Engadget

Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video)

Joseph Volpe — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:19:00 EST

We know what you're thinking -- an iPhone interfacing with a Surface? The gods must be crazy. Well, it isn't and they're not, so relax. This custom-built, multitouch table of Apple interactivity comes from Computer Science undergrads Artem Vovk and Shuo Yang at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. Aptly titled Project MGS (Media Gathering System), the system enables wireless transfer of your iPhone's media to the infrared camera-equipped tabletop for some Java-based, gesture controlling fun. How does it know the phone's on there? Simple -- the table locates a barcode affixed to the back of your device and, after that, it's just you and all the pinch-zooming, media-playing mayhem you can muster up. The project also supports file transfers between iOS devices, a feature destined for display in future videos. For now, the tech only plays nice with Apple-flavored mobile devices, but the pair promises it can easily make way for future Android connectivity. Hit the break for the full demonstration and its folksy backing track.

[Thanks, Shuo]

Continue reading Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video)

Project MGS table reads your iPhone's media, gets you hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)

Joe Pollicino — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:00 EST

What do you get when you mix buzzwords like "cloud" and "tablet" with an enourmous multi-touch monitor? The InFocus Mondopad, that's what. The company anticipates that this 55-inch 1080p high-definition panel "wall tablet", equipped with WiFi and a 720p webam / soundbar, will bring pad-like functionality to your next presentation in a big way. The proprietary software mimics the feel of a mobile OS -- only bigger and blander looking -- with basic apps like a whiteboard and web browser, as well as support for Office, JPG, and PDF files. Also inside is Intel's vPro tech, enabling remote access and file sharing with mobile devices -- or having dual-screen sessions with a 58-inch iPhone table, for instance. Pre-ordering one will run you $5,949 for delivery in July and VoIP service through Vidtel will cost $49 a month per connection. No word yet on whether a more portable version is the works, but you'll find some PR and a video walkthrough after the break.

Update: We've been informed by InFocus that the Mondopad is running Windows 7 along with pre-loaded apps.

Continue reading InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video)

InFocus Mondopad is a 55-inch multitouch display with an identity crisis (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pioneer's Discussion Table takes on Surface in Japan this July

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:05:00 EST

Microsoft hasn't exactly set the market ablaze with Surface, but Pioneer still wants its share of the extremely limited action. The company's Surface competitor, the WWS-DT101 Discussion Table, we spotted back in December is finally coming to market this July... in Japan anyway. Up top is a 52-inch, 1920 × 1080, multitouch glass slab powered by a Core i7 processor and 6GB of RAM. On the software side you're looking at Windows 7 and a proprietary interface called SCHEDA that has the ability to wirelessly pull content from laptops, tablets, smartphones and cameras. It also has a built-in scanner for quickly turning dead tree documents into manipulatable "cards," and teleconferencing capabilities. There's no set price, but we expect it fall in the same range as Surface -- somewhere between unaffordable and unreasonable.

Pioneer's Discussion Table takes on Surface in Japan this July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Surface SDK gets input simulator, opens doors to indie devs

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:53:00 EST

There's one big, table-shaped obstacle to developing apps for Microsoft's Surface: you kind of have to own one. A new Surface 2 SDK, landing this summer, will sidestep that problem with an input simulator so devs can test their code on any Windows 7 PC. You can tap fingers, place tags, or paint "blobs" for your virtual SUR 40 to interact with, and even fake multitouch gestures by "stamping" a finger in one spot then moving a second one. If the Surface you're programming for happens to be movable (though we're not sure who would put a $7,600 computer on hinges) you can also alter the tilt of the display to trigger UI changes. You'll still need access to one of these behemoths to make sure your wares work in the really real world, but at least the preliminary work can be done on any old laptop or desktop. Frankly, this is something we'd have thought would be included from day one -- as they say, better late than never.

Surface SDK gets input simulator, opens doors to indie devs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 22:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video)

Terrence O'Brien — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:25:00 EST

Practical or not, there is no denying the nerd-gasm inducing wow factor of Microsoft's Surface. Of course, Surface is expensive -- like, unless you're a millionaire you're probably not buying one for personal use expensive. There are some DIY solutions out there, but designer and developer Seth Sandler has come up with the cheapest and easiest yet. Built from about $400 worth of material (some of which you probably have lying about your home / apartment / dungeon), the MTbiggie brings big-screen multitouch to the masses. Like the hacker's previous homebrew multitouch device, the MTmini, there's nothing particularly difficult to find here. All you need is a couple of chairs, a mirror, a projector, an infrared webcam (which you can easily hack together with some old film negatives and cardboard), a big sheet of paper and an equally large piece of clear acrylic. Just set it all up according to the instructions in the video below and in no time you be finger painting and playing Angry Birds on a screen that dwarfs your iPad -- and possibly your kitchen table, too.

