Microsoft has just announced their Surface computer. What has started as an interesting idea back in 2001 as an idea just got materialized as a 30″ desk with some wicked UI and the full power of Windows Vista behind it. While we’ve seen prototypes of such an interface on TED demoed by Jeff Han what I liked about the presentation of Surface is the level of interaction with physical objects like mp3 players, digital cameras, phones and credit cards. I do feel however that while having an interactive desk is interesting, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 we’ll wait a little bit until we see great acceptance. I think I find the monitor or the TV as a better interaction device (primarily because they are vertical). We should be expecting the first products in Winter 2007.
As a programmer I can’t wait to see the API’s that will be used, WPF might just find a great use in these devices.
Should we expect patent wars on these multi-touch interfaces? How will Apple react? How will perceptive pixel react? This might well become the real user interface revolution people have been waiting since the whole WIMP concept invented way back in ’84 by Xerox.
An analysis above this you can read here :
http://www.leeander.com/2007/05/surface-lultimo-copiaincolla-di-microsoft/