TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

There are a number of things that Microsoft has done over the years that have made analysts in the industry scratch their heads, but with the computer software giant’s consistent string of victories in the marketplace, they have shown everyone that they know what they are doing.

However, the current situation is unlike any other situation Microsoft has ever faced. What they are up against in this particular run is a rejuvenated competition in the form of an Apple Corporation that has destroyed Microsoft in the mobile technology market as well as an albatross in Windows Vista that has made many people turn towards Apple, even if they like the fact that Microsoft is rushing Multitouch technology to the market with products like the Surface and the soon to be released Windows 7.

This is perhaps why Microsoft’s recent decision to mothball Windows XP has drawn the same raised eyebrows and scratched heads that many of their previous decisions have done as well.

But the rumours are most definitely true. Microsoft announced on Friday that they will no longer be selling people the Windows XP operating system, essentially forcing people to buy Vista if they would like a legal copy of Windows on their new computer. Since Windows Vista is a bloated albatross in operating system terms, this also indirectly means that modern technology setups are needed for people, forcing them to buy expensive new desktop systems as opposed to used ones that might have fit their budget better.

This is rumoured to be a move towards pushing people forward towards hardware configurations that can support Multitouch (and therefore making Windows 7 worthwhile when it hits the market), but at the moment that is little more than speculation.

The sleek Touch screen roulette table built using Microsoft’s new Surface Technology is supposed to change the whole scene of slot machines and is eyed by many companies. With digital poker players growing multiple of times in recent days these digital touch screen tables are going to bring in a rage of change in how you play roulette on a physical table. After the success of digital tables for poker where a player could peel up cards discreetly, roulette tables are to being expected to hit market very soon.

The “Multiplayer Roulette system developed by Sweden’s TouchTable with built-in 56-inch touch LCD and a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 can accommodate up to seven players and can even recognize each person’s bet separately. Developed with intensive research and company’s proprietary technology this touch- screen roulette table is already making waves in various casinos and roulette clubs.

Different digital products for enhancing the fast play in casinos have been developed in recent years to speed up the games and decrease the chances of any cheating and discrepancies in the casinos games. Besides being fast aced and sleek in its outlook this touch screen tables are going to increase the efficiency of the game handling more numbers of players simultaneously on single table which will significantly increase the business of casinos.

Already touted as digital avatar of casinos this roulette Touch screen tables may not see the real world as soon because many veteran players are going to oppose it because of its fast paced games which won’t allow them using their cheats and hacks which they have learned after years of experience.

The Digital Touch screen roulette tables can change the way a game is played in casino which might simply eliminate the use of chips and money on the tables. Decreasing the time of a game cycle it will also reduce the chances of any dealer cheating in the game. Bets can be placed effortlessly with repeated bets making in their way back to the game. Besides that built in features like Help functions and other tools can help a newbie player’s use and play the game more easily.

The biggest problem, these touch screen roulette tables are going to face is from the traditional players who prefer to play using chips and money in hand. They would certainly not be interested to lose their grip on games and allow the casinos to take over their experience with any digital devices. Besides that there will also be chances of casinos molding the software in the game to their own favor which can seriously change the games at crucial point of time.

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.

Microsoft’s surface technology might be a distant dream for the consumers as of yet but the latest innovation from the guy called Seth Sandler an undergraduate at UC san Diego has at least brought the touch screen computer into his dorm. Using a cardboard with a webcam, portable multi-touchpad, a piece of glass paper and Philips SPC900NC he has built a touch screen that can handle his computer with the command from his fingers. The camera recognizes the shadow of the fingers as they are placed in the pad’s surface. Tracking software then transfers the motions to the computer screen for further processing.

Inspired somewhat from the Microsoft’s Surface Technology which was announced last year this cardboard touch screen box can recognize the finger touch with the help of webcam fixed in it. Though it might not be as useful as the original variants which will cost you some good amount dollars but it shows how an innovative mind with knowledge of technology can bring things from nowhere. Check Out the Video Below: