BumpTop & Surface

Anand Agarawala presents BumpTop, similar in interface methaphor to Microsoft’s recently annouced Surface. However the user interaction method means that BumpTop simply extends many of the conventions found in current computer interfaces.

Surface is moving more towards a human centered (less tech, more seemless integration in the human environment) method of computing due to it’s interaction style. However, I feel that both currently suffer from the same problem – invention without a clearly defined use. They’re both great ideas and I believe bringing computers-to-humans (not the other way around) is the only way to go. In fact I hope we’re on the brink of a human computer interaction revolution (with products like the iPhone), however, surely that will only come when we’re not consciously aware of the technology linking us to the digital world? Is this the age of physical computing?

Update: (6 July 2007) Thomas Baekdal found a Surface parody that makes a similar point. Good stuff.

Posted on Friday 29 June 2007.

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