Continue reading MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video)

MTbiggie is a DIY Surface for the masses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video)

Richard Lai — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:35:00 EST

There's not much to see right now, but it appears that Red MR is well on its way to becoming one of the most advanced (and probably the most amusing) karaoke bars in the world. Ahead of its Hong Kong debut this Saturday, said company has already installed six Surfaces in its two bars, and is aiming to fit more to fill up all 80 rooms -- and that number could go up to 300 in the near future -- once Microsoft has ramped up production. With Red MR's customized software (still under wraps), customers will be able to pick songs, order food, watch TV, and play games on the Surface while listening to a drunk rendition of My Heart Will Go On. Oh, and there'll also be a few Kinects dotted around the bars, but it's not exactly clear whether they'll be in the rooms as well. Anyhow, we'll be flying out to Hong Kong to check it out later this week, so stay tuned. For now, you can watch a demo of the Surface's Liar's Dice game after the break.

Update: Our friends over at M.I.C Gadget found a video from Apple Daily that teases the karaoke UI. Have a look after the jump.

Continue reading Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video)

Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (update: new video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video)

Tim Stevens — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:20:00 EST

We'd all like our tables to be a little smarter, and anyone who works for a company would surely like their meetings to have a bit more intelligence, too. Pioneer is hoping to kill two birds with one rather sizeable piece of furniture: the Discussion Table, due sometime next year. Interestingly it's simply a Core i7-based PC running Windows Embedded Standard 7, with minimal custom coding on top of that. Users can bring their mobile PCs nearby and share documents to the table or remote desktop right into their machines from it, showing their docs and displays in scalable and rotatable windows. The Windows underpinnings handles the multitouch details, also offering what must surely be the biggest virtual keyboard ever seen in the wild. The Table has a single-sheet scanner built in the side and even offers TransferJet, so that everyone can download pictures of Boss's drunken holiday party antics wirelessly.

Continue reading Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video)

Pioneer's Discussion Table is the Surface competitor your business can't live without (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake)

Darren Murph — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:52:00 EST

Sure, showing an image and boasting wildly is one thing, but it's another thing entirely to see something as outlandish as this functioning on video. The gurus behind the Table Connect for iPhone have returned, using a jailbroken iPhone, a dedicated app (for now) and a freshly washed hand to demonstrate what iOS looks like on a 58-inch multitouch table. We've got to say -- for early software, it sure is snappy. Of course, practicality is still in question, but who ever cared about that? Head on past the break and mash play.

Update: That's right, what you see here is nothing more than a table. A regular, no-frills table. More than a year after we first reported on this big old fake, LOA design took to the stage at TED to show off how they duped the internet. If you care to see how they did it, feel free to hit up the video after the break.

[Thanks, Bodgan and George]

Continue reading Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake)

Table Connect for iPhone demonstrated on video, makes us want (update: it's fake) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake)

Darren Murph — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:21:00 EST

Think Hyundai's 70-inch multitouch table concept is hot stuff? Have a gander at this. The Table Connect for iPhone is dangerously close to completion, with a full-on mockup shown above. Put simply, this 58-inch multitouch surface accepts iPhone 4 connections via a 30-pin Dock Connector, and with a bit of magic, the table becomes your iPhone. The crew is currently wrapping up an alpha software release, and while a jailbroken iPhone is obviously necessary to get things going, the end result is bound to be impressive. Or at least hilarious. Here's hoping these eventually go on sale, but for now, feel free to hit the source link for one more shot and a slew of diagrams.

Update: That's right, what you see here is nothing more than a table. A regular, no-frills table. More than a year after we first reported on this big old fake, LOA design took to the stage at TED to show off how they duped the internet. If you care to see how they did it, feel free to hit up the video after the break.

