Surface
What a fascinating idea. Unfortunately it’s a Microsoft product, but the technology behind Surface seems like something that might stick around.
The implications for design seem quite immense. It would sure give layout a more hands on feel. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes, and who besides Microsoft is looking to build on this technology.
I saw a demo of something very like this from a lead researcher at MIT a few months ago, and that was old then.
I get the impression that MS have taken an existing concept (see countless movies, CSI, and even last year’s series of Silent Witness) and produced an expensive prototype as a spoiler to the iPhone.
I can see these things being useful in very few situations and too expensive for mass adoption. Touch-screen technology has been around for a long time but only comes into its own in portable devices. From a usability point of view (and this includes the iPhone) they’re a nightmare. How do you use them if you are unable to use your hands? How do you prevent someone else from messing with what you’re doing?
Of course if it had been Apple showing it off I’d be overjoyed ;-)
But no, at the moment I put this with every other ‘new technology’ that MS show off each year that never appears – anyone remember those internet-enabled watches, or the PC with the phone on the side, or the Origami project, or…
Comment by Jonathan — May 30, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
So very true! I’d have been shouting out in the street if this was a Mac. Microsoft deserved a post I thought though. Mostly because I hope some company I like will take this technology and make something out of it. More of a great idea in spite of it being Microsoft rather that because of it.
Comment by HDW — May 31, 2007 @ 11:49 am
What a wonderful post HDW!
I happen to have read another blog today also writing about “Surface”! Isn’t that odd, I suppose everyone is writing about the new grown up toy aren’t they???
Comment by Sage's Unicorn! — May 31, 2007 @ 12:55 pm