After getting my Sunday dose of Windows Weekly from Leo and the folks at TWiT, I could hardly wait to check out Microsoft Surface. What an amazing demo! I want it. Of course, Surface is just Microsoft’s brand of multi-touch driven screen technology, a very cool demo of which, entitled Remapping the Universe, you’ll find here. This is going to revolutionize computing; as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.

Another technology that will probably completely replace the mouse and keyboard on your laptop: laser virtual keyboards. Picture this: you flip open your laptop and where the physical keyboard and touchpad used to be, there is a bright laser-projected image of both. Imagine this technology extended to virtual piano keyboards, virtual guitars, virtual TV remote controls. Very cool.

OK, now imagine that all devices requiring input can use the virtual projector, that it automatically senses which device is in proximity to it and projects the correct human interface image. You set this down next to your laptop and the keyboard/mouse shows up on your table; you move into the family room, and your TV remote is projected. Heck, imagine that it senses everything in your house, all at once, and lets you choose the device you want to control. Wow.

I want one. I want all of it. And to think that I still enjoy tuning a 1960’s vintage Hallicrafters WR-600 radio (it has tubes).

The excitement of things to come coupled with the simplicity and elegance of the things of old keeps me dreaming and interested in life.

Comments? Questions? Let me know what you think.

Cheers!
The Geek

Have a question? It can be about anything from cooking to science, whatever you’re interested in: Click here to Ask the Geek! Kenny “The Geek” Harthun has been playing with geeky stuff since 1965. He’s a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with Connective Computing, Inc. and loves to learn about anything and everything.