[Thanks, George]

Continue reading 58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake)

58-inch Table Connect for iPhone multitouch surface easily dwarfs your iPad (update: it's fake) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video)

Sean Hollister — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:02:00 EST

It's a pretty well-known fact that The Settlers of Catan / Die Siedler von Catan is fantastic fun, and though the original board game has seen a few digital incarnations, all the cutthroat hexagonal colonization sim ever really needed was a giant screen with multitouch. MayFair Games let Vectorform build this version for Microsoft Surface, which is on display at the Origin Games Fair this week; CNET reports the final version will be available this August. Good luck finding enough resources to trade for the table to play it on. Video after the break, more details at our source links.

Continue reading Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video)

Settlers of Catan in development for Microsoft Surface, still can't help you trade sheep for wood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EST

Still looking to snap up your own Surface? Ain't got the cheddar to buy that one that comes free with a yacht? In all honesty, we're in no position to make promises about the affordability of this one, but GestureTek is gearing up to offer the world yet another option with the curiously titled GestTable. This 42-inch beast of a table contains a multitouch LCD with a lovely 1080p resolution, which means that you could theoretically watch the next installation of the Batman series on the same surface that's holding your cup of joe. Not that we'd recommend that, but hey.... In related news, the company is introducing the new 70-inch GestDisplay, a massive freestanding multitouch panel aimed primarily at businesses looking to give prospective customers a way to interact with the wares they're about to inevitably buy. As we alluded to earlier, there's nary a mention of price, but feel free to dip into the nitty-gritty just past the break.

Continue reading GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous

GestureTek intros 42-inch multitouch GestTable, your HDTV suddenly turns jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:49:00 EST

Evoluce, the manufacturers of that mammoth 47-inch full HD touchscreen, are out of control! Apparently, they've decided that unlimited simultaneous touch inputs (and thus unlimited simultaneous phalanges) was not enough, so they've gone an' added gesture support -- up to half a meter from the device. Apparently this bad boy supports Windows 7, although if you want your interface du jour to put the "unlimited" in "multitouch" you'll most likely have to roll your own. Interested? Wealthy? Check out some righteous video and PR after the break.

Continue reading Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control

Evoluce 47-inch HD multitouch display gets off-screen gesture control originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's 35-inch atracTable to be 'industrialized' in June, show Microsoft how it's done (video)

Vlad Savov — Mon, 03 May 2010 09:07:00 EST

Swiss company Atracsys swims in the same waters as Microsoft's mythical Surface beast -- namely, multitouch horizontal displays -- but where it might differ from its more lauded competitor is in actually bringing its hardware to wider markets. Having sold the tech knowhow to Sony, the company is today informing the world that its atracTable is ready for mass production and commercialization this June. We've been told that prototype designs are now "finished," leaving only the marketing, pricing and distribution details to be worked out. A high-contrast, Full HD screen is promised, which will be able to communicate with your mobile devices (naturally) or respond to motion input picked up by a pair of Sony's camcorders which come built in. Skip past the break for a couple of video demos from last year.

Continue reading Sony's 35-inch atracTable to be 'industrialized' in June, show Microsoft how it's done (video)

Sony's 35-inch atracTable to be 'industrialized' in June, show Microsoft how it's done (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Poker Surface beautifully weds multitouch table, cellphone interaction and illicit gambling

Darren Murph — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:17:00 EST

It's the first poker table we've seen since the enviable X10 surfaced in 2008 that would fit appropriately in the new Aria (read: Vegas 2.0), and given that we just left the halls of CTIA ourselves, we couldn't be drooling any more heavily over this gorgeous creation. Designed and built by students at the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Poker Surface magically combines a multitouch surface with an interactive mobile application that enables users to see their cards when they tilt the phone upwards towards their face. Then, users can complete a play by sliding in their bet(s) and flipping their hand once they're all-in. There's no word on when (or if) this gambler's dream will be available for shipment to man caves everywhere, but you owe it to yourself to peek the video after the break, regardless.

Continue reading Poker Surface beautifully weds multitouch table, cellphone interaction and illicit gambling

Poker Surface beautifully weds multitouch table, cellphone interaction and illicit gambling originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NVTouch Surface Computer gets you into the multitouch table game for a scant $70k

Paul Miller — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:24:00 EST

Want to get all multitouchy with a large-screened table without buying into the Microsoft Surface ecosystem? Are you independently wealthy and a bit of a bring-your-own-x nerd type? Oh, good. The folks at NVision Solutions and Intuilab have teamed up to build the "durable" rear projection NVTouch Surface Computer, which retails for around $70,000. The unit is built around off-the-shelf components like a projector, desktop PC and standard video card, and can be upgraded and customized by NVision or the buyer. Obviously this is centered around commercial applications where buyers are going to be building highly custom apps, but Intuilab has some pretty great concept apps already built for the table as a bit of a jumping off point.

