Microsoft Surface - Futuristic Computing

It seems Microsoft have been busy developing a new technology and are now showing it to the world. Currently called Microsoft Surface, the technology is a table/computer; the tables surface is both the user interface (a touch screen) and display.

Based on information provided by Microsoft, these developments have been underway since 2001 but now the technology is being actively promoted. If even half of the functionality that is demonstrated on the showcase site becomes available then some of those futuristic scenes from many blockbuster movies are not at all far fetched.

So the question remains, is this just exceptionally clever marketing or has the future finally arrived?

Telecom Plans GSM Implementation

The NZ Herald has repoted recently that Telecom New Zealand is set to hand Alcatel Lucent a contract worth between $300 - $400 million to build a new GSM mobile network. It appears that Telecom's intention is to construct a GSM system to deliver voice services while retaining the current CDMA network for high-speed data services and voice calling during the transition to the new technology.

Of course, this is good news for Telecom users - a greater range of handsets and improved roaming capability will now be available. However, this level of service has been enjoyed by Vodafone users for some time. I am sure that Telecom's initial decison to commit to CDMA technology was a well considered one, but ultimately this respresents the reversal of another investment decision where the users end up as the guinea pigs in the experiment.

NZ Exports More ICT than Australia...

In a time when the New Zealand export market is struggling in the global economy - due mostly to a high dollar - it is nice to see we lead our Australian neighbours in at least one respect.

Although the figures in this story were flagged as possibly incorrect due to the statistical methods used in each country, it is probably worth recognising anyway. The figures quoted were $389 per person in New Zealand and for Australia, $315.