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New Styles of Computing and Collaboration

Two Microsoft Surface computers are available in the Allen Center, for CSE and UW students to explore alternative models of computing devices, and to explore and develop new collaboration environments. The Surface is essentially a "digital coffee table" - an embedded computer taking the form and function of a familiar "gathering spot", so that several people can cluster around a familiar object and interact with the object and with each other in natural ways. The Surface has a horizontal screen that incorporates a multi-touch interface to manipulate multi-media content, along with embedded sensors (five infrared cameras) to interact with people, and embedded interfaces (Bluetooth, barcode reader) to interact with other devices such as cameras, phones, laptops and special bar-coded objects.

One Surface, located in the Atrium, is available to all UW students, and one is intended primarily for CSE students, and is located in the third-floor breakout space. Both are "Developer" models, so you can both use the Surface, and develop your own applications for this alternative digital device.

Another type of collaboration device available for use and experimentation is a digital whiteboard. Two SMART Boards are available - one in the CSE Student Laboratories dedicated to CSE use, and one available for check out by any UW student. Perhaps you can think of some great way to combine these two devices!

Using the Surface

The Surface can be used in "presentation" mode simply by tapping on the screen to activate the touch-sensitive home screen and the installed apps. Access to the underlying operating system is available by pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE on the attached keyboard , which allows you to log in with your CSE NetID (or UW NetID). We have Version 1.0 of the Surface.

Development

To develop your own applications for the Surface, you will use a separate machine, and a special Surface SDK which includes a visual Surface simulator. (It is possible to develop directly on the Surface, but that requires an external monitor to be connected, which is not normally available in our installation. The "separate workstation" model also helps ensure that your work will be preserved, since locally-saved files are removed when you log off the Surface.)

To get started, go to the Development page. And then share your completed app with others!


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