The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or
keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information on
their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, just like
in the real world. Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form
factor that small groups can use at the same time. From digital finger
painting to a virtual concierge, Surface brings natural interaction to
the digital world in a new and exciting way.
“With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to
interact with technology,” Ballmer said. “We see this as a multibillion
dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing
technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the
hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision.”
The Human Touch
Microsoft Surface puts people in
control of their experiences with technology, making everyday tasks
entertaining, enjoyable and efficient. Imagine ordering a beverage
during a meal with just the tap of a finger. Imagine quickly browsing
through music and dragging favorite songs onto a personal playlist by
moving a finger across the screen. Imagine creating and sending a
personal postcard of vacation pictures instantly to friends and family,
while still wearing flip-flops.
Surface also features the
ability to recognize physical objects that have identification tags
similar to bar codes. This means that when a customer simply sets a
wine glass on the surface of a table, a restaurant could provide them
with information about the wine they’re ordering, pictures of the
vineyard it came from and suggested food pairings tailored to that
evening’s menu. The experience could become completely immersive,
letting users access information on the wine-growing region and even
look at recommended hotels and plan a trip without leaving the table.
Surface
computing at Microsoft is an outgrowth of a collaborative effort
between the Microsoft Hardware and Microsoft Research teams, which were
struck by the opportunity to create technology that would bridge the
physical and virtual worlds. What started as a high-level concept grew
into a prototype and evolved to today’s market-ready product that will
transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live. It’s a major
advancement that moves beyond the traditional user interface to a more
natural way of interacting with information. Surface computing, which
Microsoft has been working on for a number of years, features four key
attributes:
• Direct interaction.
Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands,
interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a
mouse or keyboard.
• Multi-touch.
Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not
just from one finger like a typical touch-screen, but up to dozens of
items at once.
• Multi-user.
The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather
around surface computers together, providing a collaborative,
face-to-face computing experience.
• Object recognition.
Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different
types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.
Surface Puts People in Control
Surface
will be shipped to partners with a portfolio of basic applications,
including photos, music and virtual concierge applications that can be
customized to provide their customers with unique experiences. Harrah’s
Entertainment Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., and
T-Mobile USA Inc. will be some of the first companies to provide unique
Surface experiences for their customers. These first partners are
exploring a variety of avenues for Surface, which may include the
following:
• Harrah’s Entertainment.
Guests at Harrah’s Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties, including
Caesars Palace and the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, can explore
the wide variety of dining, entertainment, night life and gaming
experiences available at its network of area casinos. Using the
interactive virtual concierge in Microsoft Surface, guests can reserve
tickets to an Elton John concert, review the menu at chic eatery
Bradley Odgen, take a tour of the world-famous PURE nightclub, book a
luxurious spa treatment or redeem Total Rewards loyalty program credits
for a broad range of merchandise. The virtual concierge can directly
connect users to amenities available at any of Harrah’s seven Las Vegas
casinos, allowing guests to “visit” multiple venues and plan their
itineraries without ever getting up from their table. “When visitors to
Las Vegas choose to stay at one of our casinos, they can enjoy the
amenities at all of them,” said Tim Stanley, Harrah’s chief information
officer and senior vice president of innovation, gaming and IT.
“Microsoft Surface is a great way to help our guests get the most out
of their trips to Las Vegas by putting all the offerings and
experiences we make available at their fingertips.”
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) will initially
launch Surface at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Starwood’s largest and
most global brand. Surface will help bring interaction, connectivity
and play to Sheraton hotels’ new lobby experience, currently being
rolled out in key cities worldwide. To provide guests with greater
service, unique experiences and entertainment, Sheraton embraced
Surface as a key component of its lobby transformation. Surface will
enable guests to browse and listen to music, create their own
playlists, send photos home, download books, and even order food and
drinks — all with the drop of a credit card or their Starwood Preferred
Guest loyalty card. “We are creating new and engaging ways for our
guests to connect with their passions while away from home. Microsoft
Surface puts us at the forefront of technology and allows guests to
interact with each other and our hotel in a revolutionary way,” said
Hoyt H. Harper II, senior vice president for Sheraton.
• T-Mobile USA.
Customers in T-Mobile retail stores might place different cell phones
on Surface’s interactive surface where product features, prices and
phone plans would appear so they could be easily compared. “We are
continuously working to build the greatest retail experience we can for
our customers,” said Bonita Inza, vice president of Retail at T-Mobile
USA. “They tell us they want more information about our products and
services, but in a way that is easily accessible, at their own pace and
with the amount of detail that they prefer. Surface is one example of
how we’re turning our stores into a playground where customers can
comfortably explore exciting new products in their own personal way.”
Surface
will also be made available through a distribution and
development agreement with IGT (International Game Technology NYSE:
IGT), a global company specializing in the design, development,
manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines
and systems products.
“Consumers now have an entirely new way to
get the information they need, turning their everyday tasks into
enjoyable and engaging experiences,” said Pete Thompson, general
manager of Microsoft Surface Computing. “There are hundreds of
thousands of restaurants, hotels and retail locations that are looking
to give their customers the unique and memorable experiences that
Surface will provide. In turn, companies have a new opportunity for
generating additional revenue streams and increasing retail traffic.”
About Microsoft Surface Computing
Microsoft
Surface Computing brings to life a whole new way to interact with
information that engages the senses, improves collaboration and
empowers consumers. By utilizing the best combination of connected
software, services and hardware, Microsoft is at the forefront of
developing surface computing products that push computing boundaries,
deliver new experiences that break down barriers between users and
technology, and provide new opportunities for companies to engage with
people. More information can be found at http://www.surface.com .
Operating Systems 
First commercially available surface computer from
Microsoft breaks down barriers and provides effortless interaction with
information using touch, natural gestures and physical objects.