Sunday, March 2, 2008

Keep your feet off of this table



When I first saw this youtube link to "Microsoft NEW Technology Microsoft Surface" I wasn't very interested because of the video clip I saw in class of the new Microsoft map with the huge touch screen; I thought it was the same thing. I was wrong. When I saw the water ripple when the guy's fingers tough table i almost jumped out of my seat! I thought that was one of the craziest things I have ever seen; again, I was wrong. When I saw the pictures spill out of the camera on to the table just like that I went into shock, that was the craziest thing I ever saw! Image in 10 years this could be there norm, instead of boring old computers where we have to use USB keys, cables and fire wire we can just drop out cameras on the table and BAM! your pictures are on the computer. And thats just one of the many this it can do.

Forget mouses and keyboards, Microsoft's new Surface Computer is all about touch. It uses mini cameras under the table that can actually see what your doing and then sends it to the computer. The Surface Computer is expected to be purchasable within 2 years, at a "reasonable" price.

It's clear that Microsoft's Surface Computer has all the characteristics of good interactive design:
1. Trustworthy - Since it is on a table, it would automatically be associated with trustworthiness because, generally, tables are strong and sturdy and are meant to support. Microsoft is an internationally know computer technology corporation with the highest of quality equipment and technology to insure that their products are trustworthy.
2. Appropriate - The Surface Computer is indeed appropriate for today's fast pace world. People in western society especially are look for the easiest way to do things. This new product will allows them to do so.
3. Smart - This product is smart, if not anything else. As stated before, the Surface Computer prevents people from working harder than needed. Like most computers and computer technology, It definitely helps people do things that they would normally have trouble with. The difference it has from other computers is that it makes things even easier. To think of putting a computer in a table, something that every household has and uses frequently is smart too.
4. Responsive - Like any other new computer, and as seen in the youtube video, the response time for the Surface Computer is instant.
5. Clever - Using surfaces as the new surface for computers is quite clever, especially using something as common and simple as a table.
6. Ludic - As seen in the youtube video, the Surface Computer can be very playful. For example, the rippling water, creating colour patterns and shapes with your fingers and solving moving jigsaw puzzles. The overall design of this product is playful, much like all the new versions of Microsoft and Mac computers, the interface is very bright and inviting.
7. Pleasurable - A computer in a table with no mouse or keyboard in sight, that screams pleasurable.

If i were on the design team i would find it most interesting to be a part of the interface designing. Deciding what would go where and what would appear when a certain icon is touched would be fun. It would also be fun to be a part of the testing because, you would get to play around with it.

(youtube video clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtKQNwqNLLk&feature=related
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