Comments on: Microsoft Unveils Surface, Multi-Touch Digital Table, But Why Not Make Your Own?

By: Create Digital Music » Interactive Table as Synth, Via New, Better Bjork Tour Vids; Microsoft Surface Snickering

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:12:08 +0000

[...] That’s the idea behind Microsoft’s Surface, too … but sometimes the gimmick can be a solution in search of a problem. Well, actually, maybe your computer of the future really will be “a big-ass table.” (Thanks, SarcasticGamer.com, for making me laugh so heartily.) [...]

By: Create Digital Music » More DIY Music Tables: MultiTouch Console, Built in Processing

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:58:20 +0000

[...] More fun than organizing your digital photos in a hotel lobby, huh? [...]

By: poopoo

poopoo — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:41:57 +0000

The ergonomics on this thing are pretty dreadful. If you thought hunching over a laptop for any amount of time was painfull, this thing will make that seem comfortable.

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:12:04 +0000

@nonstatic: Right, and unlike Apple, Microsoft does support significant amounts of research independent from product development. Apple, of course, used to have that with their larger research groups and advanced technology groups and whatnot, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth the expenditure and wasn’t yielding better research. Not having worked in such a capacity, I can’t comment on which system is better, if one is better; I expect that will remain in debate.

But that wasn’t my point — Microsoft is able to support researchers, internal or acquired, because they’re a big, rich company. There’s nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong to me is the endless obsession of the blogosphere with the corporate entity at the cost of the research and technology itself. So, yes, let’s absolutely talk about object recognition, etc., and the guts of the tech.

When I say let’s focus on the actual people, I mean the actual people at those companies. Corporate PR doesn’t always let you talk to them or even find out who they are, but you get the idea. “Microsoft” doesn’t do anything, because Microsoft isn’t a person or a technology. So debating Microsoft vs. Apple *all the time* can miss the important details.

By: nonstatic

nonstatic — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:08:45 +0000

just for the record, microsoft did in fact internally develop this technology. they didn’t just license it from someone who did the “real” work. they certainly weren’t the first to think of it, but they haven’t been claiming that. i worked on this project 3 years ago when they were demoing the technology internally but weren’t really sure what it was FOR yet.

people who are yapping about MS stealing/paying for the technology from someone else should get their facts straight. and besides, when i first took a look at this thing a few years back, it wasn’t the multitouch aspect which blew me away, it was the object recognition.

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:55:52 +0000

Oooh, actually, that’s a really good idea — haptics in the gloves. I just figured it was a Hollywood thing so you understood there was an interface there. But all designs are in a sense fictional before they’re real; there’s always something to be learned from great design, imaginary or real.

By: blueshifter

blueshifter — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:46:15 +0000

I always assumed that was for the feedback, you want the interface to ‘push back’ to let you know you are moving something, or have reached a surface, etc. Man, that Minority Report was AWESOME!

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:26:30 +0000

blueshifter, you win the comments contest.

By: blueshifter

blueshifter — Thu, 31 May 2007 19:19:01 +0000

“UGH!!! transferring photos from my camera to my phone is such a pain!! can’t someone invent a table to make it easier?!?!?”

By: ocp

ocp — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:19:19 +0000

I want a multitouch flexible screen : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn10mRyBqAE