Surface Computing: The Next Big Thing?

[SoMissTV]

From USAToday.com (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-05-29-microsoft-surface_N.htm):

"Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates once talked about putting a PC on every desk. Now Gates is talking about turning the desk itself — or a tabletop — into a computer. Microsoft is set to announce an ambitious new computing category today called "surface computing" to try to make it happen."

Is this the future of computing? Seems pretty cool.

[EricStratton]

I know this isn't the same thing, but I've been in training all week, learning how to use The Promethean Board (similar to the Smart Board)....unbelievable tool that, if used wisely, could revolutionize our classrooms... It's a shame we don't have these in every classroom in America...

We are living in the ADD generation, and we are crazy to be using the same teaching tools our teachers used 15, 20, 30 years ago....This tool, alone, won't make bad teachers good and bad students scholars, but I think it will generate more interest in the classroom for the large number of apathetic students who sit in a Retilin induced fog all day...

[aaron]

I have doubts that Microsoft even knows what people want anymore.

[jmack]

I'm all for new technology, but are we getting to addicted to electronic devices? When computers or cell phones stop working we all seem to panic and can't function. When the computer system goes down at work everyone wants to go home.

[just-Wynn]

I think Billy Gates got this idea from one of those old sit down arcade Galactaca games you used to see in the corner of Pizza Huts. :police:

[58ford]

All I want is a laptop keyboard that starts at the edge instead of at the back. get rid of the dang touch pad & extra mouse buttons.

[TheKing]

i think this is something else microsoft decided to 'improve upon'

the iphone is that device

too bad this cant be put in your pocket

[threekidspa]

All I want is a laptop keyboard that starts at the edge instead of at the back. get rid of the dang touch pad & extra mouse buttons.

YES!!! I hate the touch pad....I can't count the number of times I've broken a program because my thumb got too close to the pad and moved the cursor to some random place while I've been typing. (although it doesn't happen any more now that I've figured out how to configure it so it disables itself if I plug in a mouse...)

[threekidspa]

From USAToday.com (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-05-29-microsoft-surface_N.htm):

"Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates once talked about putting a PC on every desk. Now Gates is talking about turning the desk itself — or a tabletop — into a computer. Microsoft is set to announce an ambitious new computing category today called "surface computing" to try to make it happen."

Is this the future of computing? Seems pretty cool.
Will this mean I have to get a new desk when I need to upgrade my computer?

[58ford]

I remember when the next big thing was gonna be computers you could wear.
They'd be built right into your clothes & have screens you wore like sunglasses. Why didn't that ever happen?

[threekidspa]

I remember when the next big thing was gonna be computers you could wear.
They'd be built right into your clothes & have screens you wore like sunglasses. Why didn't that ever happen?

Interesting side note...we did some playing around with wearable displays a couple of years ago to to help soldiers fly man portable UAVs. They used low power lasers to project the image directly into the eyeball....pretty freaky to me.

[bpitt]

That better be one stable table/computer combo for my butt to take a nap on while at work. Does it come with a pillow?

[Guru]

It's all getting very near. The down side to all this paradise is that a world has been created that removes kids from physical activity. Instant gratification will naturally keep someone on a couch all day and all night rather than open a door to mow the yard. This sounds very elementary but if you don't want to open the door, mow the yard, work on a bicycle, etc. then what else are you missing? I do enjoy my work toys and my home toys but they are icing on the cake to me. I've already done all the physical stuff and can appreciate the difference both ways. Fotno knows ... In industry there are PLCs, amazing devices that can control a valve to the degree that you can tweak both the flow rate of water to feed a daisy without crushing a bloom, adjust the temperature coming out of the valve, see the reaction of other devices in proximity and I guess if we really wanted could add an infrared device to tell what color socks the guy has on that is standing nearby. All this can be done from miles away.

[bpitt]

Tech freakin' rocks, and is only getting better. But, true, physical activity must be maintained. I mean, look at all the retired people, the ones that are living a LONG time stay active. The ones that retire and soon fade or doing nothing but sitting in the house soaking up BTU's.