Microsoft Deutschland. Surface Connect

Creation of a Surface demo application for the Microsoft Trade Fair Xtopia which takes place in Berlin every autumn.

Object as interactive surface
Visitors to the trade fair can exchange social media data from Facebook offline using the demo application developed by Neue Digitale / Razorfish. Direct social application at the fingertips. Thanks to the Surface table and its movement sensitive glass top.
 

Virtual-real information exchange
An “Event Page” in Facebook was set up in advance of the conference. Conference participants are invited to the event via Facebook and informed about the service. By installing the necessary application to their profile they can instantaneously exchange business contacts at the trade fair. Accredited participants identify themselves by laying their entry pass on the table. The data is analyzed and a virtual trade fair ID card called up. Facebook contacts and image folders appear thanks to light projection on the table top. Contact and images can be shared between participants by drag and drop. New contacts receive a Facebook notification of contact requests made on the Surface table.
 

The dynamic business directory
A further feature is the “Event Card”. This continuously collects all exchanged content. Contacts and photos of all participants are therefore always available. Users can also use this function to invite friends to the event.

Surface Connect puts the social components of technology in the foreground. And allows for intelligent connecting of real and digital interaction. The application serves as an intersection between the online and offline worlds. The huge response from conference visitors, Microsoft and the press is an unambiguous measure of its success: one third of all Xtopia visitors used that touch table tool. There were also numerous mentions in the press. Because of its success, the tool was also demonstrated at the American trade fair “SXSW”: here over 600 participants registered for the event via Facebook.