[AccessD] OT: Weekend, technology OT: Microsoft Surface Computing....

Shamil Salakhetdinov shamil at smsconsulting.spb.ru
Mon Sep 22 13:02:00 CDT 2008


Thank you for all your answers - just to summarize and close this off-topic
thread:

1) To Arthur: well with this "coffee table" you can use pencil (its not
sharpened part) or just your finger as a pencil - this device does recognize
written text rather well AFAIS..
As for using it in bathtub - well, I do use ordinary books in bathtub - I do
not see why should I try to pull this table with me there in my bathtub :)
do you?

2) To Darryl: Re: "Given that most of the world live like that" - AFAIK, IT
technologies and telecommunication are now widespread all over the world -
several years and all the world will be covered with 3G and wireless
broadband affordable (or free supported by all the countries' for their
citizen or financed globally?) Internet connections, wouldn't it?

3) To Rocky: Yes, let's hope this technology will soon result in affordable
retail prices and will get thin enough to be used instead of or together
with blackboards in the schools...

Thank you.

--
Shamil

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin at
Beach Access Software
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 5:19 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Weekend,technology OT: Microsoft Surface
Computing....

Speaking from a background in manufacturing systems, Shamil, as with all of
our IT technology, the price will drop as volumes increase.  Look at what
has happened to monitors.  Here you can get a quality 19 inch for well under
$200 without looking very hard, and where I get my displays they throw in a
printer for free. 

So price wise I think we'll get there in a few years, if the applications
are available to make it more than just a whiz bang toy.  It will actually
have to provide value in the classroom to be adopted.



Rocky Smolin
Beach Access Software
858-259-4334
www.e-z-mrp.com
www.bchacc.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Shamil
Salakhetdinov
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 1:27 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Weekend,technology OT: Microsoft Surface
Computing....

Yes, one of the applications could be to use this "coffee table" instead
of/together with a blackboard in the schools if to put it vertically - this
is why it's important to have it as thin as possible. Of course one can make
a special niche in the wall to put it there but still having it as thin as a
usual blackboard and not that expensive as USD5,000-1,0000 as it's now(?)
would be much more convenient - so for this application in the school the
three main tasks to solve are:

- make it at least as think as a usual blackboard;
- make its total cost as a usual blackboard cost + average cost of a modern
PC with large display;
- make its screen bright enough to be seen clearly from at least 15 meters
daytime...

Could that happen that the above tasks will be solved soon enough?

What are you bets on that?

Thank you.

--
Shamil

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin at
Beach Access Software
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 3:23 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Weekend,technology OT: Microsoft Surface
Computing....

I saw it on the news - during one of the conventions, I think.  It was
mounted vertically, and the news guy was moving stuff around on it with his
fingers.  Pretty cool. 


Rocky Smolin
Beach Access Software
858-259-4334
www.e-z-mrp.com
www.bchacc.com
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Shamil
Salakhetdinov
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 1:50 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Weekend,technology OT: Microsoft Surface
Computing....

Hi Gustav and Max,

Yes, this technology was first announced in 2007 - the question here is what
is your feelings/expectations there how much it will take until it gets
broadly used in the office work (if ever) - I mean it's getting developed
there at MS:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/apr08/04-01SurfaceRetailPR.msp
x 

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/index.html 

But still expensive...

And they say it's available now in AT&T stores - used by merchants to talk
with the customers/present them goods etc. ASAIU - did anybody see/touch it
there live? - it looks so amazing. How it's done? Some-infrared
transmitters/detectors located very close to the screen surface? Why this
"smart coffer tables" are still so thick? Is there anywhere description how
it's done?

Thank you.

--
Shamil


-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gustav Brock
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 12:26 AM
To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Weekend,technology OT: Microsoft Surface
Computing....

Hi Shamil and Max

Still interesting, but didn't an entertainment movie some years ago
demonstrate exactly that technique for picture handling? Indeed the method
for resizing?

/gustav

>>> max.wanadoo at gmail.com 21-09-2008 22:02 >>>
Hi Shamil,
This is not new. I saw this a year or maybe more ago.

I passed details on to a guy who writes games.  I think in time you will see
lots of apps coming out for this. Imagine flicking through a database to
find a record as you would a deck of cards etc.

Max


On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 7:58 PM, Shamil Salakhetdinov <
shamil at smsconsulting.spb.ru> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Have you seen/are you all talking there about this amazing "thick"
> technology from MS:
>
> http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/may07/05-29mssurfacepr.m
> spx
>
>
> I did write "thick" because this really amazing (I will not get tired 
> to repeat that - I think I was never that excited about new
> technology) -
this
> "coffee-table computer" is still rather thick (or tall) - 50 cm(?) 
> tall
and
> expensive - 5,000-10,000USD?
>
> Are there any rumors there when it will become thin and inexpensive 
> enough to be broadly used in usual office work? - But the latter 
> promise to be so unusual if that piece of technologies ever reaches it
> - but it (rather
> soon)
> will, will not it?
>
> It all looks like David Copperfield (Laser) Illusion - have anybody 
> seen that tables in reality and in action - they say they are now 
> distributed
in
> AT&T stores/shops there, are they?
>
> Thank you.
>
> --
> Shamil
>
> P.S. BYW, it looks like MS Vista (or similar) Windows OS version 
> drives these "smart coffee tables"...





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