Microsoft Surface To Coordinate SuperBowl Security

suraj.sun writes to tell us that in preparation for nearly a quarter of a million people descending on Tampa for the Super Bowl, the Tampa authorities are deploying new tech for security communications and response. All of the incidents and communications will be plotted and tracked on a new implementation of Microsoft's Surface. Hopefully it wont have to reboot after every new incident report. "The Microsoft Surface device will display a Microsoft Virtual Earth map of the entire region tracking events, incidents, resources and tasks in real-time using its unique large display, multi-user, multi-touch and interactive capabilities, also allowing it to communicate with remote devices and PCs. With a quick hand-gesture, the map can zoom in and display a 3D image of the city, including detailed views of buildings and streets and real time resource tracking."

Comments

Oh no

[Anonymous Coward]

inb4 lame blue screen of death jokes

Re:Oh no

[sumdumass]

Nice!

I was going to make some lame comment about how Tampa is finally getting tech like Miami (CSI TV show) and rant about the costs/effectiveness in a non-obvious way. It takes real imagination to come up with a stop error ****0x0000B00B

My hats off to you.

Re:Oh no

[spxero]

Currently using XP SP2 on a Lenovo T61. When I set plug an extra monitor in, the machine goes to dual screen just fine. When I try to go back to one screen, BSoD with a fault in win32k.sys (or something like that). I find it hard to believe that going from two monitors down to one qualifies as trying to mess up my system or pushing it too hard.

Can't go to SP3 due to software, can't use Linux due to work.

Re:Oh no

[value_added]

The last time I remember getting a BSOD was on NT4.0. An electrician had shorted out a power line with a network cable and it fried the machine.

Last time for me was on XP using a fairly new (at the time) Linksys ethernet card.

These stability jokes really only attest to the author's cluelessness.

Sorry, but Windows still bluescreens (often unnoticed due to the "reboot automatically" feature). If there's any cluelessness involved here, it's that your personal experiences don't correspond to those of others, or that you've not had to read through the newer KB articles written describing such problems.

Re:Oh no

[dfm3]

Indeed. I have a nagging suspicion that this whole topic was posted exclusively for the anti-Microsoft jokes.

Re:Oh no

[minsk]

Uhm, no. Saying it detects "motion" is even less accurate than "touch". Proximity within a few inches is good enough for many demos, and a few limited applications... like the over-hyped kiosk advertising they are actually pursuing at the moment.

Large touch interfaces are a completely different beast than Apple's. Microsoft is a long way from a useful peripheral, but comparing it with an iPhone is laughable.

Re:Oh no

[ElectricRook]

What it means is that the head of security for SB gets a really cool visual toy that serves absolutely no purpose other than to strike said official's ego.

Of course there is the upside that someone gets to sell a toy to a private company...

Which I highly approve of...

Even if it is MS that gets the sale, just that someone got to sell a toy for hyper-inflated prices.

Re:Oh no

[not already in use]

The problem, of course, is the lack of objective reporting. I've had various Desktop Linux distro's (and OS X) crash on me far more often than XP sp2+ and Vista has over the past 4-5 years. Pointing out the former will only result in a Troll or Flamebait mod, while the same MS jokes we've been hearing for the last 10 years still get modded funny.

let's reboot this joke

[blitzkrieg3]

"Hopefully we won't have to reboot after every new incident report."

Can we please retire that joke? I haven't used Windows in a long time so I'm not sure if it's still true, but XP wasn't terrible (when free of malware) and that joke is really getting tired and unfunny.

Though I don't think MS writes very good software, I we're past the days of needing to reboot to change your IP address.

Re:let's reboot this joke

[jonesy16]

Considering that almost every time I run YUM there's a new kernel update I'm not sure that this is entirely accurate. While I do think there are things that Windows is ridiculous for wanting me to reboot for, Linux is getting worse faster than it's getting better. When I was running Ubuntu it seemed like every update wanted to restart.

A good application

[CXI]

I apologize for responding seriously in this MS bashing thread, but anyway this looks to be an excellent application for surface technology. Assuming that they have the manpower and peripheral interfaces to update this situation map in real time, it could be amazing. Even just for managing traffic flow and where to stage people. In fact, if I were a part of it I'd want there to be multiple units, each dedicated and customized for different purposes: fire/rescue; traffic; police; public works; transit; etc.

Re:A good application

[_Sprocket_]

...it often felt like it was a cool technology in search of real use cases.

That's the general idea that came to my mind. "Oh look, Microsoft finally found a problem to go with their answer." But is it really a good fit?

CNN was showing some pictures from the Obama inauguration that day. They had some reporter standing in front of a huge touch screen doing all these gestures to pull up, enlarge, then stack photos. Then as if to really force the point, he did a "crumple in to a ball" effect one one image. I found myself thinking that this all was some kind of dog-and-pony show to highlight either CNN's vendor or their commitment to out-flashing FOX News. Nothing about it helped me get a feel for the story being reported on.

And I'm kind of wondering if that's where we'll get with this sort of situation too. Lots of flash. Some feeling of importance and being equipped. But not actually better prepared to handle the task at hand.

Serious Question

[Enderandrew]

Forgive me for interrupting with a serious question, but what benefit does Surface offer in securing the Super Bowl?

Having this expensive multi-touch table will help, how?

This sounds like some rich NFL exec wanting to show off a shiny toy for the gimmick factor, and Microsoft wanting publicity.

However, I really fail to see any practical use of Surface here.

Re:Serious Question

[gknoy]

I think it would be useful to have a large-screen display which is easily manipulable -- "war room" style. (They can always have another projection of it for those who need read-only access.) It's a bit easier to collaborate when you can see in meatspace where others are pointing, or going to point, rather than having dueling light pens / mice.