ABSTRACT:

Surface computing is the term for the use of a specialized computer GUI in which traditional GUI elements are replaced by intuitive, everyday objects. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, the user interacts directly with a touch-sensitive screen, Microsoft Unveils first 'Surface' Computing model, recently which features a 30-inch diagonal square display built into a table configuration. It consists of a computer running a customized version of Windows Vista, a rear projection screen and five cameras that look through the screen to recognize and read items placed on the surface, as well as to track hand gestures and touch. It has wired 10/100Mbit Ethernet and wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 support built in.

INTRODUCTION
Revolutionary multitouch computer with different look & feel. It is a surface with a computing platform that responds to natural hand gestures and real world objects. Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor thats easy for individuals to interact just like in the real world. This uses a multi touch screen as user interface. Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.

HISTORY
2001: Microsoft researchers Steve Bathiche and Andy Wilson developed idea of interactive table that could understand the manipulation of physical pieces. 2003: 1st prototype model named T1which is based on an IKEA table was born. 2005 :Attention turned to its form factor- Tub proto type was designed. 2007:Final structure finalised,interactive tabletop device was built that seamlessly brings both the physical and virtual worlds into one.

FEATURES OF SURFACE COMPUTING

Direct interaction : Users can actually grab digital information with their hands and interact with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard. Multi-touch 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. Multi-user experience : The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face 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.

STRUCTURE
(1) Screen: A diffuser turns the Surface's acrylic tabletop into a large horizontal "multitouch" screen, capable of processing multiple inputs from multiple users. The Surface can also recognize objects by their shapes or by reading coded "domino" tags. (2) Infrared: Surface's "machine vision" operates in the near-infrared spectrum, using an 850-nanometer-wavelength LED light source aimed at the screen. When objects touch the tabletop, the light reflects back and is picked up by multiple infrared cameras with a net resolution of 1280 x 960. (3) CPU: Surface uses many of the same components found in everyday desktop computers a Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 256MB graphics card. Wireless communication with devices on the surface is handled using WiFi and Bluetooth antennas (future versions may incorporate RFID or Near Field Communications). The underlying operating system is a modified version of Microsoft Vista. (4) Projector: Microsoft's Surface uses the same DLP light engine found in many rear projection HDTVs. The footprint of the visible light screen, at 1024 x 768 pixels, is actually smaller than the invisible overlapping infrared projection to allow for better recognition at the edges of the screen.

WORKING
Microsoft Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and displayed using rear projection. Microsoft Surface uses this rear projection system which displays an image onto the underside of thin diffuser. Image processing system processes the camera images to detect fingers, custom tags and other objects such as paint brushes when touching the display. The objects recognized with this system are reported to applications running in the computer so that they can react to object shapes, 2D tags, movement and touch.

Microsoft Surface is a touch-based graphical user interface. Using specialized hardware designed to replace the keyboard and mouse used in typical computing applications, Surface enables a level of interaction previously unattainable with conventional hardware. The system is composed of a horizontal touchscreen under a coffee table-like surface, with cameras mounted below to detect user interaction activities. 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 cellphones, 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. Surface's main feature is the apparent simplicity with which common computing tasks can be performed. Most operations are performed without dialogs or wizards. For instance, pictures in a digital camera placed on the surface are automatically downloaded to the device and displayed on the screen. Transferring those pictures to another device, such as a compatible cellphone, simply requires the user to place the cellphone on the surface and to drag the pictures in it's direction. While the potential security implications of this type of interaction are obvious, and Microsoft's solutions to the issue are vague at best. Devices are identified by a one-byte "domino" tag on their sides, which is easily forged with a pencil. Although the underlying bluetooth and wifi technologies are considered safe for the transfer of the data itself, the ease in which documents can be accidentally or maliciously copied is alarming. This is typical of Microsoft products, which generally sacrifice security for convenience and simplicity of use.

The technology behind Microsoft Surface has been under heavy development for over five years. Microsoft installed a team of researchers at an unofficial building outside it's Redmond headquarters, guarded in secrecy with no direct support of other Microsoft entities. Although the pre-production Surface uses the latest Microsoft operating system, Vista, the hardware involved is somewhat close to the minimum required by that OS. An Intel dual core processor backed by 2 GB of RAM form the base system, and a modest 256MB video card provides the graphic-processing power. Five video cameras operating in the infrared spectrum detect objects and hand gestures at the screen's surface. The 30inch screen runs at a nominal 1024 by 768 resolution, easily graphed by the camera array. Obviously, the Surface's interface innovations were designed with standard hardware in mind, a fact that may help lower it's price and promote it's adoption.