INDEX

Introduction History Description System Requirement Features Applications Disadvantages Current Uses Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Microsoft Surface is a Multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of natural motions, hand gestures, or physical objects.

The Microsoft Surface will revolutionize everything you've ever known about touch technology.With a fully interactive, touch sensitive surface - Microsoft Surface will undoubtedly change the way we work and do business. What is Microsoft Surface? Microsoft Surface, the first commercially available surface computer from Microsoft Corp., turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form.

Factor that's easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. 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.

, topped with a

Microsoft's groundbreaking idea, the "Surface," is a computer that is stated to replace current fashioned computer systems so that the usage of a keyboard and mouse are no longer necessary. Instead, users of this computer will be able to manipulate objects on the screen by voice, touch, and usage of a stylus. The display of the unit is protected by hard plastic, and can interact with other products placed on top of it, including digital cameras and cell phones, without the need to plug in a cable. It even goes so much as to interacting with mundane objects, like drinking glasses - truly showing us what the future has in store for touch technology. As a result of these touch-responsive

capabilities, the product will be able to act much like a kiosk - and be able to facilitate restaurant orders or other purchases

Using familiar PC-related practices such as drag-and-drop, a Surface user can simply manipulate objects on the screen by dragging them with their fingers. As seen in the demo videos, this capability is monumental as it even allows oneself to drag and drop MP3 files directly onto a MP3 player that is placed upon the Surface screen. Similarly, files can be transferred amongst mobile devices in this same fashion (place two devices on the screen, and drag-and-drop files from one to the other, using your finger).

It was announced on May 29, 2007 at D5 conference. Initial customers will be in the hospitality
businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, retail, public entertainment venues and the military for tacticaloverviews. The preliminary launch was on April 17, 2008, when Surface became available for customer use in AT&T stores.

Its a powerful technology that is visually compelling. Surface is a horizontal display on a table-like form factor that morphs from an ordinary table-top into a new, vibrant way to bring connected entertainment and digital content to users. The cool factor is the way you interact with digital content by using your hands to get what you need. Surface provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. Because Surface is essentially housed in a table, its easy for individuals or multiple people to gather around it in a way that feels familiar making collaboration more powerful and fun.

HISTORY

The technology behind Surface is called multi touch and has at least a 25- year history, beginning in 1982, with pioneering work being done at the University of Toronto (multi-touch tables) and Bell Labs (multi touch screen). The product idea for Surface was initially conceptualized in 2001 by Steven Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research. In October 2001, a virtual team was formed with Bathiche and Wilson as key members, to bring the idea to the next stage of development. In 2003, the team presented the idea to the Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in a group in a group review. Later, the virtual team was expanded and a prototype nicknamed T1 was produced within a month. The prototype was based on an IKEA Table with a hole cut in the top and a sheet of architect vellum used as a diffuser. The team also developed some applications, including pinball, a photo browser and a video puzzle. Over the next year, Microsoft built more than 85 early prototypes for Surface. The final hardware design was completed in 2005. A similar concept was used in the 2002 science fiction movie Minority Report. As noted in the DVD commentary, the director Steven Spielberg stated the concept of the device came from consultation with Microsoft during the making of movie. One of the films technology consultants associates form MIT later joined Microsoft to work on the Surface project. Surface was unveiled by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on May 30, 2007 at TheWall Street Journals D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, California. Surface Computing is part of Microsofts Productivity and Extended Consumer Experiences Group, which is within the entertainment and Devices division. The first few companies to deploy Surface will include Harrahs Entertainment, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, T-Mobile and a distributor, International Game Technology. On the April 17, 2008 AT&T became the first retail lo lunch Surface in June 2008 Harrahs Entertainment lunched Microsoft Surface at Rio iBar and Disneyland launched it in Tomorrow-land, Innovations Dream Home. On August 13, 2008 Sheraton Hotels introduced Surface in hotel lobbies at 5 locations. On September 8, 2008 MSNBC began using the surface to work with election maps for the 2008 US Presidential Election on air. MSNBCs political director, Chuck Todd, was placed at the helm.

