Microsoft has just announced the most curious of products. Remember those Space Invaders games built into a table that you used to see in pubs around the place in the 1980s? The ones that never worked ‘cos they were covered in beer? Well, Microsoft have just invented them again.

Of course, they’ve added some new technology to the mix, including a fast, modern computer with a special version of Windows Vista, built in cameras which sense nearby objects, and a “multi-touch” screen, similar to those used in Apple’s iPhone. In fact, if you can imagine it, this new device, called the “Surface” looks like a hugely scaled up iPhone mounted on a big brick.

So what’s the big idea? Well, the Surface is, Microsoft tells us, the future of User Interface design. In fact, they call it the Natural User Interface (NUI) There’s no mouse, and no keyboard (unless you insist on having one on the screen). You interact with the computer by just touching the screen, just like a hugely scaled up iPhone. Did I say that already?

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Anyways, I have to say, it’s an exciting idea, reminiscent of the scenes in Minority Report where Tom Cruise is grabbing objects on the screen and tossing them around the place. The multi-touch screen means you can use the Surface collaboratively, or do things like scale objects incredibly easily, just like the iPhone. I mentioned that, didn’t I?

Well, it’s all quite cool, this NUI idea, and indeed I do believe it will be the future of interface design. But there are a few issues about the Surface that bother me.

1 – Why the hell did they decide to put this thing into a flat table? You’re telling me if I want to use this thing for prolonged periods of time I have to lean over and risk future back problems? Naah! I know it’s meant to be collaborative and all, but jeez, do we all have to crane our necks?

Microsoft have been peddling their tablet stuff at us forever. They finally get some technology like multitouch to make the tablet seem like a must-have, and they ignore it in favour of a…table. Tell me it’s a spelling error.

I can see it now, Gates screaming at Ballmer, “The memo said TABLET! Not TABLE! You idiot!”

2 – So far, this incredible interface with endless creative possibilities doesn’t really have much of a purpose, as Microsoft don’t seem to have the imagination to create software which takes advantage of it. So far, they’ve come up with software which allows you to organise your photos by moving them around on the screen, and, um, that’s it. And that lack of software isn’t gonna be improved by the fact that…

3 – …Microsoft have named 6 companies to write software for the Surface. At that rate, we can look forward to interactive multitouch screen solitaire and chess by, say, 2011.

4 – There have been orders already, from companies who want to use them as kiosks in lobbies and shops. You’d hope these potentially cool things would be used in the creation of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, or to design bridges, or maybe teach brain surgery or something. No, they’ll be used to buy phones and browse for suggestions of “things-to-do near the airport while you kill time”. Snore.

5 – The things are gonna be between $5,000 and $10,000. You can count me out as an early adopter then.

Come on Microsoft! You almost got this right, and then you went and screwed it up! This could have been your iPod moment!

References:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65
Jeff Han talks about research in NYU into using a multi-touch interface. This is where Microsoft should be at.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2007/may07/05-29Surface.mspx?rss_fdn=Top%20Stories
Microsoft’s official information on the Surface

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 at 21 05215u31e59 ppm5931 7 215 3107e pm and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.