TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

Since the unwitting leak that lead to massive speculation regarding the Multitouch Sphere that Microsoft had been working on, the device has actually been demoed. There are many different videos circulating the internet at the moment that discuss the different parts of the demo, but suffice it to say that Microsoft has drummed up more interest in Multitouch and their own company than they have seen in years.

The Sphere did a number of different things, but it is perhaps the omni-directional nature of the sphere that has so many people interested in it. Microsoft employees were able to broadcast omni-directional video onto the sphere, allowing you to take a look at 360 degrees of camera action on the surface of the sphere. In addition to that, you could take a look at a map of the world in globe format, manipulating the map and zooming into and out of specific features with the use of your hands.

There was even a demo of a picture sorting software package that Microsoft has come up with. Using this package, you can have a pile of pictures placed at the top of the sphere and a number of people sorting through those pictures while standing around a sphere. With all of the wow factor that the sphere’s demo brought, there are still some questions as to the practicality of the sphere. After all, why stand around a sphere and sort pictures when you can sit at a table and do the exact same thing?

Microsoft Unveils Multitouch Sphere | SurfaceRama.com.

After months of rumors, Microsoft researchers are taking the wraps off a prototype that uses an internal projection and vision system to bring a spherical computer display to life. People can touch the surface with multiple fingers and hands to manipulate photos, play games, spin a virtual globe, or watch 360-degree videos.

Sphere, as it’s known, is expected to be shown publicly for the first time Tuesday at Microsoft’s Faculty Summit in Redmond. For now, it’s purely a research project. The company says it doesn’t currently have plans to offer it as a product. The idea is to see what the technology can do, and how people will use it.

“It’s really an exploration of ideas,” explained Hrvoje Benko, the Microsoft researcher spearheading the project, during a sneak preview Monday afternoon.

Sphere is a cousin of the Microsoft Surface tabletop computer, already being used in retail and hospitality settings. The underlying hardware for Sphere is sold commercially by Global Imagination of Los Gatos, Calif., but Microsoft researchers made numerous enhancements and developed specialized software.

Video: Microsoft’s Sphere display in action.

The Zune Phone is something that exists, but does not really, at least that is what the associates at Microsoft would have the public believe.  According to a media leak even larger than the one that resulted in forehand knowledge of the spherical Surface Computer, Microsoft has had high level executive meetings to kick start a project that would see Zune cell phones rolling off Microsoft manufacturing plants in the near future.

According to representatives of Microsoft the story is not true, since they are focusing on software development for their hardware partners as opposed to direct hardware development.  According to the same leak, an overhaul is planned on the Windows 7 Mobile system and if this is true it would represent the first mobile software overhaul that Microsoft has done in about three years.  Windows 7 is already confirmed as being Multitouch compatible and for this reason it perhaps makes some sense that Windows 7 Mobile would bring a Zune cell phone to the market with it.

Ultimately, believing Microsoft’s spiel about not having plans for a Zune phone is somewhat suspect, considering the company’s takeover of Danger.  Danger is a company that did produce software for media and messaging, both of which are expected to be big parts of the Windows 7 Mobile operating system when it is released.  On the other hand, Danger is also a company that was responsible for creating hardware to go along with their software and for that reason many are sceptical of Microsoft when they say they have no plans for Zune cell phone development.

One of the most interesting aspects of the electronics industry is how different companies interact with each other.  For example, the interactions between Apple and Microsoft over Multitouch technology have been extremely interesting and drawn millions of words of commentary from all around the globe.

After Apple’s decisive trouncing of Microsoft in the first round of the Multitouch battle, Microsoft went away to lick its wounds for awhile, coming back eventually with the Windows 7 Multitouch introduction.  While Windows 7 appears so far that it might be able to pick up some of the massive amounts of slack created by Windows Vista, Microsoft seems to find themselves in competition with another company now.

This time, that company is Dell.

Dell has tablet PCs in their Latitude XT line that are capable of supporting Multitouch technology, something that would be required of hardware that would be able to accommodate the full list of features from Windows 7.  However, Dell has recently announced that they are going ahead and releasing a software update that will make Multitouch available on those same tablets now, effectively pre-empting Microsoft’s bid to do the exact same thing in their still years away final release of Windows 7.

With this latest announcement, it appears as though Dell is throwing their hat into the Multitouch ring and announcing that they intend to tangle with anyone else that is putting themselves into Multitouch technology.  With developments this interesting, keeping your eyes peeled on the Multitouch industry should bring even more developments in the near future.

After 33 years of fast paced career Microsoft Chairman and Founder Bill Gates has finally retired from his position at Microsoft to devote his time into social activities and promoting other technologies which can help human-beings in future generations. At his farewell speech Gates reflected his long time passion; the human touch interfaces which he believes will change the way we use computers today. According to him, anything from tablet PCs to handwriting recognition to touch screen table computers will recognize and analyze human touch and process the data accordingly.

Microsoft is betting highly on this natural user interfaces. This is something Microsoft and Bill Gates will invest in future years after his retirement besides working for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates had a well planned departure from the most exciting post ever in this industry. He gave up his post as CEO to Stave Ballmer in 2000 and three years ago decided to step back from the post of Chairman too.

Gates is not planning for an overall departure from MSFT but will focus only on few aspects of companies business which involves natural user interfaces and related activities. The 30-inch large Surface tabletop computer used in Gates office is now probably going to shift in Ballmer’s office which shows where the computers are going. This high - tech interactive touch screen tables are generally used to display maps and order food are used only in AT&T phone stores and Harrah’s Rio hotel in Las Vegas

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has expected surface computing as multi billion dollar business as they have invested heavily in its Research and development process to bring in high quality and effective devices that will recognize any human touch and respond accordingly. With aggressive competition from companies like Apple and Google, Microsoft has geared its belt tight against the innovative products from this company in the post Gates era which was completely over showed by the companies like Apple and Google.

To break into the market of internet enabled devices and gadgets, Microsoft have decided to achieve its past success by bringing in more innovative products and designer apps which can give Apple and Google a run for their money.

Though Microsoft has seen the future of Keyboard and mouse as alternate input device for the computer system but they have expressed their interest in human voice and hand touch as major input methods in future generation computers which can seamlessly be integrated with many other devices like mobile phones, X-box, PDAs and many other hand-held devices.

The folks over at Gizmondo discuss and comment on the details surrounding a multi-touch enabled MacBook. It is their opinion that the oft rumored forthcoming PDA from Apple is not going to happen, as the entire PDA industry is shrinking daily as smartphones take over. Instead, it is suggested that there is a strong chance a new, thin and touchable MacBook will be Apple’s next big thing.

If this product takes the form of a convertible tablet, Microsoft’s Tablet PC product line will surely take a beating. We are in agreement with Gizmondo that a PDA seems questionable, especially with both the iPhone and iPod Touch containing many PDA abilities as it is.

Bringing word that Finnish company Satama Interactive has been chosen to be a member of Microsoft’s Surface Partner Advisory Council.

There seems to be an abundance of international talent in the realm of multi touch and natural user interface design. Hopefully, this Advisory Council plays a strong role in developing Microsoft Surface into a intuitive and extendible platform.