SURFACE COMPUTING
By,
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION
3. HOW IT WORKS
4. THE FOUR KEY ATTRIBUTES
i. Direct interaction
ii. Multi-user experience.
iii. Multi-touch.
iv. Object recognition
5. DOWNLOADING IMAGES & VIDEOS TO MOBILE
6. MUSIC PLAYER AUDIO TRACKS
7. ADVANTAGES
8. FUTURE PROSPECTS
9. MULTIPLE PERFORMANCE
10. CONCLUSION
11. REFERENCES
SURFACE COMPUTING
INTRODUCTION:
Today’s computers allow you to have multiple applications in multiple windows. But they may have
only one key board and one mouse. And only one person can operate at a time. If you want to watch
photo album on your computer along with three or four of your friends, just imagine every one trying to
see them. Microsoft Surface allows people to sit across in different positions and watch the images.
Spread the photos across the Microsoft Surface and any one can pull photos towards them like you pull
physical photos, with fingers.
DEFINITION:
A table top computer from Microsoft that incorporates multitouch, hand gestures and optical recognition
of objects placed on the screen. Introduced in 2008, the Surface's 30" touch screen is used without a
mouse and keyboard is large enough for group participation.
Surface Display
Surface Computing Table
HOW IT WORKS:
SCREEN
PROJECTOR
CAMERA
INFRARED
CPU
Working of Surface Computing
1. Screen: A large horizontal “multitouch” screen, The Surface can recognize objects by reading coded
“domino” tags.
2. Projector: The Surface uses DLP light engine found in many rear projection HDTV's. The footprint of the
visible light screen (1024 x 768 pixels) Projector. Wireless Communication
3. Infrared (IR cut filter): Surface uses a 850-nm light source.
4. CPU: Core2Duo processors 2GB of RAM 256MB graphics, The same components found in
everyday desktop computer
5. Camera (IR pass filter): The Camera is used for the capturing process.
Images are displayed onto the underside of the screen. Fingers, hand gestures and objects are visible
through this screen to cameras placed underneath the display. Camera images are then processed using
an image processing system which detects, fingers, and objects such as paint brushes. These objects are
then recognized and the correct application begins running. It is a computer with different look & feel.
Finger
Reflection
IR pass filter
IR Illuminant
Camera
Touch Screen Concept
Uses IR cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and finger touch. Uses a Rare projection system which
displays on to the underside of a thin diffuser. Objects such as fingers are visible through the diffuser by
series of IR cameras, positioned underneath the display. Objects recognized are reported to the applications
running in the computer so that they can react to objects shape, movement and touch of the finger.
DIY MT with Shadow Capture
Suppose considering a screen when the fingers are inserted in the screen the place where the fingers
are pointed gets shadow and the remaining places usually generate light. These are processed by the
IR cameras and an infrared ray of light is projected under the table, and then reflected by the
fingertip. All the infrared light changes are then processed by the webcam and sent to the software.
Representing Surface Touch Configuration
“CUBIT” is an interactive surface for multitouch interactions. It was designed with the intention to
redefine visual computing and depart from the mouse pointer paradigm. Fingers are seen as points of
location, areas of contact, and vectors. A group of developers started an open-source project, also
known as the Cubit, in order to deliver surface computing to the masses. The kit is comprised of the
table, frosted surface and most of the electronics, and the DIY enthusiasts would only have to come
up with their own computer, a simple projector and a webcam. Based on these sensory inputs the
interface tries to generate graphical widgets which behave along preconceived human notions of
physical objects reads the project’s webpage.
When all the parts are correctly assembled, the interface will be able to distinguish between multiple
points of contact, just like Microsoft’s genuine Surface computer. The Cubit computer works in a
similar manner to the Surface an infrared ray of light is projected under the table, then reflected by
the fingertip. All the infrared light changes are then processed by the webcam and sent to the
software.
Windows, Linux and OS X supported
CUBIT
1) The Cubit kit works on all the major operating systems, including Windows, Linux and OS X.
2) An infrared ray of light is projected under the table, then reflected by the fingertip.
3) All the infrared light changes are then processed by the webcam and sent to the software.
THE FOUR KEY ATTRIBUTES:
1) Direct interaction
2) Multi-user experience.
3) Multi-touch.
4) Object recognition
1) Direct Interaction:
Direct Interaction
a) Direct interaction means that, we can interact with the Surface by using our fingers.
b) No other input device is needed to give input.
c) This provides a natural interface effect
2) Multi-user Experience:
Multi-user experience
a) A single touch screen can support more than one user.
b) Each user can interact independently with the surface.
3) Multi-touch Contact:
Multi-touch Contact
Multi-touch
a) Ordinary touch screens provide only single touch sensing
b) In surface more than one touch can be recognized at the same time.
