Buzz
Microsoft Surface seeks to transform how we collaborate across a shared space.
Image courtesy of MicrosoftNumerous science fiction films have showcased mighty computers as large touch-screen displays. In "Star Wars," there were transparent partitions showing schematics for planning and tracking space battles. "Star Trek" featured entire wall panels and tabletops that controlled the spaceship’s systems. Now, Microsoft Surface is taking steps to turn these futuristic visions into reality.
Surface is a platform combining hardware and software technologies, designed as a collaborative touch-screen interface where multiple users can interact simultaneously. Here are a few examples of how Surface can be put to practical use:
- Rather than pushing paper around, colleagues sitting at a table could shift digital text blocks and sign documents without the need for physical printouts.
- During consultations, doctors could smoothly navigate patient records and X-ray images on a wall-mounted screen instead of sifting through paper files.
- At a restaurant, friends could place their orders, play games while waiting for their food, and settle the bill by simply placing their RFID-enabled credit cards on the table.
Microsoft debuted Surface 1.0 in 2008, collaborating with retail partners to explore how the technology could enhance their store environments. With the release of Samsung SUR40 and Surface 2.0 in January 2011, Microsoft was poised to make Surface available to a broader audience. However, as of mid-2011, Microsoft has directed its efforts towards marketing Surface to businesses, rather than to individual consumers.
How did Surface come to life, and what makes it tick? This article delves into those questions and assesses whether other tabletop computing technologies can compete with the Surface platform. Let’s first explore how Surface evolved from a small idea into a groundbreaking innovation.
History of Microsoft Surface
The Samsung SUR40 with Surface 2.0, as shown here, is just 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) deep. In contrast, its predecessor, Surface 1.0, which housed cameras and projectors under the table, was mounted on a bulky unit packed with internal components.
Image courtesy of MicrosoftThe concept for Surface began at Microsoft in 2001, when researchers envisioned an "interactive table" capable of detecting objects and their movements on its surface. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, supported the project in early 2003. After 85 prototypes, the team finally developed a design that would lead to Surface 1.0.
Microsoft unveiled Surface at the 2007 All Things Digital (D) conference in Carlsbad, California. Although touch-screen technology had been around for a while, with devices like tablet PCs already recognizing touch input, Surface's goal was to expand on this by transforming how people interact with each other across a table. The Surface device displayed at D5 was a black tabletop with a 30-inch (76.2-centimeter) touch-screen beneath a clear acrylic surface [sources: Mintz, Fost, Microsoft, All Things Digital].
Microsoft's first commercial use of Surface came nearly a year after its debut. In April 2008, select AT&T stores in the U.S. began using Surface computers to showcase information about their mobile devices. Other corporate partnerships followed throughout 2008, aimed at businesses that could benefit from Surface's capabilities. Priced at over $12,000, Microsoft’s first release of Surface was not intended for the average home consumer [sources: Microsoft, Microsoft, Foley].
In early January 2011, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft launched its marketing campaign for Surface 2.0. It also highlighted its partnership with Samsung to produce the SUR40: a 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) thick tabletop computer featuring a 40-inch (1-meter) display running Surface 2.0. Slated for release later in 2011, the SUR40 was expected to cost around $7,600 in the United States, reinforcing Microsoft's focus on business owners rather than home consumers [source: Foley].
This concludes the brief history of Surface, though there are undoubtedly many more chapters to be written about this groundbreaking tool. Now, let's take a deeper dive and explore the inner workings of Surface, understanding what makes it more than just a large touch-screen display.
Surface Computing Technology
Surface, from Microsoft, has pioneered a new area of computing called surface computing. The purpose of surface computing is to detect touch and objects on the screen's surface, enabling seamless interaction with those objects [source: Riley]. With Surface, users can interact without the need for a mouse, keyboard, or even a USB port connected to the device.
