Queensland companies showcase Microsoft Surface

[View:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3tPd1NXE-o&feature=related] Microsoft Gold Partners have developed Surface applications to benefit the Queensland Government and improve Government to citizen interactions.

Spotlight 2010: Microsoft Surface is a competition for local Microsoft Gold Partners to develop the best solution that takes advantage of the innovative Surface platform.

Microsoft Surface uses a combination of software and hardware to present information on a horizontal surface that can be manipulated through use of gestures. The technology was first announced in May 2007. Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with data and each other.

The competition final took place last week on 4 November, in the presence of The Hon. Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland and the Hon. Robert Schwarten, Minister for ICT and Public Works. 

The winner of the competition was Microgenx which developed a solution to enable the leveraging of government expertise in Incident management, and using technology to increase response times, improve collaboration, and simplify the information that needs to be communicated to all interested parties for example: media; community; Government; and field personnel.  Runners up Simient, together with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning developed  a solution that centered around community engagement.

Surface technology is also being used by government agencies elsewhere in the world, including the United States Library of Congress, and is also being adopted in education and law enforcement.