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

[MoellerPlesset2]

A problem has been detected and the Super Bowl has been shut down to protect your audience.

The problem seems to be caused by the following module: WARDROBE.DLL
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NIPPLE_AREA

If this is the first time you have seen this error screen, restart the show.
If this screen appears again, follow these instructions:

Check to make sure this is not a dress rehearsal. If so, give the producers hell and consider firing the artists.

If problems continue, you may be fined by the FCC.

Technical information:
*** STOP: 0x0000B00B

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

[mcgrew]

Can we please retire that joke?

Sorry, no. It's an old one but a good one.

I we're past the days of needing to reboot to change your IP address.

But we're not past the days when you need to reboot Windows for a lot of things you can do in Linux without rebooting.

Some jokes are nearly immortal, because they're just funny. One of my favorites outdates automobiles.

A braggart is in a bar, and claims he can make a horse laugh. Everyone chortles derisively, and eventually he's bet everyone in the bar a dollar that he can do it.

So he goes outside and whispers in the horse's ear, and amazingly the horse laughs its ass off. His fellow patrons are amazed and pay up, and he exclaims that he can make a horse cry!

Of course the bet is on again, so the fellow walks out and nobody can see exactly what he does, but the horse starts bawling like a baby with dirty diapers, crying its eyes out. He comes back in and collects his money.

"So, fella, how'd you make that horse laugh?" the bartender asks.

"Easy. I told him my dick was bigger than his."

"How'd you make him cry?"

"I showed him."

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.