You may already be familiar with the idea of a graphical user interface (GUI), which displays information on your screen and allows you to interact through attached input devices like a mouse, keyboard, or touchpad. Surface computing, however, uses a Natural User Interface (NUI), allowing you to interact in the most intuitive way possible. A NUI is driven by direct touch or the interaction of objects with the system, eliminating the need for traditional input devices connected to the computer.
Surface integrates its NUI through a blend of hardware and software, all housed within a single device. The Surface 1.0 hardware includes cameras that detect touch or objects placed on the tabletop. The software processes the data from these cameras, adjusting accordingly based on the current application. The interaction is then displayed on the screen, which is actually projected from beneath the surface of the tabletop [source: Microsoft].
As part of its Natural User Interface (NUI), Surface integrates multi-touch technology. This feature allows Surface to detect and process multiple touch points at once. This means that several people can simultaneously browse through images, each dragging, zooming, or rotating photos without having to wait for others. Multi-touch technology has been around for decades, gaining widespread fame through Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch. Surface computing takes that technology and expands its potential in a collaborative, large-scale setting [source: Buxton].
- 40-inch (1-meter) LCD display
- 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) depth, designed for easy horizontal mounting
- 2.9 GHz 64-bit AMD Athlon X2 dual-core processor
- 1 GB AMD Radeon HD graphics card
- 4 GB DDR3 RAM
- 320 GB hard disk drive
- Wired (1 GB Ethernet) and wireless (802.11 and Bluetooth) network connectivity
- Physical ports include HDMI, stereo RCA, USB, and SD card slots
- 64-bit Windows 7 Professional operating system embedded
- Corning Gorilla Glass for surface protection
- Supports over 50 simultaneous touch points
Now that we've explored the Surface hardware and how Microsoft is taking the lead in surface computing, it's clear that Surface isn't just about the hardware. Given Microsoft's strength in software, it’s no surprise that the software driving Surface is equally cutting-edge. Let’s dive into that in the next section.
At first glance, Microsoft Surface tables might seem like a risky choice for restaurants or food service businesses. Fortunately, the design of Surface ensures the protection of its internal electronics from any potential damage. The device can handle a considerable amount of weight, making it sturdy enough for plates and drinks. Moreover, the Samsung SUR40, the first Surface 2.0 model, comes with Gorilla Glass, known for its impressive durability. For restaurant staff, cleaning the surface is easy and affordable, requiring just a little dish soap, water, and a microfiber cloth.
Microsoft Surface Software
When you interact with a Surface device, the first thing you'll do is choose the application you'd like to use from its launcher.
Image courtesy of MicrosoftThe Microsoft Surface platform is built on innovative software that ensures all of its technologies function harmoniously together. Having previously explored how it interprets multiple touch points and objects, we now turn our attention to the graphical side of the NUI and examine its interactive software.
At the core of Surface's software is the Surface Shell. In operating systems, a shell is a mechanism that manages a group of related processes. Similarly, the Surface Shell is the primary process that utilizes the hardware capabilities of the Surface. For most users, the first experience with Microsoft Surface involves interacting with the Surface Shell, typically through an application that encourages you to touch the screen. A common default application is a virtual pond that ripples upon touch [source: Roodyn].
When you touch the Surface Shell, you'll notice access points appearing at the corners of the screen. Simply touch the access point nearest to you to open the launcher. Since Surface software operates in a full 360-degree rotation, position the launcher to face you by selecting the access point closest to your right hand. The launcher will display all the Surface applications installed on the device. As businesses often create their own Surface applications, developers must package and install their software within the Surface Shell for it to be visible in the launcher.
The launcher functions as a rotating carousel of Surface applications, similar to the Cover Flow feature found in Mac OS X Finder or in iTunes. You can navigate the carousel by swiping your hand across the screen. When the application you'd like to open is centered, simply touch its image to launch it. If you'd like to exit the launcher and return to the previous screen, just touch one of the access points still visible in the screen's corners.
