BotJunkie
Microsoft is deploying its Surface tabletop platform exclusively through commercial hospitality and retail partners in spring 2008, betting in-venue experiences will drive adoption while tethering physical spaces to Windows Live cloud services.
AI-assisted summary of Microsoft Surface Demo @ CES 2008 — original source. Check the original for full context.
Source published:
Key ideas
- Microsoft Surface is scheduled for its first commercial rollouts in spring 2008 across hospitality, retail, and gaming venues rather than direct consumer retail sales. (0:07)
- The platform introduces physical-to-digital object recognition using optical tags on retail items and restaurant glassware to trigger customized interactive models and point-of-sale data. (1:19)
- Seamless device handoff enables users to place Windows Mobile smartphones directly on the tabletop glass to transfer saved retail configurations or sync multimedia content. (4:30)
- Surface integrates with Microsoft cloud services such as Windows Live Spaces and Virtual Earth, allowing users to export dining selections, photos, and geographical winery data to the web. (9:09)
Detailed notes
## Background Published on YouTube by the channel BotJunkie on January 8, 2008, this video showcases a live trade show presentation of Microsoft Surface at CES 2008. The video description provides links for viewers to read further coverage on OhGizmo and the official Microsoft Surface website.
## TL;DR The demonstration highlights Microsoft Surface, a 30-inch interactive tabletop computing platform slated for a spring 2008 commercial rollout across partners like Starwood Hotels, Harrah's, T-Mobile, and IGT. The presenter walks through practical commercial scenarios, starting with an interactive retail snowboard designer that uses optical tag cards and syncs designs directly to a Windows Mobile device. It shifts to a resort hospitality setting where hotel guests manipulate photos, play slope videos, and email digital postcards via Windows Live Spaces. Finally, the showcase demonstrates a smart restaurant dining table that pairs with tagged wine glasses, offering palate filters, culinary pairings, Virtual Earth vineyard exploration, and direct POS integration.
## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries the polished, eager optimism typical of late-2000s trade show tech demonstrations, set against the ambient hum of the CES convention floor. The demonstrator maintains an approachable, conversational rhythm, fielding input from the surrounding crowd while effortlessly dragging, spinning, and flicking digital assets across the glass. Watching it feels like a fascinating time capsule of the early natural user interface era, where physical tags, early smartphone handshakes, and tabletop multitouch gestures felt remarkably cutting-edge.
## Bulletin - [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=7s) Microsoft Surface is scheduled for its first commercial rollouts in spring 2008 across hospitality, retail, and gaming venues rather than direct consumer retail sales. - [01:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=79s) The platform introduces physical-to-digital object recognition using optical tags on retail items and restaurant glassware to trigger customized interactive models and point-of-sale data. - [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=270s) Seamless device handoff enables users to place Windows Mobile smartphones directly on the tabletop glass to transfer saved retail configurations or sync multimedia content. - [09:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=549s) Surface integrates with Microsoft cloud services such as Windows Live Spaces and Virtual Earth, allowing users to export dining selections, photos, and geographical winery data to the web.
