OK, this is one of the cooler things that I've seen come out of Microsoft in a while. A tabletop computing environment, that understands multiple touches - so more than one person can interact with it at a time - as well as objects placed on top. Initially conceived as a new kind of gaming device, they've changed directions a bit and Microsoft Surface is being positioned as a center for home media use (think pictures, audio, etc.) as well as an attractive business piece (think interactive product displays, menus, etc.).

Gizmodo reports that they'll initially be about $10,000. Most likely, a lot of that cost is due to the technology required for multi-touch interaction, and those prices will come down quickly over the next couple of years.

This is the kind of thing that can change how people interact with digital technologies over the next decade. Seriously, it's that cool.

See more at Microsoft Surface. There's also a great video at Popular Mechanics.

Labels: tech