Wishful Oahu Thinking
Apparently MS Market Research is running a survey that could hint towards a Surface-alike device for consumers. Some sort of Surface Light, so to speak, probably stripped of a bunch of functions but still cool enough to create special experiences in your own living room. Snippet from the intro of the survey:
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The following questions refer to a computing device called “Oahu” that has an innovative multi-touch screen. Oahu is a flat screen that sits horizontally like a table top. You can interact with Oahu by touching the screen, instead of using a mouse, and more than one person can interact with Oahu at the same time. You and others can move objects on the screen with your hands and touch icons to open up programs, games, or music. People using the device can also use their fingertips to expand and shrink objects on the screen. The screen recognizes people’s hand movements and touches and reacts accordingly. You can bring up an on-screen keyboard to input information. Oahu also works with other devices (such as digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 players) by getting information from or sending information to them. Oahu is on with no waiting time to start up. Oahu can come as a freestanding table, placed into a piece of furniture, or built into a countertop. The type of Oahu devices we are asking about today are not portable but if they are furniture or tables, they can be placed anywhere in your home.
The rumor is spreading and as usual some people think it’s true (not pointing in any general direction), others like Long Zhen are a bit more careful. So is this true? Well. Yes and no. Obviously you can hear Steve Ballmer say: we will extend into any market segment if it makes business sense, and probably this makes sense. I haven’t seen internal communications about this, and the survey is from Market Research, which means they are looking into the market to see if there is a demand for the product. That doesn’t mean the product is already there and in use.
Far from it.
If I send out a survey with questions regarding a computing device called “Actaeon” and it would be having a multi-dashboard built into a floating and flying car, does that mean I have the car already? No. It means I might be thinking about that car, and that if I had enough money for it to produce it in a cost-effective way, and there was a market for it — I’d probably consider expanding my business into that segment of the market.
This is generally what happens if surveys you conduct amongst selected audiences get leaked. For now, it’s just ‘buzz’.
Check out istartedsomething for more about the survey.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Driving with a sphere would be awesome, especially in a wizard cloak and hood.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1aRQdiyNGGM
October 15th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Only if it goes over 250 mph