Microsoft Surface: New Age of User Experience Design
What was more impressive was the speed and relative ease with which people could get a hang of how the thing works. Given that the applications running on that Microsoft Surface machine looked and behaved very differently than typical windows or web based applications, it is to the credit of Surface team that they have managed to evolve a user experience language that is well and truly aligned with natural human interactions.
By Microsoft’s own version, the user experience features four key attributes:
- Direct Interaction: Users can actually ''grab'' digital information with their hands - interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
- Multi–Touch: Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger like with a typical touch–screen, but up to dozens of items at once.
- Multi–User: The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around Microsoft Surface together, providing a collaborative, face–to–face computing experience.
- Object Recognition: Users can place physical objects on the display to trigger different types of digital responses; in the future, this will include the ability to transfer digital content.
Apart from the relative ease, another major plus for this device is its ability to promote true collaboration or co-enjoyment (!). It was fascinating to watch kids and their parents using the Surface based applications to find more information about Sheraton’s other locations and services.
The experience had just the right balance of information and engagement; and that made it more meaningful for me. Too often, the technical wizardry or flashy interactions drown out the critical thing for which user use computers – the content. I sensed that the Microsoft surface team has been very careful about this aspect. And that is why I am very optimistic about the potential for this brand new platform … and eagerly looking forward to building applications that live up to the spirit this new age user experience.
