Microsoft have announced the launch of a new computer with table-top style touch-screen that recognizes objects placed on the surface and skips the traditional keyboard and mouse in favor of fingers on the screen. It looks like the Surface will sync wirelessly with your peripherals like your Zune too.
On his blog, Robert Scoble explains how it works:
1) It has a piece of holographic glass that can display images that a projector shoots at it.
2) It has a projector underneath.
3) It has two cameras, aimed at the glass which can triangulate on objects on it.
4) It has software, written in Windows Presentation Foundation, that take advantage of the new hardware.
So, how does it recognize the glass chips placed on top of it? Easy, each chip has an invisible bar code in infrared-reflecting ink. Your eye can’t see it. The cameras can.
There’s another video here. These machines will likely be used in commercial settings such as Starwood’s Hotels, SPI suggests.
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