Microsoft's Surface hasn't even rolled out yet, but the company is already lining up a spherical makeover for the touch-sensitive tabletop. According to ZDNet, Microsoft showed a spherical Surface prototype around Redmond campus. It would be interesting to see how Microsoft managed to stuff a rear projection unit and IR cameras into a sphere. And I am curious as to what the applications of such a model would be. Surface table makes sense to me (see video), a surface sphere not so much.
Check out Firefly, the first Surface game:
Surface Makeover
Microsoft Spherical Surface Prototype
Trend Themes
1. Spherical Surface Prototype - Opportunity to explore innovative uses for a spherical touch-sensitive tabletop.
2. Rear Projection Unit Integration - Opportunity to develop new applications by incorporating rear projection units into unconventional shapes.
3. IR Camera Integration - Opportunity to create unique interactions and user experiences with touch-sensitive surfaces using IR cameras.
Industry Implications
1. Technology Hardware - Opportunity for tech hardware manufacturers to develop spherical touch-sensitive tabletops for various industries.
2. Gaming - Opportunity for the gaming industry to create immersive experiences by incorporating spherical touch-sensitive surfaces into games.
3. Architectural Design - Opportunity for architects and designers to experiment with unconventional shapes and integrate touch-sensitive surfaces into building designs.