NVTouch Surface Computer gets you into the multitouch table game for a scant $70k originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Touchy Remix is the multitouch table you could actually use

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:22:00 EST

Remember when those Microsoft Surface-based tables were all the rage? Yeah, those were the days. Fast forward to today, and you'll probably realize that those things never really took off save for the in luxury yacht market, and while cost was obviously a problem, the overall design never really helped, either. You see, most of the ones we saw were in the shape of a box, which made them exceedingly difficult to sit at and use for an extended period of time. The Touchy Remix, however, solves that issue entirely and creates an alternative that can easily be used by multiple persons who are seated comfortably. German artist Janis Pönisch is responsible for the design here, and the fiberglass shell ensures that the whole thing remains nimble and easy to relocate. There's no mention of a mass commercialization date, but here's hoping this thing hits our local Pottery Barn on the double -- multi-player, multitouch Galaga, anyone?

Update: Turns out these things are already out and about, with one particular tipster noting that they have a few in his London-based running Vortex software.

Update II: SOCO, the Amsterdam-based creator, pinged us with a few more details. Currently, IntactLab is the only distributor (though more are hopefully on the way), and the unit ships with OS X (or Windows 7, if you prefer) loaded on. Multitouch software is provided by IntactLab, and the aforesaid bar added on their own additional software for that given scenario. You can find a product specification sheet here (warning: PDF).

Gallery: Touchy Remix multitouch table

Touchy Remix is the multitouch table you could actually use originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Surface SDK opens doors to all

Vlad Savov — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:09:00 EST

Having made the dev kit for the Surface available to select partners in June (a tiny bit late), Microsoft has now officially let the software loose for all and sundry to explore, experiment, and hopefully innovate with. Whereas Surface Developer units have been required till now to successfully design and test an app, the SDK should allow thrifty designers to produce content for the massive multitouch coffee table without necessarily owning one themselves. For the sweetest (so far) example of what can be achieved with the Surface's capabilities, click this link right here.

[Thanks, Phillis]

Microsoft Surface SDK opens doors to all originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Evoluce ONE gives you 47 inches of multitouch surface to play with (video)

Vlad Savov — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:44:00 EST

We're kind of late to this party, but better late than never, right? At the end of last month, German company Evoluce announced its 47-inch multitouch display, touting Full HD (or 1920 x 1080) resolution and "Integrated-Through-Screen-Optics," which allow it to recognize an unlimited number of simultaneous inputs. The ONE also features haptic feedback and is compatible with Windows 7's multitouch features right out of the box, with support for some "other OS" also planned. If you're thinking this looks like a legit competitor to Microsoft's Surface, well, you'd be right. We've got the full PR for you after the break, as well as hands-on video of the (relatively) new device.

Continue reading Evoluce ONE gives you 47 inches of multitouch surface to play with (video)

Filed under: Displays

Evoluce ONE gives you 47 inches of multitouch surface to play with (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple seeks to take multitouch where it's never been before in new patent app

Darren Murph — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:20:00 EST

Another month, another compelling Apple patent application that's just too delectable to ignore. This go 'round, the Cupertino powerhouse has filed a lengthy document that spells out its plans to revolutionize the multitouch game by creating a solution that recognizes both palms and all ten fingers. According to the filing, such a system could provide "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device," and when we hear things like "computer input device," we think of precisely one thing. Of course, the oft-rumored Apple tablet has been spinning for what feels like ages now, and we've definitely seen countless applications from the company that have yet to lead to any meaningful developments. Still, a multitouch surface that recognizes all ten digits simultaneously? Slap that on a Palm IIIc and we'd still be interested.

