Surface Computing Technology

 Surface Computing Technology

Technology has been taking new turns into the future and so has the mode of interaction become very specific. Human-Computer interaction has brought forward more obstacles and it has become a necessity to satisfy the user’s expectation. Therefore, this paper provides a comparative study of Flat surface computing interface and nonflat surface computing interfaces which mainly focuses on various ideologies that are taken into account. It reflects on certain aspects such as visibility techniques in both flat and nonflat surfaces, the all round view.

Computers allow us to have multiple applications done in multiple windows. Use only one keyboard and one mouse and only one person can do work at a time. If we want to watch photos on our computer along with three or four other people, just imagine everyone trying to see them. Microsoft introduces surface computing, Microsoft Surface allows people to sit across in different positions and watch the images. Spread the photos across the Microsoft Surface and anyone can pull photos towards them like you pull physical photos, with fingers. The name Surface comes from “surface computing” and Microsoft envisions the coffee-table machine as the first of many such devices. It uses many wireless protocols. The table can be built with a variety of wireless transceivers, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and (eventually) radio frequency identification (RFID) and is designed to sync instantly with any device that touches its surface. It supports multiple touch points – Microsoft says "dozens and dozens" -- as well as more than one user simultaneously, so more people could be using it at once, or one person could be doing so many tasks. Surface Computing can be implemented in both Flat and Non Flat Interfaces Flat surfaces are more user-friendly and commonly used these days. Nonflat surfaces are one for the future still under study. The design of nonflat surface interfaces is a very complex task. Human gestures play a pivotal role in Surface computing.  The Surface's 30" touch screen is used without a mouse and keyboard is large enough for a group participation.

The most common and popular type of surface computing is that of touch screen monitors of the type that can be found on many modern phones. This is very common in many businesses where untrained workers are expected to use a computer.[2]Until recently though these touch screen monitors were really little more than a replacement of the mouse. We could still only point at one thing at a time; and it wasn't even as good as a mouse because you can't right click or highlight things without using a keyboard .

 HOW IT WORKS 

1. Screen: A large horizontal “multitouch” screen is used , The Surface can recognize the objects by reading coded “domino” tags. 

2. Projector: The Surface uses a DLP light engine found in many rear projection HDTV's. The foot print, of the visible light screen (1024 x 768 pixels) Projector. Wireless Communication is used here 

3. Infrared (IR cut filter): The surface uses an 850-nm light source. 

4. CPU: Core2Duo processors 3GB of RAM, 500MB graphics, The same configuration used in our everyday desktop computer. 

5. Camera (IR pass filter): The camera is used to the capturing the process, then. Images are displayed onto the underside of the screen then. Hand gestures play an important role. Fingers, hand gestures, and objects are visible through this screen to cameras placed underneath the display. Using an image processing system we process the image which detects, objects, and fingers such as paintbrushes. These types of objects are then recognized and the correct application begins running. It is a computer with a different feel & looks.

Touch Screen Concept

Using Infrared cameras we sense objects, hand gestures , and finger touch. Using a Rare projection system which displays on to the underside of a small thin diffuser. Objects like fingers are visible through the diffuser by series of Infrared cameras positioned to underneath the display. The Objects recognized are reported to the applications running in the computer so that they can react to objects' shape, touch and movement of the finger.

For example, Consider a screen when the fingers are inserted onto the screen the place where the fingers were pointed gets shadow and the remaining places are usually generate a light. It is processed by the Infrared cameras and infrared rays of light are project under the table and, then reflect by the fingertip. The IR light changes are then processed by the webcam and sent to the software. 

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