Microsoft Surface, a recent product of Microsoft which has changed thought of typing and clicking. It responds like real world objects. Its 30 inch table like display can be operated by the motion of hand or any other physical objects. It combines both software and hardware technology that allows a user or multiple user to manipulate its highly digitalize features and contents to each other.
Origin :
Its code name is Milan and it was announced on May 29, 2007 at D5 conference.
| Year |
Description |
| 2001 |
Steven Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research first thought about initial concept of Surface. They want to mix physical and virtual worlds. In October of the same year, DJ Kurlander, Joel Dehlin, Bathiche and Wilson formed a virtual team to bring the idea to the next stage of development. |
| 2002 |
Actually in this year no significant steps was taken to develop it. |
| 2003 |
In this year the evolution of Microsoft Surface was begun. At the beginning of this year DJ Kurlander, Joel Dehlin presented the idea to Bill Gates. In that month the team expended a prototype(nickname T1) with a hole cut in the top and a sheet of architect vellum used as a diffuser based on IKEA table. They started to building the application(pinball, photo browser, puzzle etc ) and found the value of the computer beyond simply gaming and begun to favor those application that take the advantages of recognizing the physical objects to place on a table. |
| 2004 |
In this year Microsoft built more than 85 early prototypes for Surface’s software developer, hardware developer and user researchers. They also create theSurface computing group in this year. |
| 2005 |
The software development platform and form ofSurface was established in the middle of this year. Number of different experimental prototypes(like tub model) was encased in rounded plastic shell, a desk height model with a square top and cloth covered sides and even a bar-height model. The final hardware design was also completed in this year. |
| 2006 |
Actually in this year no significant steps was taken to develop it. |
| 2007 |
Surface was unveiled its current form, a 30 inch table like form by Steve Ballmer on 30th May, at The Wall Street Journal. The Surface team transitioned from prototyping ideas to building and preparing to sell it.Harrah’s Entertainment, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, T-Mobile and a distributor, International Game Technology responds with it. |
| 2008 |
Surface was became available for commercial sale in this year. AT&T became the first retail location to launch Surface on 17th April. Harrah’s Entertainmentlaunched Microsoft Surface at Rio iBar and Disneyland launched it in Tomorrowland, innoventions Dream Home in June. On 13th August , Sheraton Hotels introduced Surface in their hotel lobbies at 5 locations.MSNBC began using the Surface to work with election maps for the 2008 US Presidential Election on air on 8th September. MSNBC’s political director, Chuck Todd, was placed at the helm. |
| Today |
As form factor continues to evolve, touch computing will in a number of environments, from schools to home and from wall to countertops to tv screens. |
Microsoft Surface Specifications :
o Dimensions : Surface is a 30-inch (76 cm) display in a table-like form factor, 22 inches (56 cm) high, 21 inches (106 cm) deep, and 84 inches (214 cm) wide.
o Body and Build : The Surface tabletop is acrylic, and its interior frame is powder-coated steel.
o Installed Memory: 2 GB(DDR2)
o Display Type: Flat panel display
o Network Support: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
o Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista
o Input Devices: Touch-screen
o Hard Drive: 250GB SATA.
Maximum Setup :
- Intel Core Quad Xeon “Woodcrest” @ 2.66 GHz with a custom motherboard form factor about the size of two ATX motherboards.
- 4GB DDR2-1066 RAM
- 1TB 7200RPM Hard Drive.
Surface computing features four key attributes :
Direct interaction :
Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands, interacting 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.
How does Microsoft Surface work?
At a high level, Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and the result is displayed on the surface using rear projection.
♦ 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.
♦ 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.
♦ 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 WiFiand Bluetooth antennas (future versions may incorporate RFID or Near Field Communications). The underlying operating system is a modified version of Microsoft Vista.
♦ 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.
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