Tabletop Multitouch Display

The Apple iPhone heralded the age of the multitouch display. Now Microsoft has gotten into the act with the Surface, a table-sized computer with a horizontal 30-inch screen. An infrared emitter inside the Surface bounces light off objects touching the screen, fingertips included; cameras register the objects’ locations. This spring, the Surface will appear in stores and hotels, where it will let people compare products or search for nearby events.