Microsoft Surface in action

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Credit: Microsoft

Mark Bolger, director of marketing for Microsoft's surface-computing effort, shows off the company's new "Milan" at a briefing in San Francisco. The tabletop computer, for which Microsoft has created both the hardware and the software, is entirely driven by touch--there is no mouse or keyboard.

Credit: CNET Networks

Mark Bolger, director of marketing for Microsoft's surface-computing effort, shows off the company's new "Milan" at a briefing in San Francisco. The tabletop computer, for which Microsoft has created both the hardware and the software, is entirely driven by touch--there is no mouse or keyboard.

Credit: CNET Networks

For now, Microsoft is focusing on getting the products into public spaces in the hospitality arena--hotel lobbies, restaurants and casinos, to name a few. Customers will be able to touch the computer's surface to order food and drinks.

Credit: CNET Networks

Milan can function as a public jukebox, as well. Consumers can add their own music selections to the public playlist with the touch of a finger. Five infrared cameras sense fingers or other objects that touch the surface, while a DLP projector turned on its side generates the screen image people see.

Credit: CNET Networks

Photos can be easily sorted and shared on the tabletop computer. To resize a photo, users stretch two fingers apart. Pivot the fingers and the photo rotates. More than one person can interact with the computer at a time.

Credit: CNET Networks