Sheraton Tries Out Microsoft Surface

I believe only once in class we have discussed Microsoft's Surface technology. When looking for a topic to blog about this week, I came across an article on Meetings Industry Megasite discussing its introduction into the hospitality world. I got curious and decided to investigate. The article, by Marshall Krantz, states that Sheraton's in New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco, are offering the use of Microsoft Surface to guests in the hotels. Sheraton is the first major hotel chain to offer the tool to the public. The program started in August with Starwood Hotels and Resorts using the five previous mentioned hotels in a pilot program that could become chainwide.

The article goes on to describe Sufrace as a 30 inche, rectangular table looking object. Inside the screen, five cameras sense hand touche and gestures that allows users to manipulate the digital objects on the screen with their hands instead of a mouse. The Surface website describes the product as having been designed with vaious industries in mind, including the hospitality industry. Microsoft claims that Surface can help companies to enhance customer experiene and increase loyalty, increase revenue, and reduce operational costs.

As of now, the tool is limited to only three functions in the five specific Sheraton hotels; guests can gather information about the local area, play music, and find information about other Sheraton properties. However, Krantz states in her article that the product allows users to interact with the hotel as well as interact with each other. I think that it would be cool to see Surface used in events and meetings. Perhaps the tool could be set up and used in a way that would allow attendees to learn more about the companies that are hosting the meeting or event, or even about other companies that are in attendance to the meeting or event. It would also be a cool tool for attendees to use as method of interaction with each other while in attendance. Its awkward to attend an event and not know anyone, erhaps this tool could serve as a kind of conversation starter.

For now there are only a select number of companies using Surface on a broad scale - Sheraton hotels being one of the only hospitality related. It will be interesting to see how the product is percieved and how it takes off from where it is now.