SPECIFICATIONS
At Microsoft's MSDN Conference, Bill Gates told developers of "Maximum" setup the Microsoft Surface was going to have: Orientation: Horizontal like a table to allow users to use, share and create experiences together. CPU: Core 2 Duo processor Processor: 1 GHz processor. Installed Memory: 2GB of RAM Hard drive: Yes Graphics Card: 256MB graphics card. Projector: DLP light engine l. Cameras: Five cameras with infrared filters - net resolution of 1280 x 960 Material: The tabletop is acrylic, and its interior frame is powder-coated steel. Surface: Not touch-sensitive surface. When you place or drag a finger, internal projector lights screen from beneath. Power Supply: Standard American 110120V power Operating System: The custom software platform runing on Windows Vista Network Connectivity: Wired Ethernet 10/100 and wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity. Dimensions: 22 inches high, 21 inches deep and 42 inches wide. Weight: 150 pounds Other features: Drag & Drop: Like any widows Operating system, all items can be dragged and dropped. Automatic Identification: Can identify objects. Place your Digital camera on the surface and you can see the photos displayed on the surface without actually downloading! Initial customers: Harrah's Entertainment, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, T-Mobile and IGT. Ideal for: Restaurants, games, shops and Entertainment Microsoft Surface Approximative Price: US$ 10000

Has a custom motherboard form factor about the size of two ATX motherboards

DESCRIPTION

Fig:-Working of MS

It's not a touch-sensitive screen. Instead, it relies on multiple cameras beneath the table that can see when someone touches it. It recognizes objects based on shape or by using domino-style identification labels on the bottom of the objects. A projection system and optical technology sit beneath the hard acrylic tabletop screen, which itself doesn't contain electronics. Microsoft says it should be durable enough to serve as a restaurant table, spills and all. Surface features a touch interface, but it doesn't use a touch screen. Instead, five separate cameras are used to record motion on the table's surface. Ars spoke with Nigel Keam, a member of the Surface team, about the technology in the device, and he explained that five cameras were needed because of field angle issues. In order to get the table as low as it is, five cameras are used so that each one can have a small field of view. That translates into better resolution and speed (measured in pixels/second) than a single camera with an exceptionally wide-angle view of the table surface. The five cameras are near-infrared devices, but that's not because they are trying to read heat signatures from fingertips (or other body parts) on the table. Instead, it's because the entire surface of Surface is bathed in light; by illuminating the top of the table, the cameras can easily see when things are placed on it. Shining colored light across the surface of the table would spoil the effect that Microsoft wants, so nearinfrared light is used for invisible illumination.

 Those cameras, which are located below the acrylic surface of the table, can read a nearly infinite number of simultaneous touches, and are limited only by processing power. Keam says that Surface has been optimized for 52 touchesenough for four people to use all 10 fingers at once and still have 12 objects sitting on the table. In addition to recognizing fingers, Surface can recognize inanimate objects. Microsoft has developed a 3/4" square tag called a "domino" that can be attached to objects so that Surface can interact with them on the fly. Instead of relying on RFID, the domino tag uses dots to encode its information (hence the name). There is a single dot in the center of the tag, three dots on one side for orientation, and space for eight more dots that are read as data. Essentially, it's a one-byte data tag. All interface components such as dialogs, mouse pointer, and windows, are replaced with circles and rectangles outlining "objects" that are manipulated via drag and drop. The "objects" in question can be either virtual objects displayed on the screen, or physical objects such as cell phones , digital cameras, and PDAs placed on the screen. Physical objects are automatically identified and connected to the Surface computer upon their placement on the screen. With no interface text, the Surface computer can be used by speakers of any language and any competency level.

FEATURES
Surface computing features four key attributes: Direct interaction. Users can actually grab digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard. Multitouch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once. Multiuser experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, facetoface computing experience. Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.

APPLICATIONS
Many features available in mobile phones, PCs and other electronic devices like digital cameras arent even used because the technology is intimidating. Surface computing breaks down those traditional barriers to technology so that people can interact with all kinds of digital content in a more intuitive, engaging and efficient manner. Its about technology adapting to the user, rather than the user adapting to the technology. Bringing this kind of natural user interface innovation to the computing space is what Microsoft is all about.

In Restaurants
Surface also features the ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes. This means that when a customer simply sets a wine glass on the surface of a table, a restaurant could provide them with information about the wine theyre ordering, pictures of the vineyard it came from and suggested food pairings tailored to that evenings menu. The experience could become completely immersive, letting users access information on the wine-growingregion and even look at recommended hotels and plan a trip without leaving the table.

