The Death of Print - the Rebirth of Print
May 30th, 2007 by Dan Blank
Microsoft just announced a new product, and a new category for computing: “surface computing.” The idea: “every surface can become an interface for a computer.” Popular Mechanics has a really compelling video explaining surface computing, and how you can integrate it into your life, much like you are used to dealing with paper.
I love printed newspapers, magazines, and books. This is the really the first technology that I have seen that has the potential to really disrupt the value of printed materials themselves.
I have talked before about the limits of print, such as the inability to easily integrate content from multiple sources. Watching the surface computing video illustrates how technology is taking that next step - of valuing the tactile and fluid nature of paper. Combining this with the web and networking would seem to offer the best of both worlds.