We covered the launch of Microsoft’s Surface touch-screen computer last year.

This week at the Consumer Electronics Show, the company is demonstrating some new application prototypes for the product.

In his keynote speech, Bill Gates gave a demo of the kinds of interactive retail applications ideal for Surface multi-touch systems. Microsoft claims it “provides a clear solution to common consumer pain points,” including :

* Being overwhelmed by choices
* Not having enough information
* Can’t make it yours
* Want to share it with friends

An email sent to Mary Jo Foley by the product team said, “The application showcases the four key attributes of a surface computer including; multi-touch, object recognition, direct interaction and multi-user”.

In his keynote, Gates said, “Your desk won’t just have the computer on the desk, but in the desk, so a meeting room table as you’re collaborating, and the living room if you want to briefing up and play games with something like a Surface, or organize your photos. It will just be there, and easy to manipulate, easy to change and have multiple people connect up.”

Microsoft is moving technology into new terrirory today with the launch of its new Suface computer.

Duncan Riley at TechCrunch writes : “At the D: All Things Digital conference Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will unveil Microsoft Surface, the first in a new category of surface computing products from Microsoft that will ‘break down traditional barriers between people and technology’.”

The computer is bin-shaped with a screen that forms the horizontal surface, like a table-top. The screen is able to recognize physical objects such as a comb or a telephone and allows direct control of content such as photos, music and maps. It is a dynamic surface that provides interaction with all forms of digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects.

Surface is touch-screen, point of sale technology taken to a new level. It will be targeted at hotels, retail outlets, and public entertainment venues. The guess is that it will be commercially available towards the end of 2007.

In its presentation Microsoft shows how to order a beverage during a meal with just the tap of a finger. Another example is browsing through music and dragging favourite tunes onto a personal playlist by moving a finger across the screen.

Clearly, we won’t have to move a muscle to do anything in the future. Obesity Plus here we come.