Hitachi Does Microsoft Surface Without the Table

An anonymous reader writes "According to CNET.co.uk, who randomly stumbled into a booth at CES, Toshiba has created a Microsoft Surface-type system without the unwieldy table. 'The StarBoard system is really two technologies in one. Firstly, it features Hitachi's short-throw LCD projector. This is important, because the projector sits mere inches from the interactive surface. This means you get a huge — 50-inch, in fact — bright screen, which doesn't get blocked out by your head as you lean over the table. The image it projects is incredibly high-quality too, and there was no noticeable distortion.' The video attached to the article shows the system in action." It should be noted that the implication that leaning over the table blocks a projection from above is spurious; the Surface projects an image from below. The 'overhead' setup at CES was a camera designed to show onlookers what was taking place on the table.

The future is here...

[PietjeJantje]

More big ass tables! [jibjab.com]

Wii guy will do this!

[altoz]

I'm just waiting for the wii guy to do the same thing for like $5

orientation

[hey]

I think you'd get backache if you learned of over a Surface-like thing for a while.
Maybe the answer is to flip it up horizontal.
To avoid the cost of a touch screen (or sensors) you might instead use a mouse on a flat surface like a desk.
That would be one awesome system!

Re:ICARS predicted this!

[EatHam]

And now we're supposed to just sit back and watch as we all get our arms broken by sore loser wookies? No fucking thank you, I'll stick with my monitor.