4) Object recognition:
Object recognition
a) Object recognition is done in the surface by using special bar codes called Domino tags.
b) These are infrared sensitive patterns which are read by the infrared sensing cameras inside the Surface.
The objects can be recognized by the domain tags. The the infrared sensing cameras can able to read
the object placed on the surface of the screen. If any two mobiles are placed on the surface screen
then the entire features are displayed, through this the mobile features can be known. No
requirement to have any external wires as the entire touch screen components are situated safely
behind the glass which enables the user for easy accessing an infrared ray of light is projected under
the table, then reflected by the fingertip. All the infrared light changes are then processed by the
webcam and sent to the software.
DOWNLOADING IMAGES & VIDEOS TO MOBILE:
Placing Mobile on the Screen
Just place a mobile on the screen the different images can be viewed and directly it can be loaded into a
mobile device. Similarly videos can also be downloaded. It’s an easy process of downloading.
Viewing Images
Selecting Images
Loading Images to Mobile
The size of the images can be changed just by the finger gestures. For example take a digital camera
and just by placing the camera on screen all the images in the camera gets displayed , then the
images can be resized or the selected image can be directly downloaded into the mobile device. The
work becomes more and faster and multiple users can use any image on the screen and can resize the
entire images on the screen.
MUSIC PLAYER AUDIO TRACKS:
Selecting audio tracks
Selecting the Audio Tracks
Mobile
The songs can be downloaded and also we can listen the songs by placing the mobile on the surface of
the screen and selecting the tracks and forwarding it to the mobile device. This reduces the process of
using the USB cables, because the downloading and uploading process is done directly and also in an
easy manner.
1) Downloading and uploading of music files is simple
2) The process of selecting the audio tracks to play can be done and video songs can be played just by
clicking the play option on the surface screen.
3) Multiple options are present on the screen.
4) As the display screen is large in size various processing can be performed.
5) The use of cable wires, other equipments are not required for downloading and uploading.
ADVANTAGES:
1) Multi users:
Collaborative effort of users interacting. A single touch screen can support more than one user,
each user can interact independently with the surface.
2) Seamless:
No wires or USB ports spread the photos across the Microsoft Surface and any one can pull photos
towards them like you pull physical photos, with fingers.
3) Downloading/uploading:
Instant download/upload of photos can be done simultaneously.
4) Fast:
Users have more control of technology ordering food or manipulating photos fast
5) Educational:
Learn more info about the products you are using, as the next generation will be entirely the Surface
Computing technology
FUTURE PROSPECTS:
1) For Users
2) For Business man
3) Home Networking
4) Viewing MAP
For Users:
Microsoft Surface represents a fundamental change in the way we interact with digital content.
Surface lets you grab digital content with your hands and move information with simple gestures and
touches. Surface also sees and interacts with objects placed on the screen, allowing you to move
information between devices like mobile phones or cameras.
For Businesses man:
Surface Computing provides tremendous potential for businesses to improve communication, and
be more efficient in how they deliver information and services to their customers. This interface is
easy to learn and software platform makes it easy to manage.
For Businesses man
Home Networking:
In-home networks are becoming more common as people want to enhance their convenience, security
and safety at home. Surface Computing Technology can be especially useful in home networks because
it does not require any wires to be installed in the home to allow devices to communicate. The
processing is done directly. By placing an object (mobile) on the screen it can recognize the object.
Viewing MAP:
Viewing MAP
The locations in the Map can be viewed easily by touching the location entire details about the
specified country (or) information about the capitals etc…, can be displayed. It provides the updated
information regarding different places.
MULTIPLE PERFORMANCE:
Multiple Performance
Multiple Images on Screen
The Surface Computing Technology manipulates the user (or) the businessman to interact with the
multiple options and menus on the Screen. The multiple windows can be opened and can be operated at
the same time which provides a multi user interaction. The users can sit across the Surface table and can
download number of images into the mobile devices. For example, placing a mobile on the Surface
Screen, the object that is placed is recognized as a mobile and the required information can be uploaded
(or) downloaded.
Multiple Designs on Surface Screen
The multiple designs can be made depending upon the features. For example the flowers on the
surface of the screen can be designed in a regular manner in which different types of images can be
placed in between them. The flowers that are on the surface of the water design is the picture above.
It looks as the screen contains the water, leaves like appearance to view the entire designing.
CONCLUSION:
Surface Computing Technology provides various benefits, the working capability becomes
fast and it is the next generation Technology. Multiple wireless functions are integrated into the
surface computing platform, allowing it to communicate with other wireless devices placed on its
surface. Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects.
REFERENCES:
1) http://surfacecomputing.com/information
2) http://books/surfacecomputing