Applications for the Table
(Score:3, Interesting)by deleo77 (1065150) on Thursday May 31, @05:36PM (#19344319)
The more I think about it, this table (or whatever they end up calling it) could be the computing device that finally succeeds in finding its way into peoples' living rooms. People don't want to compute off of their TV, they only want their TV to display things, that's why every attempt to combine the internet with a TV has pretty much failed. But imagine this device somehow integrated into your coffee table and using it to order and pay for a pizza, using it to control your home lighting and thermostat, using it to look at photos, magazines, catalogues, pay your bills, or using it to sort through your home media library of music and movies. The list goes on and on. The technology will have to get better, the cost will have to come down, it will have to be simple to use, and the applications will have to be developed flawlessly, but I actually think Microsoft could pull it off. If Apple created this people would be gushing over it because they would know that Apple would succeed in doing all of the above. Microsoft should pour a lot of money and resources into this, because they might be on to something big. I hope they pull it off; there isn't enough innovation out there these days, too many copy cat devices. It's time for something new and this could be it.
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Re:Applications for the Table
(Score:5, Interesting)by Irish_Samurai (224931) on Thursday May 31, @06:18PM (#19344865)Man, I can think of a ton of things that I could write myself using XNA.
- Specialized drink glass code that you could play drinking games with (russian roulette comes to mind)
- Almost every board game ever made
- Air Hockey
- A MTG interface
- If there was a way to start manufacturing items, or self encoding, with the domino encoding on them, writing an app that queries wikipedia when the item is placed on it to give you a neato little "Identify" effect
- Take the same idea as above, but it allows you to purchase said item directly from the vendor by tapping you credit card on the table. Cool if you have people visiting or if you are at someone elses house.
- Another layer of immersion with certain types of digital media (travel shows can display interactive maps without using up viewing real estate, ect...)
- Multi user story telling - Essentially choose your own adventure where everyone was a character and chose from a list of actions to dynamically create a story or show.
- Virtual turntables
- A real time map of my house with live feeds from webcams actually playing in the roomspace
- A tool that allows you to generate custom tabletop game boards and rule structures on the fly. Lego men now have another use!
- A visual warehouse management tool
- Virtual home decorating swatches (although the screen and projection tech may need to catch up on that one)
I could go on and on. None of this is really mindblowing, but there could be a very decent cottage industry popping up around this one item alone.[ Reply to This | Parent ]- Re:Applications for the Table by wellingj (Score:2) Thursday May 31, @07:56PM
- Re:Applications for the Table by westlake (Score:2) Thursday May 31, @10:20PM
- Re:Applications for the Table by Irish_Samurai (Score:2) Thursday May 31, @11:01PM
Re:Applications for the Table
(Score:2)by Irish_Samurai (224931) on Thursday May 31, @11:01PM (#19347237)
I agree completely.
And on a relative point, please notice that you STILL can't find a Wii anywhere - the shit is selling as fast as they can make them.
To be honest, I don't know why Surface is only pointed at businesses right now. I know I would be more than willing to spend 10K to get the largest model available - and not for that "Look at the cool shit I have" reason. I WANT THIS FOR MY OWN USE! I have so many things I am willing to code for it myself its not even funny.
Hell, there were people paying more than that for the first gen HD setups if I remember correctly.
Perhaps, and this is a long stretch, Microsoft learned a lesson with the original XBOX in how difficult it is to actually introduce a consumer hardware product to the masses. Look at the 360 vs. PS3 if you have doubts, the second gen release made ma a convert.
Maybe they see the Apple iPod success and hedge their bets as far as the consumer market is concerned. It is better to release a superior product later than it is to release an innovative product earlier. Hardware isn't software. If you screw up with software, you can release an upgrade. If you screw up with hardware you fail.
And on a relative point, please notice that you STILL can't find a Wii anywhere - the shit is selling as fast as they can make them.
To be honest, I don't know why Surface is only pointed at businesses right now. I know I would be more than willing to spend 10K to get the largest model available - and not for that "Look at the cool shit I have" reason. I WANT THIS FOR MY OWN USE! I have so many things I am willing to code for it myself its not even funny.
Hell, there were people paying more than that for the first gen HD setups if I remember correctly.
Perhaps, and this is a long stretch, Microsoft learned a lesson with the original XBOX in how difficult it is to actually introduce a consumer hardware product to the masses. Look at the 360 vs. PS3 if you have doubts, the second gen release made ma a convert.
Maybe they see the Apple iPod success and hedge their bets as far as the consumer market is concerned. It is better to release a superior product later than it is to release an innovative product earlier. Hardware isn't software. If you screw up with software, you can release an upgrade. If you screw up with hardware you fail.
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