Not content with a PC on every desktop, Microsoft wants to see every available surface become a computer screen. It has already developed a multi-touch Surface Computer (which is being used in AT&T stores), and turned that vertical in a multi-touch wall. Now, it’s latest project at Microsoft Research is a Sphere (see video above).
A prototype of the spherical display is expected to be unveiled today. On of the features is the ability to “send to dark side.” When you place your hand on an image and press, it sends the image to the other side of the sphere, where a collaborator might be standing. The video also shows a globe mapped onto the sphere, some video playing in a crystal-ball effect, and Pong-like game. (Todd Bishop at the Seattle PI has more details). Now, if they could only put Google Earth on that thing.
Erick -
They did put some Google Earth like feature - watch towards the end of the video.
Frankly they should rather spend their effort on fixing Windows.
the team behind the SURFACE product (purchased by microsoft) was the first to introduce multi-touch, and that was 5 years ago. i don’t understand why Apple iPhone is getting credit for it. Steve Jobbs copied most of the Microsoft Surface UI, maybe as a response to Bill Gates stealing the mouse from Macintosh 30 years ago. But still, the iPhone UI is a ripp-off of SURFACE UI.
I had one of those round displays but it kept rolling off my desk.
it’s called Virtual Earth.
@Vincent - Windows is fixed, you just don’t know it! http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/
Always exciting to see these new technologies. It adds a whole dynamism to the corporate presentation.
http://www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
Bob
Wow, uselessness is getting a whole new dimension.
I think all those who think this is useless don’t see things too far from where they are right now. It’s not just this technology that’s going to be a killer in the future, but efforts like these will bubble several new “useful” innovations in the coming years.
Way to go MS!
bingo
I wondered just when they would have done this. It’s a logical extension of their surface computing technology. I love the concept!
Um, is Douglas Coupland suing them for copyright infringement? Anyone read Jpod?
I don’t really see an use. Why can’t they do this with multiple multi-touch screens? Waste of money, i’d say.
The plan is to replace your head with the sphere. With multi-touch your girl friend will have more fun. With multiple flat screens — not so much.
Which head?
I really like the idea of this, because it’s something that hasn’t really be done before. However, I’m not sure that I can find any logical use for it.
watch out. samuel l. jackson might be in there.
This kind of looks the same as Globe4D, the technique is different, but the outcome is almost the same, and probably a lot cheaper too
http://globe4d.com/index.php
“Send to dark side” LOL! Join me Luke…
The Tech Museum in downtown San Jose CA has a spherical display about 4 feet in diameter, basically a round projector screen with 4 projectors shining on it. They use it to display the globe with phenomena like hurricanes and El Nino. Pretty cool, but not interactive at all. Would love to see Google Earth on there.
This was fantastic. it reminded me with the old cartoons where it shows the Witch with her ball that shows people around the world and stuff ..
i think this will really be useful .. i imagined 4 people in conferences checking their emails from the same sphere (4 uses one angle of the same sphere, efficient?)
for people who see this is not useful .. remember the early days of computers .. some people thought that they were not useful!
Computer was revolutionary, this is just some toy. Stupid comparison. Btw, people have laptops and smartphones, they don’t need to share a computer on a sphere with strangers.
u don’t think this is revolutionary? i think this is the future.. this will change the way people use computers .. nothing stupid ..
maybe its not for every single person .. but i can imagine a lot of uses
The Microsoft Sphere: Cool or Boring[VOTE] - http://snurl.com/37a9e [www_thriveorfail_com]
(Blue Sphere Of Death)
Wow, nice project you have there Microsoft! I’m so amazed with it. When will that be available in markets??
nice display but can use SphereIt with it?
http://www.sphere.com/
_
This is an excellent example of Microsoft’s innovative capacity (or rather the lack thereof). Image manipulation: the only image that can be displayed on this device without distortion is the globe map. And the bigger you scale an image, the more distorted it becomes. Google Earth applications? THINK dudes: how do you zoom?
gotta say microsoft as a true software developer, they were really try to create some real deal. they were not evil, they were just to rich~
That shit is useless.
What is the advantage of end user?. It looks fantastic, good display unit. How is it useful for corporates? I am not able to find any business logic. Then how they are able to compete with Google?….
no spec, whats the res? Didn’t look too crisp but that might be the video.
Nice decoration for my touch screen table… So why would I want one Microsoft?
Google Earth on Sphere? Nice joke for Microsoft… I supose they’ll prefer to use Virtual Earth…
Great display! And for displaying the 360° video it’s just THE ultimate solution. Great technology demo!
very interesting…
Hope this will bring a new era in INternet