Gizmodo: multitouch table

SMART Educational Multitouch Table Will Learn Yer Kids Real Good

Elaine Chow — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST

The SMART Table, that Microsoft Surface-esque multitouch table specifically made for kids, is now out and making its way into classrooms. Each table comes with six applications out of the box and costs $8000.

Teachers can customize activities on the tablet by using the SMART Table Toolkit on their PC or Mac. The new activities are then saved onto a USB bracelet and plugged into the table for activity synchronization. Smart Tech is also offering free apps and activities for download on its education website.

Not a bad buy if you're a teacher (the education website also helps you request grants to buy one), or if you're just a parent that wants to seriously one-up that little Leapfrog Crammer the Jones' got their kid. [Smart Tech]

SMART Table for Kids is Like a Cheaper, Funner-er Microsoft Surface

John Herrman — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:10:58 EDT

As much fun as it is to tinker with Microsoft's multitouch Surface table, most of its applications have been decidedly gimmicky. By offering a lower price (sooner than MS), more compact design, and more complete suite of software, SmartTech wants to bring multitouch tables to the people who would probably most appreciate them — kids. From the video (and press release), it looks as if the SMART Table has a nearly identical — if not better — set of capabilities to the Surface: multitouch, gesture support, a 27in screen and a super-simple SDK. Details are slim at the moment, but the price is a comparatively low $7000, so expect to see the SMART Table popping up in more affluent school districts as early as Spring 2009. [SMART via Crunchgear]

Microsoft SecondLight Adds Extra Layers to Surface

Elaine Chow — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:30:00 EDT

Microsoft seems to be throwing every wild touchscreen idea it can into research right now, first prototyping their weird SideSight cellphone motion detector earlier this week, and now revealing SecondLight, a “magic lens” compatriot to their Surface multitouch table. SecondLight allows users to slide a type of transparent screen on top of the regular Surface display, and see extra info displayed on the screen. For instance, using SecondLight over an image of a car turns it into x-ray specs that show model's wireframe underbelly.

SecondLight uses a switchable diffuser to bring about this effect. When diffuse, the lens is frosted, but applying electricity to the switch causes the lens to go clear. Sensors on Surface will then project specific images to the area SecondLight is occupying. It's a neat trick that adds even more functionality to the Surface, though I'd prefer if they were focusing more on making their table cheap enough for me to afford in the first place. [PC Mag]

Microsoft Survey Hints At "Oahu," Surface Multitouch Table At Consumer Prices

Elaine Chow — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:11:39 EDT

Microsoft is at least considering releasing a consumer-priced version of its Surface computer, if a marketing research survey is to believed. The survey is centered around a device called “Oahu,” which, from its description, sounds a lot like the table we've all come to know and love: a multitouch flat screen that sits like a table top and allows for multiple users to interact with it at once.

The survey asks what “forms” of Oahu the participant would like to see: if they would most likely use it as a homework helper, for content creation (for things like editing recipes), or as an information hub. It also asks how likely the participant would buy it if it cost $1,500. Um, how about "YES. VERY LIKELY. GIVE IT TO ME NOW?" [I Started Something via Engadget]