Channel10, CNet, MSNBC, and a growing collection of others are talking about the just announced Surface Computing effort at Microsoft–previously called the PlayTable.
The idea is simple: Project onto a surface and enable the user to interact with the projected display by sensing fingers and other objects using a series of cameras (both located behind the user surface). The sensing technology enables some interesting scenarios, such as multi-touch detection and tracking, “scanning” of photos or any document, and even 3D objects.
Microsoft is unique in that it is trying to merge these technologies into a cohesive offering.
I hope, however, that there’s also some active thinking about the core technologies involved here–and I don’t mean simply in terms of the hardware. I’m talking software.
There’s lots of overlap here with Tablet technologies, for instance. Multi-touch is just one. Then there’s the overlap with projector-based whiteboard systems–the commercial ones I’m aware of use forward projectors–but many of the ideas are the same.
Take “awareness” as another feature that should be shared among more computing devices. In Microsoft’s Surface computing initiative, embedded cameras are used to detect and initiate conversations with other electronic devices put on its surface. Most mobile PCs and devices have similar needs. When two kids are sitting in the back of a car, the devices they hold should be capable of being aware of each other so that more interesting software can be developed. Same goes for a gathering of 5th grade students whether they are sitting at their desks taking a test or bunched in groups spotting birds in the schoolyard. I see lots of functional overlap here.
In fact, it seems that there’s an SDK here begging to be released, but so far I haven’t heard anything. Maybe tomorrow we’ll hear more.
Regardless of the hardware that implements the multi-touch, for instance, isn’t there a common set of gestures, recognizers, interaction models, document manipulation, and so on that would give Vista one more “Wow?” Seems like it to me.