Microsoft surface was introduced by Microsoft in 2007 under new product category, called 'Surface Computing'. It is a combination of hardware and software that allows users to interactively interact with digital content. Interactions are achieved through touches, instead of using keyboard and mouse. Microsoft claimed that, with Microsoft Surface we can actually grab data with our hand and move information between objects with natural gestures and touches.
As reported in Wikipedia, it is a Windows PC placed inside a table, topped with a 30-inch reflective surface in a clear acrylic frame. It has a projector inside, that project images for the reflective surface to display. Five cameras are installed inside the machine to record reflections of infrared light from human fingertips and recognise objects (which have been applied with special tagged) placed on the surface. Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by placing and moving tagged objects. For example: a tagged camera is put on Surface, Surface automatically transfer all pictures from the camera to the screen. Users can move, rotate, resize and interact with pictures by touching and dragging the pictures.
This product is marketed with the price around $5,000 to $10,000 per unit. However, Microsoft expected the price to drop, so that it will be affordable for home consumers. At present time, Microsoft Surface is used in hotels, restaurants, bar, and retail stores. It allows users to choose meals, and place order at restaurants. It also allows users to pay, as it can recognise credit card that is dropped on it. In retail stores, users can compare and look for the product details by just placing the product on the top of the table.
In future, Microsoft Surface may bring a great influence on the way people do business and the way people live their life. Microsoft believes that: "As form factors continue to evolve, surface computing will be in any number of environments - schools, business, homes and any numbers of form factors - part of the counter-top, the wall or refrigerator." But ofcourse for this to happen, Microsoft has to make this system affordable for home customers.