## Key takeaways - [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=7s) Microsoft Surface is engineered around a natural user interface that replaces traditional mice and keyboards with direct touch and object interaction on a 30-inch tabletop display. - [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=7s) Initial commercial launch partners for spring 2008 include Harrah's Entertainment, Starwood Hotels, T-Mobile, and International Game Technology (IGT). - [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=7s) The underlying architecture is designed to scale beyond the initial 30-inch tabletop to compact surfaces, larger table installations, and vertical wall mounts. - [01:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=79s) Physical merchandise tags placed on the glass prompt the screen's optical sensors to render fully rotatable, interactive 3D product models. - [01:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=79s) Shoppers can customize products by dragging graphics, adjusting colors, signing personal signatures on the reverse side, and snapping on physical hardware attachments. - [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=270s) Placing a Windows Mobile smartphone onto the surface glass creates an instant pairing handshake to store designs locally or upload them to Windows Live Spaces. - [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=270s) In hospitality settings like hotel lobbies, multiple guests can simultaneously manipulate, scatter, and play back high-resolution photos and video clips directly from their phones. - [04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=270s) Guests can turn digital photos into handwritten postcards on the tabletop and send them through authenticated Windows Live contact lists. - [06:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=385s) Interactive restaurant menus demystify complex wine lists by allowing patrons to filter options based on sensory profiles such as acidity, body, and depth. - [06:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=385s) Bottom-mounted optical tags on glassware connect directly to restaurant POS systems to generate interactive digital coasters beneath individual drinks. - [06:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=385s) Digital coasters allow diners to adjust an illuminated glow to visually record personal preference ratings, inspect food pairings, and watch winemaker videos. - [09:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=549s) Integrated Virtual Earth mapping lets users explore vineyard locations and regional topography directly on the table to make informed ordering decisions. - [09:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=549s) Direct on-screen sharing controls enable patrons to email complex wine cards to themselves or post tasting notes directly to Windows Live blogs.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=7s) Introduction to Microsoft Surface and Commercial Launch Strategy
The demonstration opens with an introduction to Microsoft Surface, a computing platform engineered to transform ordinary flat tabletops into active digital environments. By interacting directly with visual content using natural hand gestures rather than a mouse or keyboard, the platform marks a leap forward in natural user interface design. While the hardware shown is a 30-inch diagonal tabletop display, the underlying architecture is intended to support multiple future form factors, including larger installations, compact tabletop units, and vertical wall-mounted surfaces.
```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Microsoft Surface Ecosystem and Launch Partners accDescr: Commercial partners deploying Microsoft Surface across leisure, entertainment, and retail.
subgraph CorePlatform["Microsoft Surface Platform"] MS["Natural User Interface (30-inch Display)"] end
subgraph Partners["Commercial Launch Partners (Spring 2008)"] H["Harrah's Entertainment"] S["Starwood Hotels (Westin & Sheraton)"] TM["T-Mobile"] IGT["International Game Technology (IGT)"] end
MS --> H MS --> S MS --> TM MS --> IGT ```
Originally announced in May 2007, Microsoft Surface is not positioned for direct consumer retail sales at launch. Instead, Microsoft is targeting commercial venues across leisure, entertainment, and hospitality. Commercial partners purchase the units directly to install within customer-facing spaces, slated for operational rollout in the spring of 2008. The demonstrator highlights that end users will encounter the technology across four key launch partners:
- **Harrah's Entertainment**: Casino and resort hospitality installations. - **Starwood Hotels & Resorts**: Hospitality deployments across brands such as Westin and Sheraton. - **T-Mobile**: Interactive retail and mobile telecommunications environments. - **International Game Technology (IGT)**: Casino gaming machines and interactive entertainment setups.
---
[01:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=79s) Interactive Snowboard Customization and Retail Experience
The presenter introduces the first new application revealed at CES 2008, dubbed the "Snowboard" demo. The scenario tackles a common retail problem: walking into a sporting goods shop confronted by hundreds of boards mounted on a wall without an intuitive way to tailor or visualize options. The demonstrator emphasizes that “personalization and customization is really big I mean if if you you're taking a look around here at CES it's one of the major themes so surface can actually enhance that situation.”
```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Retail Snowboard Personalization Flow accDescr: Step-by-step workflow of customizing a snowboard on Microsoft Surface and syncing to mobile.
