home, so my questions are:

- did they consider raising of backache ratio? there will be pain-killing pills in the retail box?

- which protections against the typical cleaning-guy triggering disaster? (and dust&dirt problem of course)

- what if my kid would fingering with marmalade (or throwing up on) while I'm doing an online transaction.

joking (not-so-much-indeed) about relevance of ergonomics deals in a multi-touch screen table :)

what do they think about?

Is this really such a bad question or was erased by mistake? --> "Do they plan to version the device, say to turn the table on a TV (for IPTV for example) or playing games? I am imagining something that I could spin, then I could either have a table, a displaying for photos or a game console (for I suppose it will be browser compatible and X-Box compatible)."

What's the resolution of the display? (I read 1000 x 800)
When will HD or higher resolutions
be available? (HD DLPs exist)

What about technical computing scenarios?

Three questions I'd like asked. Probably only one good one. Here goes:

1) Intellectual property... touch interfaces are the technology for June 2007. Apple's already said they will defend the IP in the iPhone vigorously. Any concerns over IP overlaps here? If so... who should be concerned?

2) GREAT freakin logo! Something's changed at MS. Product names are getting a little better. But logos (SeaDragon, Photosynth, Deepfish) are getting way better. What's the deal?

3) The intro isn't built in Silverlight. What decision process went into the choice you made. (That's borderline impolite. I'm sorry. But, it's a glaring deal. To me anyway.)

People, people! Tabletop computing is not a new idea. This kind of research has been going on for years! Credit to the MS team for doing an ace job but bear in mind that they are standing on the shoulders of giants...

Ask them why it took so long...

...and how I can get my hands on one without spending a small fortune. :-)

Bring it home and I'll care!

meantime...

z z z z z z z z z

Is this a proof of concept, or ready to roll?

When can we expect to see consumer oriented devices using this technology? ie. when will we see surface tech desks, coffee tables that cost under 5k?

How does this compare to Philips' "Entertaible"? It was announced over a year ago. See http://blogs.extremeoptimization.com/jeffrey/ar...

What kind of developer support is there? Does this run WPF apps? .NET?

Is it possible to "network" the surfaces and buy advertising on the network? For example, in Starwood Hotels or at T-Mobile stores.

There is an open source community forming around multi-touch surfaces. Will Microsoft be working with the community?

Multi-touch with WPF: in .NET 3.5?

"Why?"

* Why is this Surface product indicated to be a stand alone product and not just a cool feature that licensee's can incoprporate into their own hardware?

* It seems MicroSoft is moving to the model of self produced, integrated Software and Hardware. (XBox, Zune). What are the benefits of this shift in business model and what does it portend for the Windows liscencee's.

Why isn't this really cool thing splashed all over the Microsoft Website? Instead the MSoft website looks like a really poorly designed insurance salesman website.

All the prestine demos show are by people who have had lots of time to play with them so it looks very cool and natural. However, how does MS expect Joe-Hotel/Casino/Restaurant-Dweller to know the drag semantics? WPF opened up the opportunity to break all the UI standardisation Microsoft has created. Surface adds a whole new level of possible confusion.

Re. Detection of physical items on Surface.

Does it work with (human-eye) invisible barcodes only ?

What about RFID or visible 2D/color barcodes ?

MS recently introduced their own barcode standard so I was wondering...

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/a...

1. can it replace original PC? such as using for media, internet and documents?

2. use a web to access my content from newer in the world?

3. if and how will it interact with gaming such as with the 360?

4. use it to connect with a TV?

wen will this be released to the wider public? can i use it instead of buying a new PC?

How can they differentiate between two smartphones placed on the Surface? I get that they can communicate to each device with Bluetooth/etc., but how do they physically know which phone is which when the Surface user interface is interacting with the phone?

What differentiates the Surface product from a 32" touchscreen available on the market for $800?

Also, why aren't they using Silverlight for their web site in addition to flash?

Where do I find the technical specs & developer toolkit?

How do you keep it clean?

