Made from transparent LED tubes, the hanging banner-like screens display Max/MSP-generated visuals that never look the same. A combination of thermal sensors, camera-tracking, weather conditions—even local traffic—all affect how images are mixed in real-time.

The screens hang in each of the four building atriums at Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, and were built by design company Mode Studios. It actually seems like a pretty cool work environment, and staff can also stand in a "hot spot" to control the images by waving around or making sound.

A pretty impressive visual work, but for some reason, I keep imagining Steve Ballmer's head popping up there—kind of like a cross between Apple's 1984 ads and Max Headroom. Just saying. [Mode Studios]

The video is a little bit of a pitch fest, but worth flicking through to see how the screen works.

Microsoft Interactive Installation from MODE Studios on Vimeo.

Send an email to Danny Allen, the author of this post, at dallen@gizmodo.com.