Update: *WOW*!
[Original Post]
Bill Gates had a dream: A PC On Every Desktop.
Today that dream evolves,
San Jose Mercury News - Takahashi: Microsoft’s tabletop computer breaks creative ground
Microsoft calls it “surface computing.” The technologies inside it are fairly mundane, but it has taken the company more than five years to develop the applications that make it useful. And, setting the company up as probably the most unexpected entrant into the furniture business in a long time, Microsoft will build the whole thing, from the software to the table itself.
Its goal is to make computing so intuitive that it becomes as simple to use as furniture. Microsoft Surface changes the way we interact with computers in the same way ATMs changed how we get money from a bank.
These machines, with 30-inch table displays, will cost $5,000 to $10,000 at first and compete with ordinary electronic kiosks, said Pete Thompson, general manager of the Microsoft surface computing group. Four key partners will launch products in hotels, casinos and retail stores as early as November.
Hmmpphh. This isn't new - saw this years ago.
Hmmpphh. This isn't new - saw this years ago.
http://www.geekroar.com/film/archives/tng_redhead1.jpg
Yeah, so did I > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_bob
The difference, of course, is that this is a *REAL* product that exists *TODAY* that changes the paradigm to something amazingly innovative.
Oh, and BTW... I was working at MSFT during the time that much of these same technologies were being developed. When you say this is nothing new, you are most definitely correct, but not for the same reasons you seemed to be convinced of.
Also, take a look @ http://www.microsoft.com/surface/ and click on "Origins."
I should also qualify "I was working at MSFT during the time that much of these same technologies were being developed." I worked their from 96-2000, a part of the time on the Windows CE team when a lot of technologies similar to this were being developed. This project in particular hadn't seen the light of day, as far as I know, but there were a lot of similar technologies (e.g. multi-touch screens, technologies that would adapt their configuration on a PC based on sensing the mood of an individual, etc...) that have been under development since the early to mid-90's++.
Networked Whack-A-Mole. Or is that Whack-* ? Will it ship with a mallet?
@Dan,
YES! THAT WOULD ROCK!!! You could have pictures of your boss pop up randomly, or pictures of your ex, or whomever you feel like giving an 'ol whack with the padded whacker.
This could be a *great* stress relieving tool! :D ;-)