subgraph StoreFloor["In-Store Retail"] A["Physical Tag with Optical Code"] --> B["Place Tag on Surface Display"] B --> C["Render 3D Snowboard Model"] end
subgraph Customization["Surface Interaction"] C --> D["Manipulate Decals, Colors & Position"] D --> E["Flip Board to Sign Name"] E --> F["Attach Hardware Bindings"] end
subgraph Handoff["Cross-Device Handoff"] F --> G["Place Windows Mobile Phone on Screen"] G --> H["Save to Windows Live Spaces or Local Phone Storage"] end ```
To bridge the physical inventory with the digital surface, each physical snowboard rack includes a card equipped with an optical tag on the reverse side. When placed onto the Surface display, optical sensors detect the pattern, instantly projecting a full 3D model of the board onto the glass. The user manipulates the virtual board directly:
- **Surface Manipulation**: The 3D model can be freely rotated, spun, and flipped over with direct finger contact. - **Graphic Customization**: Users select graphical designs and decals from a palette, drag them onto the board, resize them, adjust their position, and alter specific logo colors. - **Graphic Bleed Effects**: Decals can be scaled and offset to deliberately bleed over the board edges. - **Personal Signature**: Turning the board to the underside allows users to apply handwritten signatures along the perimeter or edge so it is visible while hitting moguls. - **Hardware Finalization**: Bindings are dragged and snapped into place to complete the custom setup.
---
[04:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=270s) Mobile Device Handshake and Hospitality Cloud Sync
After assembling the customized board, the demonstrator addresses a classic pain point in specialty retail: shoppers rarely make high-ticket purchases on their initial consultation, often needing to leave and bring back a friend. To preserve the session without forcing a sales clerk to rebuild the design from scratch, the user rests a Windows Mobile smartphone directly onto the Surface glass.
The system pairs with the device, presenting options to store the design directly into the phone's internal memory or upload it to a Windows Live Spaces account. The customer can then return the following day, place the handset on the tabletop, and instantly retrieve the working session to finalize tweaks and complete the purchase.
The demonstration shifts to a hospitality context set weeks later in a ski resort:
```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Hospitality Media Sharing Architecture accDescr: Media offloading and social interaction workflow in a hotel lobby via Microsoft Surface.
subgraph Handset["Windows Mobile Device"] M["Phone Placed on Surface Glass"] end
subgraph SurfaceLobby["Sheraton Lobby Surface Table"] M --> V["Stream Recorded Video Clips"] M --> P["Scatter High-Res Ski Photos"] P --> Multi["Simultaneous Multi-User Manipulation"] P --> Postcard["Create Digital Postcard"] end
subgraph CloudServices["Connected Cloud Services"] Postcard --> WLS["Windows Live Contacts"] WLS --> OutMail["Email Out to Friends"] WLS --> LiveSpaces["Publish to Windows Live Spaces"] end ```
In the lobby of a Sheraton hotel by the fireplace, guests gather around a Surface table. Resting the Windows Mobile smartphone on the tabletop triggers an automatic synchronization of the day's slope footage and action photography. Users can: - Scatter, flick, and resize photos simultaneously across multiple touch points, treating digital media like printed physical photographs. - Play video clips directly on the tabletop surface showing runs down the slopes or wipeouts. - Tap the Windows Live Spaces icon to access previously uploaded photo archives from earlier in the ski trip. - Flip an individual photo over to generate a digital postcard, complete with an on-screen handwritten note. - Access authenticated Windows Live contacts to dispatch the postcard via email or publish it to an online profile.
As the presenter explains, “again what we've done is we've taken surface computing technology into an environment where where technology didn't exist and we've addressed some real pain points we've turned that situation where you had a large number of snowboards and really not an ability to customize we changed that and then we've made that uh experience even better because it becomes mobile and portable via your Windows mobile phone and then we've got access to what we call the cloud the internet Hardware software Services through Windows Live so it becomes a very a very compelling experience.”
---
[06:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=385s) Interactive Wine Menu and Restaurant Tabletop Dining
Transitioning to another commercial scenario, the demonstrator addresses the hospitality dining space. Turning to the audience, the presenter asks if anyone is a wine drinker, prompting an attendee to mention they work within the wine industry. The presenter points out that for many restaurant patrons, the traditional wine selection process remains thoroughly intimidating, marked by thick leatherbound wine books filled with foreign names and complex vintages.
