About a year ago, videos and other blogs talked about the revolutionary way of organizing files on your desktop PC. This technology was first introduced, to my knowledge, and named “BumpTop 3D”. It’s a unique way of looking at how to sort, organize and move icons of files around on a 3D-like surface.
Recently, Microsoft introduced their latest hardware initiative, named “Microsoft Surfaceâ„¢”. I’m not entirely sure what the connection between the BumpTop 3D and the Microsoft Surfaceâ„¢ is. But the way you navigate around is fairly similar. The main difference I see is one with the use of a pen stylus and the other with finger gestures. Well, this is not the first time I’ve seen existing technologies adapted by bigger companies. For instance, Apple iPhone has a similar look to the LG KE850, and both Apple and Microsoft using Jeff Han’s Multi-Touch. Microsoft’s Press Sheet states that they have already partnered with companies like T-Mobile USA and Harrah’s Entertainment (Las Vegas) to use the Surface. It will not be long before we start seeing this type of technology in business’ showrooms and stores in North America.
This is what Microsoft’s fact sheet has to say about this 30″ display, multi-touch in a table-like form:
Surface is the first commercially available surface computer from Microsoft Corp. It turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail establishments and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live.
(Photo courtesy of Engadget.com)
Related Story: Microsoft Surface: Behind-the-Scenes First Look via PopularMechanics.com (Make sure to watch the video on page 3 as Popular Mechanic’s Glenn Derene shows multi-user in multi-location, dubbed “PlayTogether”, using the Microsoft Surface.)
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[...] with a laptop utilizing the Multi-Touch sensors. This same technology is also found in the Microsoft Surface, currently aimed to be used by businesses, and the Apple iPhone, available to the public in a few [...]