TechFest 2010 and “Mobile Surface”
I’m seeing a lot of Tweets about Microsoft unveiling a Mobile Surface at TechFest 2010 this week. Every year when Microsoft Research opens it’s doors to the press, there is a lot of buzz.
Last year, about this same time, there was a lot of talk about SecondLight. This was another Microsoft Research project. SecondLight used an LCD screen as a sort of shutter to allow for two levels of display and interaction – on the tabletop, and above the tabletop.
This year, the excitement is around this new project, dubbed Mobile Surface. Now, to be clear, the project isn’t the next version of Microsoft Surface. It’s a prototype building on what Andy Wilson created as PlayAnywhere back in 2005 and similar 3D actions like what Andy and his collaborators showed as Interactions in the Air. While what we’re seeing at TechFest isn’t necessarily a new concept, it utilizes newer technology to make things a bit smaller and shows off some of that 3D interaction in some fun demos. What do you think?
As always, we at Microsoft are working toward that future where interaction is seamless in the real world, as well as with devices. Microsoft Research and Microsoft Applied Sciences is where a lot of that work begins. Speaking of new interaction models - possibly some of you saw the video on Skinput this week? Very cool indeed.