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Ideum MT2 multitouch table surfaces, looks to replace museum curators
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]
Microsoft Surface being used to coordinate Super Bowl security
If you've been watching the news this week, you might have caught NFL security VP Milton Ahlerich saying that Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will be "one the safest locations you can possibly be" during the Super Bowl on Sunday, and it looks like Microsoft Surface will be a big reason why: it's being used to coordinate security forces around the site. It's seriously slick -- maps are integrated with planning and voice communications software so the field commanders can immediately assess incident responses and personnel deployments, with the ability to initiate radio contact directly from the interface. Definitely much cooler than zooming in and out of photos and ordering drinks, we'd say -- video after the break.
Patent app for touchscreen printer from Sony Surfaces
An interesting concept from Sony has come to light courtesy of the US Patent & Trademark Office, deftly titled: "Image forming device, having an ejection tray, and a display is mounted to a cover." That's a lot of words to describe what is basically a Surface-like touchscreen mounted onto a flat, clamshell printer (shown open after the break). The idea is for users to set their cameras down, view and manipulate images wirelessly, and then print them directly to honest to gosh paper. It appears to be quite a bit smaller than Microsoft's uber-table, and a lot less likely to get Al Roker's groove on too, but it also looks rather more practical and affordable; something you might actually expect to see in someone's home in the next few years. But, don't get too excited about the real-world prospects here -- your guess is as good as ours about Sony's plans for bringing this to market.
Video: Gettin' jiggy with Surface, Al Roker
What do you get when you cross a music-mixing Microsoft Surface with a sleep-deprived Al Roker? Answer: Pure comedy gold. Video after the break, skip to the 48-second mark to hear DJ A.R. do his thang. Bonus: check out the last 10 seconds to hear him compare a drunken Ann Coulter to Popeye's Olive Oyl.
Microsoft makes Surface look dated with SecondLight
Microsoft's Surface may be hard at work helping the liberal media steal the election (we kid, we kid), but other than acting as props in stores or random promotional videos, the device hasn't exactly created a market for itself. But that's not stopping MS from introducing the next generation: SecondLight. It takes the tabletop, multi-touch display concept and adds the ability to project images into the air thanks to a liquid crystal screen timed to be transparent on alternate frames, enabling a projector below to beam an image right through it. Your eye doesn't notice unless you hold something opaque up to scatter the light (like tracing paper, for instance), meaning the device can show a picture of the night sky on the surface while highlighting the constellations on paper. The must-see video below shows how the thing can also track objects above the glass, turning a sheet held aloft into a second multi-touch display. Like the Surface, practical applications for this seem somewhat limited -- but since when have you cared about practicality?[Via Slashdot]
Microsoft Surface made pressure-sensitive with Wii Balance Board
So you've got a spare Microsoft Surface and Wii Balance Board laying around, whaddya do? Well, you could try stacking them on top of each other and hope that big-ass table doesn't crush your little plastic Nintendo toy, and with some code slapped on what you'd end up with is pressure-sensitive surface computing. This clever little concept was cooked up by Josh Santangelo from "Stimulant." In his demo, featured after the break, he rocks Surface from side to side while colored spots roll back and forth, using a physics engine he developed for MS Silverlight. It's a great start and we would love to see this resourceful hack put to good use -- beyond that of a totally awesome yet ridiculously expensive tilt-a-maze game, minus the maze.
Screen Grabs: Microsoft Surface plots out the election on MSNBC
CNN's John King might have that sick multitouch electoral map, but MSNBC's not going down without a fight -- as dozens of you noticed, the network started using a Surface table yesterday as part of its election coverage. NBC News political director Chuck Todd will be the main handsman, using it to map out electoral votes and battleground states at first, but there are some other apps in the pipeline, according to Microsoft. Looks like the multitouch news wars have begun in full swing -- anyone taking bets on when the green screen gets totally replaced in the weather center? Video of Surface in action after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Microsoft Surface checks into Sheraton Hotels
Alright, Microsoft: we take it all back. It was wrong, just wrong of us to impugn your promotional filmmaking skills. That Bruce Springsteen parody? Spot on. Awkward Vegas flirtations? True pathos. And now, to promote the launch of your latest version of the Surface table for Sheraton Hotels, you've crafted the touching story of a curious kid, a smug photo-twirler, her tardy date and a loving asian family. We don't want to spoil anything, but complications ensue, folks, and this is one nail-biter worthy of a sequel. Do they all end up going to dinner together? Or are they destined to troll Craigslist that evening, seeking their missed connection...You: Cute family.Me: Sultry Surface spokeswoman.My date was a disaster, and now I'm all alone for the weekend, let me teach you how to pair your phones with the table over Bluetooth, and then we can all go get ice cream together!Heartbreaking, simply heartbreaking. Video is after the break.