Games
Microsoft Surface can be used as a game table. A physics panel is built within the surface which can recognize physical movements. With this ability, a number of games like solitaire and air hockey can be play on the surface

Payments through Credit Cards

New applications are being developed for use with Microsoft Surface. Bill payment through credit cards will be very user friendly and secure. Imagine four of you go to a restaurant and have to pay the bill. If you want to split the bill into three credit cards, you may feel delicate. Generally, it is billed to one credit card and then others pay cash to the person whose card is used for transaction. With Microsoft Surface, your bill payments will be easy. Just lay your credit cards on the Microsoft Surface and drag the items from the bill to the credit card. You may distribute different items to different credit cards and pay the bills as you want. With this magic of Microsoft Surface, you can pay bills safely and

securely. There will be many more such applications bringing the magic of Microsoft Surface at many places in near future.

Recoginition with other Devices

It also recognizes and interacts with devices placed on its surface, so mobile phone users can easily buy ring tones or change payment plans by placing their handsets on in-store displays, or a group of people gathered round the table can check out the photos on a digital camera placed on top. Just place a mobile phone on the Microsoft Surface. The system identifies the same (probably with a special barcode?) and displays the specifications and prices. You place another mobile phone on the Microsoft

Connection with Digital Cameras

The surface is a touchscreen that can connect with a digital camera wirelessly and automatically retrieve digital photos and save it to memory. The digital camera may be placed anywhere on the surface of the display. Microsofts high-tech Surface table has a nifty feature that lets it communicate with electronic devices wirelessly and exchange data with them. For example, if you place a digital camera on top of the Microsoft Surface, the surface can automagically suck out all of the photos in the digital camera and display them on the table for you (and anyone else nearby) to see. Its pretty rad. Sony is trying to put this great feature to good use for its wide range of digital cameras by building a smaller version of the Surface in the form of a touchscreen equipped inkjet printer.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages
Intuitive user interaction with natural gestures. Collaborative computing experience. Object Recognition. Mediator between devices. Main disadvantage with this is that its cost is too much for this you have to spend about 5000$ to 10000$ which the general public cant afford. Even Microsoft telling it will require near about 3 to 4 year for home use.

Disadvantages
With the size of this device, the Microsoft Surface may become quite inconvenient, because this would make it hard for people to transport it from one destination to another. Due to it's size, disposing it would cause big environmental damage, unless if Microsoft, or recycling programs find a more efficient and environmentally friendly way of disposing this device

CURRENT USES
Harrah's Entertainment's Las Vegas properties -- notably Caesars Palace and the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino -- will use the technology so that guests can reserve concert tickets, review restaurant menus, go on virtual nightclub tours, or book spa sessions, all while at the dinner table. Star wood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Microsoft Surface will help create a "new lobby experience." Guest will be able to listen to music and order food or drinks, paying for them by dropping their credit card on the screen.

The technology will be distributed through International Game Technology, which specializes in
computerized gaming machines.

CONCLUSION
Surface computing is going to revolutionize everyday lives. Its about technology adapting to the user, rather than the user adapting to the technology. Once you open it up to applications, what you can think of is limitless. Some people look at Surface and claim that it does nothing that hasn't been tried before: computers with touch screens have been around for years and have already found niches in ATMs, ticket ordering machines, and restaurant point-of-sale devices. This view largely misses the point of the product. Like most projects, Surface takes existing technology and presents it in a new way. It isn't simply a touch screen, but more of a touch-grabmove-slide-resize-and-place-objects-on-top-of-screen and this opens up new possibilities that weren't there before. Playing with the unit felt a bit like being in the movie Minority Report (in a good way), but it also felt like a more natural and enjoyable method of doing certain computing tasks. Sharing and looking at family photos, for example, is more fun on Surface than on any other device. The retail applications, particularly the dining application, show how businesses could use the technology to really stand out from competitors, though one wonders how diners will react when their table locks up and needs a reboot. Playing with Surface, one gets the sense that although not every computer will work like this someday, many of them will. More importantly, computers running Surface-like software will end up in places that never had computers before, and the potential applications are exciting. Imagine a multiplayer real-time strategy game where you and another human opponent can move units around as quickly as you can point to them. Or perhaps an educational environment, where university students could assemble and disassemble anything from molecules to skyscrapers quickly and easily. While Surface will only appear in a scant few business outlets at first, eventually the technology will drop enough in price to be offered to home users. The fact that Microsoft is using the accessible XNA development environment to create Surface applications means that when that time comes, the collective power of homebrew developers will come up with applications that haven't even been imagined yet. Personally, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

REFERENCES

Liz DeBord, Edelman, (206) 268-2210, [email protected] Cindy Roeller, Edelman, (206) 268-2258,[email protected] www.surface.com