Apple seeks to take multitouch where it's never been before in new patent app originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7

Ross Miller — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:58:00 EST

Our initial experience with Windows 7's multitouch was decidedly less than stellar, but it looks like Microsoft's taking the initiative to ramp up the usability with the newly-unveiled Touch Pack. It's a software suite consisting of three games and three Surface apps, including a a globe you can pinch and twist around, the ever-popular surface collage for images, and and a zen-inspired lagoon screensaver. OEMs making touchscreen-capable Windows 7 rigs are being offered the pack to use as a pre-installed option, so look for these to arrive around the same time as the new OS, which should be sometime this holiday season. In the meantime, GottaBeMobile's gotten their hands on the app collection early, and you can view their efforts in the video after the break.

Gallery: Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7

Read - Windows 7 Team Blog
Read - GottaBeMobile's hands-on

Continue reading Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Microsoft Touch Pack brings Surface experience to Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table

Darren Murph — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:23:00 EST

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense for Epson to get into the touch-surface game -- most of the larger versions are projector-based, and Epson's been making great little beamers for quite some time. Showcased earlier this year at ISE 2009 alongside a multitouch air hockey table, the Core 2 Duo-powered X-Desk boasts a 1,024 x 768 resolution panel and possesses the ability to recognize up to 16,000 objects using "Smart Tags." Also of note, gesture recognition software enables users to actually speak to the table and see results, though there's no word on whether raising your voice or blurting out obscenities improves efficiency. Like all of these things, we've nary a clue when they'll really be available for the layperson to purchase, but you can certainly live vicariously by hopping past the break.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Continue reading Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table

Filed under: Displays

Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Surface on sale this June... on board a Lazzara yacht

Darren Murph — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:45:00 EST

You heard right, folks. There's absolutely no need to wait until 2011 in order to buy yourself a personal Surface. Instead, you can grab one of Microsoft's multitouch phenomenons this June, but there's just one tiny catch: it comes attached at the waist with a multi-million dollar yacht. Down at the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show this month, Lazzara Yachts showcased its soon-to-be-released LMC 76, which -- coincidentally enough -- comes loaded with a Surface along with software from Infusion Development. The boat (and by extension, the Surface) should be ready to take on the open seas in just a few months, but there's no indication yet on exactly how many New York banks you'll have to rob in order to make it happen. If you need some encouragement on turning to the dark side, a hands-on demo video is just past the break.

[Via Beyond | IT, thanks Roy]

Read - Details from Lazzara
Read - Hands-on experience

Continue reading Microsoft Surface on sale this June... on board a Lazzara yacht

Filed under: Displays, Transportation

Microsoft Surface on sale this June... on board a Lazzara yacht originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SMART Table now available in North America and UK

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:24:00 EST

We heard that the SMART Table would be ready for playtime in Spring of 2009, and here she is, a few months early. The kid-friendly multitouch table is now available for purchase in North America and the United Kingdom, and as expected, it's being marketed towards educational institutions looking for new and exciting ways to help kids learn. The 230i (the only model currently offered) weighs in at 150 pounds and features an XGA DLP projector, integrated speakers, an inbuilt digital camera to track touches and multitouch capabilities courtesy of DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology. We're still not told just how much resellers will be charging, but we'll stick to the "at least seven or eight grand" figure we heard when toying with one last October. Demo vid is after the break.

Continue reading SMART Table now available in North America and UK

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets, Household

SMART Table now available in North America and UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ideum MT2 multitouch table surfaces, looks to replace museum curators

Ross Miller — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:41:00 EST

Ideum designs has unveiled a multitouch table targeted specifically for the museum crowd. The MT2 Table is composed of aircraft-grade aluminum and sports a 50-inch tempered glass widescreen display with 1280 x 720 resolution and 2000:1 contrast ratio -- that's a good deal larger than Microsoft Surface and its 30-inch screen. The DLP-based projector system has 2100 ANSI brightness and a 3,000-hour bulb life. Tactile response is measured via dual-camera IR system, and the whole thing is powered by a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB, 4GB RAM, 1250GB HDD, and Windows XP. Each table comes bundled with Swedish-based Natural User Interface's Snowflake software and lets you create your own apps using Flash, Java, Python, and C/C++/C#. According to the press release, the first owners will be the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas and Vulcan Park and Museum in Birmingham, Alabama -- doesn't look like they're vying for the coveted DJ Roker demographic. Video of the table in action embedded after the break.

