Entries tagged with microsoft hardware - Channel 9

This May Be Your Next Mouse

Larry Larsen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:53:00 GMT

Today at the User Interface Software and Technology Conference, Microsoft will show five new mouse prototypes that combine normal mousing with multitouch controls. Here is a video that gives you a brief introduction to each of the controls. I'll be meeting with this team when they get back, what questions do you have about these new mice? Which one is your most/least favorite?

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 6 of 6

Larry Larsen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:30:00 GMT

You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD.

We end our look at the Labs of Microsoft Hardware by looking at one of the coolest rooms I've ever been in. It is the anechoic chamber in the Audio Lab. Now, I knew going in that this was going to be a quiet room. But I had no idea just how quiet. Even when you have the best soundproofing on your head, you're still subjected to vibrations through your entire body. This room is even vibration-proof. The results are almost scary, leaving you with a feeling that you've just disconnected from the world.

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 5 of 6

Larry Larsen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:12:00 GMT

You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD.

Today we look at the Reliability Lab, where more devastation is rained upon Microsoft products than at a WWDC parking lot. Cables are pulled, stains are applied, even a fake Sun is cast upon our plastic, all in an effort to give you products that can take abuse with the best of them.

See all previous videos here.

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 4 of 6

Larry Larsen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:07:00 GMT

Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD.

Today we look at the Video Lab, where webcams are tested against subjective and objective measures to make sure that they give you an accurate picture, but also to make you look your best when the conditions and lighting in the room are bad.

See all previous videos here.

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 3 of 6

Larry Larsen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:18:00 GMT

You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD. Over the coming days you'll see the Mouse Testing Lab, the Model Shop (with all the really cool upcoming stuff hidden, sorry), the Wireless Lab, the Video Lab, the Reliability Lab, and the Acoustic Lab.

Today's lab is the Wireless Lab, where Faraday cages are used to test the noise and interference of wireless products to make sure they play nice with all the other gadgets in your house.

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 2 of 6

Larry Larsen — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:34:00 GMT

You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD. Over the coming days you'll see the Mouse Testing Lab, the Model Shop (with all the really cool upcoming stuff hidden, sorry), the Wireless Lab, the Video Lab, the Reliability Lab, and the Acoustic Lab.

Today's lab is the Model Shop, where designers and fabricators work together to create the rough designs that are used to get an idea of what the finished product will look and feel like.

The Labs of Microsoft Hardware 1 of 6

Larry Larsen — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:30:00 GMT

You may have heard that Microsoft recently expanded the campus a little, one of the teams that had grown out of their space was Microsoft Hardware. The hardware team invited me over to see The Labs of Microsoft Hardware and check out the process behind creating and testing products like the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 and the Lifecam Cinema HD. Over the coming days you'll see the model shop (with all the really cool upcoming stuff hidden, sorry), the Wireless Lab, the Video Lab, the Reliability Lab, and the Acoustic Lab.

Today we're going to start with the Mouse Tracking Lab where mice are tested across a number of surfaces at various speeds and heights.

Meet the Industrial Design Team

Larry Larsen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:09:00 GMT

Truth be told, I'm just a huge fan of the Arc Mouse. I like everything about it and along with earbuds and phone it's a gadget that I always tend to have in my pocket. Recently while sitting on hold I spent far too long fascinated by the mouse and all the considerations that were taken in by the designers. It's time we introduce you to the folks who come up with Microsoft's hardware. They are Ralf Groene, Team Manager, Design Leads Monique Chatterjee and Jan Raken, and Industrial Designers Kate Bailey, Lindsey Kujawski, Chris Kujawski, and Anthony Reed.

I would have loved to show you the area they work in, but because far too many forthcoming miracles are in various states of foam and sketch around the room, it wasn't to be. But suffice to say it's one of the coolest spaces I've seen yet with offices circling a common space with Foosball and a kegerator. No cube farms here. So join me and meet the people who make it easy to take gadget comfort for granted.