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back to article Epson gets into interactive coffee tables

Watch out Microsoft Surface, because there’s a new touch-sensitive interactive coffee table in town: the X-Desk. Can't see the video? Download Flash Player from Adobe.com Much like Surface, X-Desk lets users interact with digital content through a flat 1024 x 768, 52in multi-touch screen that can also communicate with …

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  1. Luis Ogando
    Paris Hilton

    80's Retro Cocktail Table..?

    Come on, the best use for this is to install MAME and run thousands of 80's arcade games like those old cocktail tables did in pubs and WMCs!!

    Actually, with a higher spec you could play coffee table Resistance.....

    Paris, 'cos she knows about coffee tables...

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  2. Anonymous Coward
    Paris Hilton

    Object recognition

    So what happens if you sit on it? Naked? Does it draw an outline of your bits? Or does it examine you and write up a referral to the GP?

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  3. Elmer Phud

    Other uses

    "Other potential uses include as a navigation device, an interactive menu or point of sale attraction."

    and playing Asteroids down the pub?

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  4. Wize

    Just wait till the cleaner comes in.

    She'll wipe her damp cloth over the surface and accidently erase all your files.

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  5. Stu

    Priced at £13,800

    One point to note, we looked into possibly buying a MS Surface. Only trouble is, they only sell them for special installation in hotels or shops or wherever for an expensive showcase item. After a while MS marketed them semi-properly, announced at some US developers conference to anybody who filled in a simple form, provided the recipient is based in the US that is!

    So we were kind of locked out.

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  6. Dale

    No different to Surface

    Is anything about the Epson thing at all different from MS Surface? I can't see any difference. Surely MS has patents? That said, I like the idea of the technology, regardless of the provider. Any competition can only be good for the customers, if nothing else by driving down the price, even if the features are identical. Now scale that down to half an inch thickness so it doesn't have to be a coffee table (think of the neck and back pain after sitting hunched over one of those for a couple of hours) and you have a winner.

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  7. Don Mitchell

    Surface

    I knew David Kurlander, who started the work on Surface many years ago. Nice work. Although the iPhone is a much smaller form factor, it's likely that Kurlander's work had a bit influence on its interface as well.

    I don't understand why Epson didn't just partner with Microsoft and run the Surface software on their device. Now they face probably patent violation action.

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  8. sleepy

    Everything you wanted to know about Microsoft Surface

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY

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  9. Ivan Headache

    isn't this

    a bit like a smart board - only laid out flat?

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  10. Andy ORourke
    Joke

    @ Other Uses

    "Other potential uses include as a navigation device, an interactive menu or point of sale attraction."

    As a navigation devide? A 52" coffee table makes a REALLY useful navigation device! Just imagine attaching that to your car windscreen :-)

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  11. sleepy

    presumably ..

    .. Epson had the contract to build Microsoft Surface hardware, and now they've got a contract to provide maintenance for the seven or so that MS have sold, and to dispose of 90% of the remaining 9993 hardware sets any way they can.

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  12. Anonymous Coward
    Happy

    James Bond may need some more...

    It appears that Q had suplied M with one in the latest Quantum of Solace movie.

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