[Via slashgear; thanks, Chris]

Continue reading Ideum MT2 multitouch table surfaces, looks to replace museum curators

Filed under: Displays

Ideum MT2 multitouch table surfaces, looks to replace museum curators originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW Product Navigator: create your next Bimmer on a Surface

Darren Murph — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:49:00 EST

It hasn't even been two months since Microsoft loosed its Surface SDK, and already we're seeing new and improved (or is it just one or the other?) uses of the giant multitouch display. In a presumed attempt to keep savvy shoppers off of those message boards and in the dealership, BMW has developed a promotional video showcasing the so-called Product Navigator. Said device reminds us an awful lot of that fictional computer seen the recent "Twins" Volkswagen commercial, though it actually enables prospective customers to develop their next whip rather than taking their John Hancock and doing the hard work itself. Personally, we'd rather spend our time on the track in Spartanburg deciding which model suits us best, but to each his / her own, we guess. Vid's after the break.

[Via Autoblog]

Continue reading BMW Product Navigator: create your next Bimmer on a Surface

Filed under: Displays, Transportation

BMW Product Navigator: create your next Bimmer on a Surface originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kids-on with the SMART Table

Nilay Patel — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:23:00 EST

We got to play around with a SMART Table in a classroom full of lucky kids at Haines Elementary School in Chicago this morning, and we came away impressed with how much they loved it. The multitouch table is built on the same basic idea and hardware as Microsoft Surface -- Vista PC, XGA projector, infrared camera -- but it's a custom patented SMART design, not Surface lite or anything like that. That said, the multitouch system isn't quite as responsive as Surface, and the kid-proof plastic screen felt a little weird, but it certainly works well enough -- the Table recognizes up to 40 touches (enough for six kids to play comfortably, we were told) and we saw some interesting demos, ranging from the standard rotate / zoom photo app to painting and puzzle games. Teachers get admin access with a special USB key that enables them to manage apps, and there's an SDK in the works, so hopefully there'll be quite a few to manage. SMART says the Table should start shipping next spring for somewhere between $7,000 to $8,000 each -- obviously the company will be targeting school systems with its extensive SMART Board sales network, but well-off parents will be able to score one for their hopelessly spoiled darling children as well. Check a few vids of the table in action after the break.

Gallery: Smart Table hands-on

Continue reading Kids-on with the SMART Table

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Kids-on with the SMART Table originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft set to launch Surface SDK this month

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:28:00 EST

In a fashion not dissimilar from one tiny multitouch device (save the outcry), Microsoft's large multitouch device -- the Surface -- will be getting its very own SDK at Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference this month. The package, which the folks in Redmond have apparently been promising since April, will introduce developers to "vision-based object recognition" and something called ScatterView, and a session at the PDC will detail how the kit "aligns with the multitouch developer roadmap for Windows 7." All exciting stuff, but if we don't see a giant, multitouch version of FreeCell soon, we might just stop paying attention.

Filed under: Displays

Microsoft set to launch Surface SDK this month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Multitouch Oy demos Cell multitouch display

Nilay Patel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:19:00 EST

Microsoft had better hurry and get more than one Surface rig out on the market, because there are plenty of other companies working on large-format multitouch hardware -- the latest is Finland's Multitouch Oy, which recently demoed its Cell display for jkkmobile. Just the usual photo pinching demo, but it's running at an impressively fluid 60fps on desktop hardware, even with multiple users. Multitouch Oy says it'll run about $7,000 for a 32-inch model when it hits -- yeah, we'll stick with the DIY kit for now. Video after the break.

[Via jkkmobile]

Continue reading Multitouch Oy demos Cell multitouch display

Filed under: Desktops, Displays

Multitouch Oy demos Cell multitouch display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

TouchKit: modular multitouch development kit primed for DIYers

Darren Murph — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:02:00 EST

NOR_/D's TouchKit is a modular multitouch development kit that aims to "make multitouch readily available in an open source fashion." If that sounds awfully familiar, you're probably thinking of its sister project Cubit, both of which are hoping to get multitouch into the mainstream as quickly as humanly possible. The kit itself is composed of hardware and software aspects, and of course, source files are provided for poking, prodding and researching. Interested? It'll be $1,580 shipped with a "fully assembled, frameless 70- x 50-centimeter multitouch screen, a calibrated infra-red camera, and the full base software pack."

