As the digital media landscape evolves, technology is enabling almost anything to become a content surface. From digital billboards to touch screen storefronts to interactive restaurant tables, our world is being infiltrated with digital media.

Interactive multi-touch surface computing is the new kid on the block, but will soon change the paradigm of how we navigate content. Public transportation stations will be scattered with floating panel displays where commuters not only see advertisements but can also purchases goods and services at the touch of a button. A walk down any city street will be dotted with interactive walls and shop windows where passerby can deeply interact with a retail brand and make purchases. Restaurant menus will be loaded into the tables themselves and orders will be placed the touch of a button.

Surface computing will evolve from being just fun and engaging, to being delivering useful brand experiences. Imagine a future visit in your dentist’s office. Your dental records will live in the interactive wall of your dentist’s exam room. The dental assistant will pull up x-rays and history at the touch of a button. Or imagine meeting with your child’s teacher. You will be able to navigate academic records from every grade level and representative work samples at the touch of a button. Or let’s imagine that you are working with a home builder to construct a new home. The virtual showroom is a collection of interactive touch screen surfaces where you can choose and immediately visualize every design selection for your new home in a realistic way before your very eyes. You can see the type of hard wood floor, the tiles, granite, siding, shingle, and even the paint color on the wall.

Point-to-control and touch screen computing surfaces are already gaining popularity in bars, nightclubs, retail stores, and museums - anywhere menu-based content is used for education, entertainment, or to present advertising and corporate information. This is a hot area for innovation for today’s leading brands.