Microsoft Surface

CONTENTS
What is Microsoft surface?

History
What is surface computing?
Features of surface
computing
Structure and working
Specifications
Pros and cons
Future innovations
Conclusion
What is Microsoft surface?
• Revolutionary multitouch computer
with different look & feel.
• It is a surface with a computing
platform that responds to natural
hand gestures and real world
objects.
• Turns an ordinary tabletop into a
vibrant, interactive surface.
• Provides effortless interaction with
digital content through natural
gestures, touch and physical objects.
• Surface is a 30-inch display in a
table-like form factor that’s easy for
individuals to interact just like in the
real world.
What is microsoft surface? (contd)
Microsoft Surface represents a fundamental change
in the way we interact with digital content.
This uses a multi touch screen as user interface.
System composed of a horizontal touchscreen under
a coffee table-like surface, with cameras mounted
below to detect user interaction activities.
Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and
dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and
actual unique objects that have identification tags
similar to bar codes.
Surface computing-the technology behind.
Surface that comes to life for exploring, learning,
sharing, creating, buying and much more.
HISTORY
2001: Microsoft researchers
Steve Bathiche and Andy Wilson
developed idea of interactive
table that could understand the
manipulation of physical pieces.
2003: 1st prototype model named
T1which is based on an IKEA
table was born. Team saw the
value of the surface computer
beyond simply gaming and began
to favor those applications that
took advantage of the unique
ability of Surface to recognize
physical objects placed on the
table.
HISTORY(contd)
2005 :Attention turned

to its form factor- Tub
proto type was
designed.
2007:Final structure
finalised,interactive
tabletop device was
built that seamlessly
brings both the physical
and virtual worlds into
one.
What is surface computing?
Major advancement that moves beyond the
traditional user interface to a more natural way of
interacting with information.
It is a natural user interface that allows people to

interact with digital content the same way they have
interacted with everyday items such as photos,
paintbrushes and music their entire life: with their
hands, with gestures and by putting real-world
objects on the surface.
Surface computing opens up a whole new category

of products for users to interact with.
FEATURES OF SURFACE
COMPUTING
• Direct interaction : Users
can actually “grab” digital
information with their
hands and interact with
content by touch and
gesture, without the use of
a mouse or keyboard.
• Multi-touch contact :
Surface computing
recognizes many points of
contact simultaneously,
not just from one finger, as
with a typical touch screen,
but up to dozens and
dozens of items at once.
FEATURES(contd)
• Multi-user experience :
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.
STRUCTURE
(1) Screen: A diffuser turns the Surface's acrylic
tabletop into a large horizontal "multitouch" screen,
capable of processing multiple inputs from multiple
users. The Surface can also recognize objects by
their shapes or by reading coded "domino" tags.
(2) Infrared: Surface's "machine vision" operates in the

near-infrared spectrum, using an 850-nanometer-
wavelength LED light source aimed at the screen.
When objects touch the tabletop, the light reflects
back and is picked up by multiple infrared cameras
with a net resolution of 1280 x 960.
(3) CPU: Surface uses many of the same components
found in everyday desktop computers — a Core
2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a 256MB
graphics card. Wireless communication with devices
on the surface is handled using WiFi and Bluetooth
antennas (future versions may incorporate RFID or
Near Field Communications). The underlying
operating system is a modified version of Microsoft
Vista.
(4) Projector: Microsoft's Surface uses the same DLP

light engine found in many rear projection HDTVs.
The footprint of the visible light screen, at 1024 x 768
pixels, is actually smaller than the invisible
overlapping infrared projection to allow for better
recognition at the edges of the screen.
WORKING
Microsoft Surface uses cameras to sense objects,
hand gestures and touch. This user input is then
processed and displayed using rear projection.
Microsoft Surface uses this rear projection system
which displays an image onto the underside of thin
diffuser.
Image processing system processes the camera
images to detect fingers, custom tags and other
objects such as paint brushes when touching the
display.
The objects recognized with this system are reported
to applications running in the computer so that they
can react to object shapes, 2D tags, movement and
touch.
SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLAY INPUT
Type: 30-inch XGA DLP® Camera-based vision

projector. system with LED
infrared direct
Graphics card with 256 MB illumination.
of memory. Bluetooth® keyboard
Maximum resolution: 1024 and mouse (available to
x 768 administrators).
Maximum pressure on the
display: 50 pounds/square
inch/3.5 kg per cm.
SPECIFICATIONS
COMPUTING SYSYTEM I/O CONNECTIONS
2.13-GHz Intel® Core 2 headphone jacks

TM 2 Duo processor 6 USB 2.0 ports
Memory: 2 GB dual- Ethernet port (Gigabit
channel DDR2 Ethernet card
[10/100/1000])
AUDIO External monitor port
Bays for routing cables
Output type: Stereo flat On/Standby power
panel built-in speakers button
Output compliant
standards: Stereo
Input: None
PROS
• Large surface area to view different windows and
applications.
• Data Manipulation - Selecting, moving, rotating and
resizing (manipulating objects on the screen is similar
to manipulating them in the manual world).
• Quick and easy to use.
• More Than One User –Several people can orient
themselves on different sides of the surface to
interact with an application simultaneously (Max 52
points of touch).
• Object Recognition - Increased functionality aiding
user in speed and ease of use
• Time saving by eliminating many processes.
CONS
Not portable and very expensive.

Privacy - Open for many to view.
Screen Visibility - Glare, finger prints/dirt and human
interaction obscuring interface.
Poor Accuracy - Fat fingers are not as accurate as a
mouse or stylus.
Fatigue - Reaching across the table often can cause
the arms to ache.
Objects needs to be tagged (domino tags or RFIDs).
FUTURE INNOVATIONS
• Surface will continue to be sold to and used by
restaurants, retail, leisure and public entertainment
venues.
• Computer scientists hope to incorporate this kind of

technology in peoples’ daily lives… Future goals are to
surround people with intelligent surfaces (look up recipes
on your kitchen counter or table, control TV with coffee
table, etc.
• Eventually every household may have one in place of

their everyday coffee table.
CONCLUSION
Microsoft Surface is the future of computers.
Fundamentally changes the way we interact with

technology.
Surface takes existing technology and presents it in a

new way. It isn't simply a touch screen, but more of a
touch-grab-move-slide-resize-and-place-objects-on-
top-of-screen, and this opens up new possibilities
that weren't there before.

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CONTENTS

What is Microsoft surface?

2005 :Attention turned

It is a natural user interface that allows people to

Surface computing opens up a whole new category

(2) Infrared: Surface's "machine vision" operates in the

(4) Projector: Microsoft's Surface uses the same DLP

Type: 30-inch XGA DLP® Camera-based vision

2.13-GHz Intel® Core 2 headphone jacks

Not portable and very expensive.

• Computer scientists hope to incorporate this kind of

• Eventually every household may have one in place of

Fundamentally changes the way we interact with

Surface takes existing technology and presents it in a

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