Microsoft Surface finger-driven PC lands in Australia

Microsoft is launching its new finger-driven Surface PC in Australia, hoping that it will revolutionize the interactive kiosk scene, according to TheAustralian.com.

About the size and shape of a coffee table, the Surface PC has a 30-inch touchscreen that can be touch-operated by more than one person at a time, and cameras hidden under the touchscreen allow the Surface to recognize objects placed on it, allowing applications to react to the object.

Microsoft has had the Surface since early 2007 and delivered the first customer unit to AT&T two years ago, but has only recently begun launching the unit in Australia.

Microsoft officials concede that the device is unlikely to show up in consumers' homes, but see a market developing for it as an interactive sales tool for retailers, banks, travel agents and in the hospitality industry, according to the story.