Microsoft provides a set of default Surface applications, including those for music playback, drawing, photo organization, map searching, shopping, and banking. There are even a few games available. Each of these apps utilizes one or more of the following hand gestures on the Surface [source: Microsoft]:
- Touching -- To select an object, simply tap it on the screen.
- Dragging -- Many applications let you drag an object across the screen by touching it and moving your hand. You can also scroll through menus with this motion.
- Scaling -- Some objects can be resized by touching two points and moving them closer together or farther apart. For example, you could enlarge a photo by touching two diagonal corners and moving your hands away from each other.
- Turning -- When an application allows rotation, you can turn an object by touching it at two or more points and dragging them in a circular motion on the surface.
- Flicking -- To push something aside, quickly swipe across its surface as if you're sliding a piece of paper. Surface will recognize the swipe's momentum and move the object to the side of the screen, leaving it accessible but out of your way.
This article has primarily focused on Surface's features and the technology that drives it. Before we conclude, let's take a quick look at the current users of Surface and explore the potential challenges it may face from competitors in the future.
Microsoft Surface Today and Tomorrow
The Ideum MT55 not only boasts superior hardware specifications compared to the Samsung SUR40 with Surface 2.0, but it also made its retail debut ahead of the SUR40.
Screenshot by Mytour staffEarlier, we discovered that Microsoft intended Surface primarily for businesses. In fact, Surface 1.0 was exclusively available to businesses [source: Microsoft]. Some of these businesses have partnered with Microsoft to develop the first Surface-certified applications and to help enhance the Surface product overall. As of this writing, the Surface project included 84 Microsoft Surface partners and nearly 300 strategic partners.
The Samsung SUR40 with Surface 2.0, which was set to launch in fall 2011, is the first Surface device that will be available for retail purchase globally. Both Microsoft and Samsung will offer the device, along with several authorized resellers. Although the price and availability of Surface make it more accessible to home consumers, the primary audience for Surface remains retail businesses.
Microsoft's decision to focus Surface's marketing efforts on businesses may prove wise. Not only can businesses impress their customers with Surface, but they can also use it to streamline transactions, making them faster and more efficient. Business owners can also personalize Surface by working with skilled Windows software developers to create custom applications using the Surface Developer Kit (SDK) [source: Microsoft]. Additionally, Surface can help businesses reduce waste in their green initiatives by cutting down on paper, ink, and other office supplies.
While Surface is at the forefront of the surface computing category it pioneered, it faces competition in this space. In 2009, Ideum introduced its MT2 Multitouch Table, featuring a 50-inch (1.3-meter) screen and the rugged durability needed to withstand the usage in museums. The MT2 incorporated Snowflake Gesture Recognition Software by NUITEQ, which opened the door for developers from various programming backgrounds to contribute. Incidentally, NUITEQ is the company behind the trademark for the term Natural User Interface (NUI). By July 2011, MT2 was succeeded by the MT55, which now utilizes Ideum's own GestureWorks software for app development and offers superior hardware specs compared to the SUR40 [sources: Davies, NUITEQ, Ideum].
For many, the concept of multi-touch functionality and intuitive interfaces is more closely associated with Apple products than Microsoft's. This raises the question: will Apple introduce a competitor to Surface? Some believe that the markets for Surface and products like the Apple iPad will remain separate. Surface is designed for large, collaborative engagements typical in retail environments, whereas the iPad, iPhone, and other Apple devices cater to individual users who are frequently on the move [source: Howe].
Despite Apple not yet having a presence in the large-scale surface computing market, the company has the technical expertise to develop a serious competitor to Surface. Google and its Android partners should not be dismissed either, especially with Android 3.0, which was rebuilt specifically as a tablet OS. Will these major players challenge Microsoft in the surface computing domain, or will smaller manufacturers like Ideum establish their own niche and challenge the larger companies to step in?
This article has introduced the concept of surface computing and discussed Microsoft's Surface platform. However, we’ve only scratched the surface of what touch-screen computing can do. Continue to the next page for even more insights and details on this exciting field.
