Team Members:

Will Daley Alexandre DrouardCécile Klawatsch

Charlotte Labernardière

Futurist ?

2001

2003

2004

2005

2007

The Future

The vision

First prototype

85 prototypes

The Tub model

A 30-inch diagonal display table

Surface computing anywhere

I. Origins

Keyboards

Mouses

Wires

II. How does it work?

Multitouch

Multifingers

Multiusers

III. The Technology

− A technology developed by Jeff Han and bought by MS

− 5 cameras which are calculating your fingers or objects position

− Still a slight delay between the action and the MS Surface response

http://www.tabletpccorner.net/content/view/2845/27/

IV. The Possibilities

Manipulate two things at a time;

Watching photos, videos, movies;

Sharing and listening music;

Planning events;

Communicate; shop and play;

Order your food

Link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY&feature=related

Raise the question of interoperability

V The DilemmaAssets:- Wireless;- Unlimited number of

devices;- Instant recognition of

devices;- No plug;- Enthusiastic and

amazing technology

Drawbacks:- Will all devices be

compatible?- What about personal

and secured datas?- A realistic day to day

interaction?- Reduce the interaction

between human beings

VI. What is at stake?

- All the potential of the surface lies in the interaction between devices and the Surface.

- A way to gather people thanks to the use of the Surface with every-day objects or a reduction of humans interaction?

- Will the MS Surface be interoperable or won’t be?

A New Multi billion Future for MS Surface?

I. The Sources of Revenue

- MS already partner Sheraton hotels, Harrah's casinos, T-Mobile stores, and numerous restaurants.

-An ambitious vision of the future and possibilities to explore personal use on the next step .

« We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6703249.stm

http://www.presence-pc.com/actualite/Surface-microsoft-milan-23577/

II. How compatible is MS Surface with non-MS products?

− Ars Technica website states that the standard WiFi / Bluetooth features are included and will be inter-operable.

− Surface automatically detects a WiFi-enabled camera placed on the table.

− Surface automatically establishes WiFi connections with Zunes

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070530-what-lurks-below-microsofts-surface-a-qa-with-microsoft.html

III. MS moving away from its core technology by producing hardware?

− Core SW is MS Vista but with some additional code. But of course a PC which MS does not manufacture.

− Surface runs on a high-end PC but uses mainly conventional components.

− Operating system not modified in any way. − Surface applications can be written in

Windows Presentation Foundation or XNA.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070530-what-lurks-below-microsofts-surface-a-qa-with-microsoft.html

IV. Barriers to mass distribution.

− Price: $5 000 to $10 000− Compatibility with other brands

devices (should MS enable connection with other devices like the iPod?)

− Will the consumer be interested in all the different features and ready to pay the price?

http://www.presence-pc.com/actualite/microsoft-surface-26205/

V. Could part of the production be licensed?

Sell the technology to different companies by features?

− Microsoft developed the software and is building the hardware in the early going.

− Gates says the company will license the software to partners interested in producing machines.

− Reasons to believe Surface may have a favorable outcome.

− Industry analyst Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates concurs:

"This is game-changing and will cause companies like Apple and Google to go back on their heels. I try not to gush too much. I think this is a really big deal."

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-05-29-microsoft-surface_N.htm

THE COMPETITION

I. Primary competitors

1.1 Linux: MPX Touch

− Linux is competing MS Surface with MPX Touch

− The MPX Touch is a similar multi-touch table technology based on a Multi-Pointer X Server system (MPX)

− This system is an updated version of the Linux X Windows Server and provides the user with multiple mouse cursors and multiple keyboard foci

− This technology is combined with a Mitsubishi’s DiamondTouch display table

1.2. MPX Touch vs MS Surface

• Advantages

– MPX Touch recognizes four unique users

– MS Surface allows multiple-user interaction but each user isn’t recognized as unique

– MPX Touch will be considerably cheaper than MS Surface which costs around 10 000 dollars

• Inconvenience

– Unlike MS Surface, MPX Touch does not includes gestures like pinching our fingers to make items larger or smaller

– MPX Touch is still under development and there are a few bugs that need to be fixed

2. Intuilab: Intuiface

− Intuilab is a small company based in Labège (near Toulouse) and specialized in HMI (Human and Machine Interface)

− It is not well-known but its product Intuiface may seriously compete with MS Surface

− Intuiface has almost same features as MS Surface (picture, video, mapping…

− Bill Gates came in 2005 to see the Intuilab technology during an IT event…

www.intuiface.com

II. Secondary competitors

iPhone vs MS Surface: Battle of touch screens

− iPhone and MS Surface use HMI technologies

− iPhone and MS Surface include gestures together to settle pictures, videos, internet…

− MS Surface can recognize credit card, cameras and other items thanks to bar codes

Who will win the battle?