Actually, this idea goes way back into the ARPA research community of 
the 60s and 70s. Maybe the first time it was done was by Mort 
Bernstein and the RAND tablet guys in the 60s using a very powerful 
Eidophor projector that could project an image through the 
translucent RAND tablet (almost melting it!). Nicholas Negroponte and 
his folks at the Arch-Mac group in the 70s did a very nice and usable 
table with rear projection, etc., (they also did the first multitouch 
tablet surface (Chris Herot, et al.)

And, of course, there was a PONG table later on by Atari (but done 
before I got there).

Cheers,

Alan

At 05:31 AM 5/31/2007, Gary Fisher wrote:
>Time to dust off that "Coffee Table eBook" trademark registration.
>
><g>
>
>(Nice to see the old Pong form factor revived.  Hey, didn't Atari perfect
>table games during Alan's tenure? ;-)
>
>Gary
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bill Schwab" <BSchwab at anest.ufl.edu>
>To: <squeak-dev at lists.squeakfoundation.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:38 AM
>Subject: MS surface computer
>
>
>Check it out:
>
>
>http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/30/technology/microsoft.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes
>
>Sorry guys, couldn't resist.  Imagine the lawsuits that MS will file
>now:
>
>"This is not a case of some accidental, unknowing infringement. There is
>an overwhelming number of flat surfaces supporting objects.  Our
>strategy from everyone in the company has always been to license and not
>litigate as it relates to Office and Home furniture."
>
>Ok, back to work :)
>
>Bill
>
>
>
>Wilhelm K. Schwab, Ph.D.
>University of Florida
>Department of Anesthesiology
>PO Box 100254
>Gainesville, FL 32610-0254
>
>Email: bschwab at anest.ufl.edu
>Tel: (352) 846-1285
>FAX: (352) 392-7029
>
>
>
>
>--
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>PM