Let’s begin this with a very simple question, what is the most fundamental means of interaction with a physical object? Undeniably the answer would be “Touch” or “Grab”. Microsoft re-introduced that very basic method of interaction recently at the D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, California, with the launch of Surface.

Six years ago Stevie Bathieche and Andy Wilson of Microsoft had a concept to mix virtual and physical worlds to bring a rich interactive experience. Half Dozen years later, Microsoft today revealed its plans for Microsoft Surface, the first product of its class. The technology, the formerly code-named Milan, lets Microsoft turn a seemingly ordinary surface, such as a tabletop or a wall, into a computer. Surprised? Don’t be, because it’s just the beginning of the end of our fundamental thought process when it comes to digital content manipulation.

With MS surface you can actually grab the data or digital content with your hands and move between objects with natural gesture like touch, slide etc. Isn’t it so close to “Minority Report” like world? Well Pete Thompson, general manager of Microsoft’s surface computing group did say “It will feel like Minority Report”. The concept is simple: Users interact with the computer completely by touch, on a surface other than a standard screen without needing any interacting device like Mice or Keypad.

So how actually this “Surface” work? What’s in there? Microsoft Surface, is the first commercially available surface computer, turns an ordinary tabletop (not exactly) into an interactive surface. Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. At a high level, Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and the result is displayed on the surface using rear projection. (Click to enlarge the images bellow)

The basic goodies inside the surface table- couple of standard PC components with the cameras and projectors necessary to enable surface computing. Not to mention serious graphics card with Microsoft’s own application layer to allow the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to help with sensing the touches. That’s not the end; the table also houses a power supply, stereo speakers, an infrared illuminator, some cameras that sense movement on its surface etc.

Now let’s talk about uses, after all nobody wants to see another expensive junk. The potential uses of this “Surface” are virtually limitless. “Surface” is all about user experience. I honestly believe this focuses more on user experience than what computing device we are using. Desktop, Laptop, TabletPC –all the same one way or another, no room for going beyond the usual input device, processing unit and output screen. With Surface computing we can enjoy our computing experience to a different level where the fundamental concept is “touch it to feel it”.

Now through “Surface” commercial space will be able to allow consumers to change how they shop and how they’re entertained. It doesn’t have to limited to leisure and entertainment industries can be used in environments, such as schools, businesses, and off course homes. The commercial use of this technology is just limited by imagination.

As you can guess I am under the influence of the “WOW” effect of “Surface”, but still why not end the discussion with some technological barricade ahead of general surface computing. First of all the present state of this technology only useful to commercial arena, since in order to used in home/school we need not only the device but also the software ready for that(Data compatibility, inter-portability etc.). So I believe the “surface” just not yet ready to take over the traditional computing ways.

Microsoft’s four partners–Harrah’s Entertainment, International Game Technologies, Starwood Hotels, and T-Mobile will be first to utilize this for their consumers at the end of this year. So it’s begun, “back to the basic”.