I would be interested to know what other applications are envisioned for surface.

Also, is there a marketing/partnering strategy for avoiding this being a "bigger origami". Origami looked like the coolest thing out there, and, in practice, it ended up being a UMPC running Vista, with no real apps to accompany the form factor. I guess the question is, how is Microsoft going to transition surface from an amazing demo to a consumer device, if that is even the intent.

Despite whatever history of dev might be involved, it looks like a dream about what the iPhone will do in a shipping product (on a small scale).

Asking how it is related to Jeff Han’s device is good. Also, what's the likelihood that this tech will spread out of E&D into other Microsoft platforms? I don't think it's a stretch to call multitouch (er, Surface) a disruptive technology, and exposing it to every Windows developer can only make great things happen. Finally, I can't tell if this was announced at WinHEC, and if it wasn't, why not?

What to do in this case:
http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=521201549&a...

I want to watch someone clean it with windex....

While the whole "Touch Surface" UI has a great WOW factor, it would be impractical, indeed a pain, for the user to move his/her hands all over the surface to get any "real" work done.

The most common input devices localize input to keyboard/mouse. Does Microsoft Surface have a "touch" keyboard/mouse or something similar for those of us don't want to have to wave our arms around and reaching all over the area of the UI to get work done?

It's a freaking glass table! Looks like this thing can break pretty easily. Drop something on it and poof, it's shattered. This has Segway written all over it!!!

Is it okay to pet on a first date?

(Extra points for the movie reference that line comes from)

To echo #4 above:

When can we get the SDK?

and

When can I buy one for development/research purposes?

Jeff Han's multi touch experiment focused on this along time ago (see youtube for example).

I also don't really like the demo at the MS site given they are doing things in this which don't seem achievable. E.g placing a random phone on the screen and obtaining data. *Even* if bluetooth or wireless were active it takes time to connect and transfer and this isnt shown. Dont even get me started on the credit card stuff.

$10,000 for a 21st Century Etch-a-Sketch? Or is Microsoft actually building a working model of the Enterprise on the back lot?

How was Jeff Han involved? Is he working at Microsoft? Has Microsoft paid royalties on the IP to his company?

On another note, how does Microsoft garner the press for a product that was ripped off from someone else?

Jeff Han isn't involved. This has been under development for five years. Jeff isn't the only one working on this kind of stuff.

I don't know how Jeff Han is directly involved but his demos of multitouch experiments are strikingly similar to MS's Surface, specifically the photo demos of movement and resizing.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysEVYwa-vHM

Knowing how many people xerox their buttocks, is there any fear people will start to sit on this thing?

Jeff Han...*sigh*

Here's Buxton's excellent history on multitouch:

http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html

and a discussion on the iPhone by Tog (who I'm sure will weigh in on Surface soon enough)

http://www.asktog.com/columns/070iPhoneFirstLoo...

Microsoft and Apple AND a myriad of other companies have patents in this area, this is just the first major product to be going to market... unless you count the iPhone ... but I believe this will be out first?

What kind of tweaks / versions of WPF does this use?

When will they move beyond "projection" to lcd/ digatizers.

When will this be available for anyone to use/develop with?

Josh: they can't use LCD because of the way the cameras work. They need to have access to the surface to sense what's being put on the surface.

It'll be installed in first commercial accounts later this year.

what do yo use Sistem operation in this surface ?

In a future, you can play all kind of VideoGames? (FPS, MMORPG, RPG...)

Thanks.

Good sirs, how come there's so much Surface Computing, and so little dnb in your organization?

What time needs to release to the source code of Microsoft Surface Proyect? thank´s

Hello,

is the UI going to be programmed with....maybe WPF? Are there out any document talking about its architecture? Thank you :)

Javier

Hello again,

I'm a Microsoft Evangelist too, I would like to know how Visual Studio is thought to be part of this new technology. Thank you,

Javier

can any one help to know me abt the technical aspects of surface computing my id is mustufa_vin@yahoo.com

how can we specify our email address while sending pictures/images using surface computing