Tech Eye: Tactile technology
Mum's antics were always amusing, and those particular words echo pleasantly through nearly all of our best memories of childhood, especially when she yawped them at the blind kids from the local Braille school.
We never really took her words to heart though, despite taking a number of head ladlings, and to this day we're renowned for being a look-with-the-hands sort of fellow. We certainly earned a reputation when we lived in Japan - Techeye was the first gaijin ever to win the title of "Frotteur-Sensei Happy Fun Tickle Champion" in the annual Tokyo Metro grope-a-thon. Those were proud days, indeed.
Our love of all sensations tactile (excepting pear skin, which is splenetically repulsive) is exactly why we're cautiously hysterical about Microsoft's Surface computer. This device sits flat like a tabletop and features a 30-inch display which (apparently) allows multiple users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Moreover, rather than a mouse- or keyboard-guided interface, the Surface (ostensibly) lets users access its computing power through touch and gesture - "grabbing" information, it's called, but hopefully information "cuddling" will also be possible. Microsoft also claims that placing objects on the computer will "trigger different types of digital responses," and we're keen to see what kind of response our collection of medieval barber's tools gets.
Still, despite the fervent throbbing in our lymphatic system every time we think about it, Techeye is wary of becoming too emotionally involved with the Surface. Microsoft announced it back in May, saying that it would be released this month, but few tidings have "surfaced" since then. Also, there's little information on how fluid-resistant it will be or whether it can gauge the alcohol content of beverages spilled on it.
According to old news, the gadget will cost between $5,000-10,000 (zł.12,560-25,141). We're hoping to get our mitts on a Surface soon - even if it's good for nothing else, we can use it to torture Mum by looking with our hands.
