07/24/2008, 3:50pm, EDT
Thursday, July 24thMicrosoft to demo spherical multi-touch
Microsoft will demonstrate its previously only hinted-at spherical Surface display next week, the company has inadvertently revealed through its own floor map for its Research group's DemoFest event. Booth 110 at the show is listed as offering a "multi-touch spherical display" that resembles a previously described variant on the company's Surface touch computer, which for now is only available as a table-sized device for businesses such as AT&T stores and casinos.
The invention is likely to help demonstrate the advancements made in multi-touch input at Microsoft since Surface was first unveiled last year. The technology at the time required a flat display and relied on cameras to recognize contact, limiting the control options for the touchscreen. It's unknown whether a spherical version would still require cameras, though the format will demonstrate Microsoft's ability to create curved touchscreen surfaces.
Such a development also contributes to the possibility of introducing a home user-oriented Surface device, which Microsoft has said should appear with the next few years and was accelerated when Microsoft received an unexpectedly large number of requests for a home version from users. Present-day Surface tables cost at least $5,000 each and are often mated to company-specific software. [via ZDNet]
Filed under: computers, industry
Other story tags: Microsoft, AT&T, multi-touch, Surface
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...next up, a pyramid touchscreen and a cylindrical touchscreen.
MS is fucking dumb.
and we care, why?
Once again, we have M$ trying to borrow someone else's idea and market as their own. Too bad they can't come up with anything in the least bit practical, much less make it actually work or achieve some level of stability.
My bets are on this going further south than the MS Media Server did.
infringement
Multi-Touch is a registered trademark of Apple, M$ needs to tread carefully
One word:
Pfffft!
Clueless Fanboys
MS Surface was in development long before the iphone. Multi-Touch maybe a registered trademark of apple, but that only applies to the name. Perhaps apple will sue Electronista. That would not be out of character.
99% of people on this blog don't have a clue.
that's sad
If MS has been working on Surface for longer than the iPhone (which took years of development itself), WTF haven't they released any commercially successful products yet?
Real artists ship.
Holy monkeys
Oh man, I thought this was going to be an article on Steve Balmers privates.
So
So MS is touting technology that iPhone has had in the hands of millions of people for over a year ....