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Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface

A table that reads

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Samsung SUR40 Samsung

The 40-inch SUR40, co-created by Samsung and Microsoft, is a thin tabletop computer that sees and responds to whatever is placed on it. Each of the table’s LCD pixels emits an infrared beam that reflects off an object back to a sensor. The processor synthesizes the sensor data to create an eight-bit image from which it can pick out shapes and large text, such as product names and numbers. Once the object is identified, the table displays related YouTube videos and other product information. Right now most apps are on the simpler side, but developers are free to program custom games and more, depending on what bar or store the table winds up in. $8,400

11 Comments

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GeeWillikers

12/26/11 at 3:15 pm

Technology is great and maybe this will trickled down to the general consumer in the future, but this is really a rich persons toy. I know I can not buy it and so I am not excited.
When it becomes $500 or much less, then I will situp on the edge of my chair and become interested.

I really do like Samsung products and Microsoft too!

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DrPhil

12/27/11 at 2:39 am

@GeeWillikers
Considering the first version was >$12k for the commercial version 4 years ago I think Microsoft are doing pretty well to bring down the price and make improvements. That said, it's very hard to imagine why you would really want something like this sitting in front of your couch, even at <$500 a pop.

Can anyone imagine the changes in personal tech that would make this a practical household device rather than a commercial toy to attract customers to your business?

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GeeWillikers

12/27/11 at 8:03 am

Hi Phil,
Thank you for writing to me. If you notice, I started at a ball park figure of $500 and read my words after that, " $500 and less".

Hey, I like to get this table for $1.00, but that is not going to happen. I said $500 as a start point, because I was thinking of gaming devices, TV's, quality blue-ray players and such. But a lower price is wonderful and always prefered.

If I saw the device, I may not want it. But people who breath and live by the internet, may like the device. Before I even consider buying it, I would have to see and yes test it in a show room.

I hope you had a nice holiday weekend!

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Miguel Diaz

12/27/11 at 2:54 pm

unless you own a business, you're a chemist, or an engineer, this item would be useless to you. plus think of all the water rings haha. Still, cool concept though. :)

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boka

12/27/11 at 3:35 pm

Consumerism at it's worst.

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menoc

12/28/11 at 2:56 am

This is really just a proof of concept. Eventually where this technology will really shine is on much larger surfaces such as conference room tables, wall-to-wall touch displays. I liken this to another Microsoft technology no one thought had any future - The Microsoft Kinect! . . . we've got to let this mature.

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menoc

12/28/11 at 3:08 am

@Miguel Diaz,

In 1990 no one in the world thought anyone, including you and I, would ever have any use for a 52-inch LCD display! . . . We could not even conceive of anything larger than a 13-inch CRT!!

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