Microsoft Surface launching April 17th... with AT&T
No, Microsoft hasn't suddenly transformed its 30-inch, multi-touch Surface into a big-ass cellphone. It has, however, chosen AT&T to launch the world's first Surface into retail. Shoppers in New York, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be treated to what amounts to the novelty (at least initially) of learning about a device (Samsung BlackJack II, pictured) by simply placing it atop the Surface. They'll also have the ability to explore interactive coverage maps. Later, users will be able to drag ringtones, graphics and video and drop it into "the phones." Note their use of "the" and not "your" phone in the press release. Nevertheless, we're happy to see Microsoft get the technology out the door on its long march towards consumerdom.%Gallery-19638%Update: Interestingly enough, AT&T's flagship iPhone will not be one of the first phones demonstrated on Surface. Perhaps AT&T / Microsoft worry about a multi-touch collision creating consumer strangelets.
Surface to hit consumerdom in 2011, maybe sooner
The last we heard about a consumer-oriented version of Microsoft Surface, Steve Ballmer was saying that the company was trying to get it out ASAP -- which is apparently three years, we've just learned. That's the word from Tom Gibbons, the MS VP in charge of Specialized Devices and Applications, who says Microsoft can "absolutely see how" to get Surface to consumers by 2011, but that it'll try to beat that deadline if possible. Of course, the $10,000 commercial version of Surface still hasn't been released to high-profile customers like T-Mobile and Harrah's, although it's starting to make semi-random promo appearances here and there. Still, though, 2011? We're getting pretty sick of old-school Hungry Hungry Hippos here, people -- let's make this happen.
Today's most Microsoft Surface-y video: Firefly demo
It's been a while since we first speculated on the gaming potential of Microsoft's Surface multi-touch tabletop computer -- long enough, in fact, that that potential has now become somewhat more actual. Sarcastic Gamer has the video of a Carbonated Games demo for Firefly, a simple game that, appropriately enough, involves gathering fireflies into jars (sorry Whedon fans, no Reavers here).The multi-touch abilities of the Surface are put to good use in the video -- even with three hands and up to 15 fingers pushing the little flies around, the Surface doesn't seem to miss a beat. Our favorite part, though, has to be the ability to squash opposing players bugs with your actual fingers. Try doing that with one of today's consoles. We dare ya.Continue reading to see why the future of gaming is as bright as a squished firefly's bottom.
Microsoft Surface: that big table computer
Our friends at Sarcastic Gamer are at it again. Last week we got the parody of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," and this week we get a nice (and surprisingly sarcastic) look at Microsoft Surface. While many of us watched the first videos of Surface and said, "cool," Sarcastic Gamer -- like any good satirist -- saw the same video and said, "why?" If you weren't wowed by Microsoft's multi-touch, object recognizing table computer, then this video is for you. If, on the other hand, you love Surface ... well, you should still watch because the video is funny.
Microsoft Surface: gaming's future?
You may have heard rumblings of the new Microsoft product called Surface. Essentially, Surface is a multi-touch computing surface. The applications for Surface, as outlined by Microsoft, include things like sharing photos, sharing music, ordering lunch, and purchasing your next mobile phone plan. We have to ask though, how can it be used for gaming? Our friends at Joystiq suggest games like Puzzle Quest or Starcraft. Keep in mind, the 360 will be long gone by the time Surface becomes a widespread consumer device (come to think of it, the next Xbox might be gone by then). The possibilities remain mighty intriguing though. What kind of games can you see working for the wonder machine?See a video of Surface in action after the break.
