MICROSOFT SURFACE 1)DEFINITION 2)HISTORY 3)TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTIONS BROUGHT BY SURFACE 4) ADVANTAGES FOR THE USER AND BUISNESS 5)CONCLUSION {text:soft-page-break} 1)DEFINITION Microsoft Surface is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition. It is a revolutionary multi-touch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real-world objects, helping people interact with digital content in a simple and intuitive way. With a large, horizontal user interface, Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with data and each other. For example :The Surface was used by MSNBC during its coverage of the 2008 US presidential election ! 2)History The product idea for Surface was initially conceptualized in 2001 by Steven Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson&action=edit&redlink=1) of Microsoft Research.In October 2001, a virtual team was formed with Bathiche and Wilson as key members, to bring the idea to the next stage of development.In 2003, the team presented the idea to the Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, in a group review. Later, the virtual team was expanded and a prototype nicknamed T1 was produced within a month. The prototype was based on an IKEA table with a hole cut in the top and a sheet of architect vellum used as a diffuser. The team also developed some applications, including pinball, a photo browser and a video puzzle. Over the next year, Microsoft built more than 85 early prototypes for Surface. The final hardware design was completed in 2005.A similar concept was used in the 2002 science fiction movie Minority Report) . As noted in the DVD commentary, the director Steven Spielberg stated the concept of the device came from consultation with Microsoft during the making of the movie. One of the