[Via Gizmag]

Filed under: Displays

TouchKit: modular multitouch development kit primed for DIYers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft's LaserTouch prototype brings hand control to any display

Darren Murph — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:28:00 EST

We'll go ahead and get this out of the way: the fantastic product you're about to hear more on has "no plans" to go commercial. Now that we've thoroughly killed your buzz, let us introduce to you the LaserTouch. Said device is a prototype that recently emerged from Microsoft Research's labs, which essentially allows people to retrofit any display (monitor, projector, etc.) so that they can use their own hands to control the on-screen action. According to Andy Wilson, who played a vital role in the unit's creation, an infrared camera is used to track how a person touches the screen, while software that he developed handles the majority of the magic. Too bad this could totally undercut Surface sales, right?

Filed under: Displays

Microsoft's LaserTouch prototype brings hand control to any display originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 May 2008 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft intros the TouchWall -- maps will never be the same again

Joshua Topolsky — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:13:00 EST

If you've been watching CNN's election coverage lately (and we think you have), then you've probably seen anchor John King tripping the light fantastic on the channel's Magic Wall touchscreen. Apparently, Microsoft has come up with its own version of the board -- essentially a Surface flipped on its side and mounted. The device, known as the TouchWall, joins a handful of finger-friendly prototypes that Microsoft Research is working on (including a spherical unit we assume will be used strictly for world domination campaigns). The 4-foot-by-6-foot "wall" uses inexpensive infrared sensors and a rear-mounted camera -- which can be added to a variety of surfaces -- in order to create the hands-on experience. The company appears to be targeting this as a low cost "intelligent whiteboard" solution, so hopefully they'll be turning up in schools, small businesses, and the Engadget offices soon. Check the video after the break to see it all in action.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Microsoft intros the TouchWall -- maps will never be the same again

Filed under: Displays

Microsoft intros the TouchWall -- maps will never be the same again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 May 2008 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lumin's MultiTouch display does... uh, multi-touch

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:20:00 EST

If you've absolutely, positively got to have a multi-touch display system right this second, look no further than the Germany company Lumin and its creatively named MultiTouch. For an undisclosed price (available on request) you and your loved ones can be pawing all over the 42-inch, 1024 x 768 display, which is powered by a Mac Mini and can be coupled with Apple's wireless keyboard and mouse. The screen -- which is quite similar to the LG.Philips display we got our mitts on at CES -- is driven by Lumin's proprietary software, and allows you to do all Surface-esque manner of tricks, like zooming, rotating, and panning with various finger / hand combinations. The company also appears to be offering rear-projection, front-projection, and "shaped" screens, though none of those seem to be sporting touch capabilities. Check out the super-cool video after the break and see what's happening over there.

[Thanks, Mike]

Continue reading Lumin's MultiTouch display does... uh, multi-touch

Filed under: Displays

Lumin's MultiTouch display does... uh, multi-touch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is this Windows Mobile 7?

Evan Blass — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:03:00 EST

Not all the big news is coming out of CES today: thanks to Nathan Weinberg's InsideMicrosoft blog, we were able to check out a purported internal document detailing the revolutionary new input methods planned for Windows Mobile 7 as well as a ton of supposed screenshots. If this information is, in fact, accurate, it looks like Redmond is planning at least three methods of interacting with the device aside from pressing the usual buttons. First, as you might expect, is multi-touch capability á la the iPhone or Microsoft's own Surface, but it looks like WinMo 7 handsets will also be controllable via shaking and rotating the device, and even at a distance by way of camera-based gesture recognition. Again, no guarantees that any of these features will be included in the final version or that any of this info or images are even legit, but as you can see from the rather large gallery below, the mounting evidence is extremely compelling. Specifically, you'll definitely want to check out:

Gallery: Is this Windows Mobile 7?

Filed under: Cellphones

Is this Windows Mobile 7? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Taiwanese researchers create a dual-resolution touch display

Nilay Patel — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:01:00 EST

We've seen projectors used in multi-touch applications before -- most notably in Microsoft's Surface -- but researchers at National Taiwan University have extended the concept by using two projectors at once. The i-m-Top system allows high-resolution overlays to appear over the main display, which can cover a 47-inch by 31-inch surface. NTU says that as soon as it lands a production partner, the $3000 system will be ready for market within six months, with costs expected to fall dramatically after that. Here's hoping -- we just watched Minority Report again the other night and we can't wait to have a Big-Ass Table of our own.

[Via TG Daily]

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

Taiwanese researchers create a dual-resolution touch display originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments