Microsoft Surface available for use next week

A new technological toy in the D.H. Hill Learning Commons area will give students the opportunity to help develop new applications as well as give library administration ideas for future uses.

Microsoft Surface debuts in the library next week.  Microsoft Surface is a gesture based device recently marketed.  The library intends for students to use the Microsoft Surface devices to explore and learn on their own, helping to create marketable skills.

N.C. State is one of few universities in the country to have this new technology.  According to Josh Boyer, associate head of distance learning and information services for the library, most Microsoft Surface devices are seen in a business setting.

"Very few universities have this advanced technology.  Most of the Surfaces are in a business setting, which makes it hard to play around with and learn the technology," Boyer said. "Unlike a business setting, our Microsoft Surfaces will be constantly evolving.  The University having this will help our students develop marketable skills.

Students can develop applications for the Microsoft Surface through Application Programming Interface, or API.  However, according to Boyer applications have to be tested on the Surface because of the technology it uses.

The University isnít stopping at just one Microsoft Surface either; soon, two Surfaces devices will be available for student use in the Learning Commons area.  After a period in the Learning Commons, where the games currently are, the two Microsoft Surfacesí will move to the new Technology Sandbox.

The library completed the Technology Sandbox over the summer.  This area, across from the Creamery in the Erdahl-Cloyd wing of the library, will soon serve as the home to technology the administration is considering placing in the Hunt Library upon its completion in 2012.   When the games are moved from the Learning Commons, they will also go to the Technology Sandbox.

Microsoft Surface has applications that serve as a type of demonstration as well as applications that have been developed by Library administration.  

To benefit incoming freshmen, the University developed an application called Concierge.  This will combine Google maps, campus maps and information students need. 

Shirley Rodgers, associate department head of systems for NCSU Libraries, demonstrated the Concierge application can be used to locate eating locations close to campus as well as locations on campus.

Some applications have a digital keyboard.  According to Rodgers, in the future, there will probably be a way for students to save things they do on the Surface to their university account. 

"When the Microsoft Surface is set up, there will most likely being a digital sign giving basic information as well as who to contact with questions or suggestions," said Boyer.  "Mostly though, we want students to touch the Surface and figure it out for themselves."

According to David Hiscoe, NCSU Libraries director of communications, the Surface is pretty intuitive. 

"If we put this out for all the N.C. State techies, theyíll figure out how to work it," said Boyer. 

There is no system set up with the Surface that will enable Library Administration to see which applications are the most used, according to Hiscoe.

"In one way or another, we will be able to see what students are doing," said Rodgers.  "With the applications we have developed, we can set up our own statistics."

According to Hiscoe, library administration will be available for student suggestions as well as watching to see what students are using.

"The main thing is, we want students to play with the Surface," said Boyer.  "Students can develop applications or tell us applications they want to see.  We need student input on this."