Eileen Brown's WebLog

Touching Microsoft Surface - or not...

I've been intrigued by Milan (Microsoft Surface, not the place name) since it was announced last month.  I remember Bill Gates doing an amazing demo at the Microsoft Global Briefing (MGB) a couple of years ago where not only had surface on the desk, but also a huge wrap around set of vertical screens with business notes on them and (I think it was presence and location indicators too).  all really amazing and futuristic.  And now it's here and branded as Surface.  I watched the gossip and stuff going round the blogosphere, and have giggled at the parody over on youtube

There are a few genuine demos of Surface too out there

 and Arunkurup has some history of how it all started (I LOVE the prototype version!)

Wikipedia has some amazing insights onto Surface though.  Apparently when a diner sets down a wine glass, for example, the table can automatically offer additional wine choices tailored to the dinner being eaten. (Or with the sound added, could cackle scornfully at your choice of Liebfraumilch with meat).  Now this has got me worried.

Both of my kittens get onto my old PC monitor as it's warm.  So what if the cat decides to jump onto the table for a sleep?  Object recognition tells you that the cat is overweight, and more like a cushion than a cat, You lose all your photos as his paw has pressed something he shouldn't and the static from the screen makes all his fur stand on end.  And where's the Ctrl Alt Delete key to lock the damn thing so the secrets in your wallet don't come spilling out in front of your neighbours at just the wrong time?  I'm thinking finances, not the secrets you may have in there.

I may just wait for version 2.0...