```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Surface Restaurant Wine and POS Flow accDescr: End-to-end dining experience from filtering wines to ordering and tracking glassware via POS integration.
subgraph Selection["Tabletop Menu Browsing"] Touch["Touch Tabletop to Open Wine Menu"] --> Filters["Filter by Red, White, Acidity, Body & Depth"] Filters --> SelectWine["Select & Order Wine"] end
subgraph Identification["Glass & Coaster Recognition"] SelectWine --> Glass["Wine Glass Placed on Table"] Glass --> Tag["Optical Tag on Base of Glass"] Tag --> POS["Integration with Restaurant POS"] POS --> Coaster["Virtual Glowing Coaster Appears"] end
subgraph RichContent["Contextual Dining Details"] Coaster --> Glow["Adjust Glow to Reflect Personal Rating"] Coaster --> Pairing["View Food Pairings (e.g., Calamari)"] Coaster --> Vineyard["Stream On-Screen Winery Video"] end ```
On a Surface-enabled dining table, guests touch the tabletop to surface the restaurant's entire catalog: - **Intuitive Browsing**: Diners filter listings across categories such as red wines, white wines, and champagnes. - **Palate Filtering**: Interactive sliders allow patrons to narrow recommendations based on specific sensory criteria, including acidity, body, and depth. - **Glass-Level Tracking via POS**: When a selection is ordered, the waiter brings out a glass fitted with a bottom-mounted optical tag. When the glass is set on the table, the restaurant's Point of Sale (POS) system identifies the specific pour. - **Virtual Interactive Coaster**: An illuminated digital ring appears directly beneath the stem of the glass, displaying wine details and estate information. - **Dynamic Rating Ring**: The diner alters the outer glow of the coaster by finger touch to visually log their preference rating, scaling from subtle to bright. - **Pairings and Media**: Guests pull up culinary pairings directly from the wine's profile—such as calamari—and launch on-table video interviews featuring the winemaker detailing the vineyard's harvest and regional history.
[09:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc&t=549s) Exploring Wine Regions and Sharing Selections via Virtual Earth and Windows Live
Demonstrating the retail and dining capabilities of Microsoft Surface, the presenter explains how users can delve deep into available wine varietals and their origins directly on the interactive tabletop. After setting a selection back down onto the Surface screen, the user can examine the specific winemaking region where the bottle originated. The display brings up an interactive Virtual Earth map that can be freely rotated and manipulated with touch. The presenter navigates the geography, pointing out the featured winery alongside neighboring vineyards, noting how someone might plan an excursion or simply zoom in closer to discover deeper background on the surrounding bottles. As the presenter summarizes the utility of the interface, “All of this helps me make a more informed decision about the wine.”
Beyond immediate discovery, the interface addresses the everyday frustration of trying to memorize complicated wine labels and vintages after leaving a venue. The presenter points out a built-in email button directly on the tabletop display, allowing a patron to tap the screen and send their chosen wine profile straight to their personal inbox. Looking ahead at connected ecosystem possibilities, the presenter highlights how Microsoft Surface can bridge local venue interactions with social web services: “With the power of Surface, have a Windows Live logo on there that would take this information, post up to Windows Live, and I may be able to share it with my friends and be able to blog about it as well.”
- **Virtual Earth Mapping:** Users can rotate, manipulate, and zoom into interactive maps to explore specific vineyards and adjacent winemaking regions. - **Direct Email Delivery:** A single tap on an on-screen email button transmits the complex wine names and detailed product cards directly to the user's home account. - **Windows Live Integration:** Surface demo features touchpoints for cloud and social sharing, allowing guests to export tasting details, blog about their selections, or distribute recommendations to friends.
## Mentioned Microsoft Surface, CES 2008, Harrah's Entertainment, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Westin, Sheraton, T-Mobile, International Game Technology (IGT), Windows Mobile, Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live, Virtual Earth, BotJunkie, OhGizmo!
## Video description Read more at http://www.ohgizmo.com/ and http://www.microsoft.com/surface/
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxk_WywMTzc)