Microsoft’s Surface table is fairly large and very expensive.  And those are two factors that don’t mesh well with the general consuming public.  Microsoft gets that, so they’ve gone ahead and created a prototype version of their multitouch table called Mobile Surface.  Like its older brethren, Mobile Surface uses a projector/camera combo that allows you to interact with on-screen images.  Difference here is that the image projection can be displayed on any surface (making it portable) and it allows for in-air manipulation.  For example, as seen in the video above, you can play the drums without physically touching the tabletop.  Mobile Surface links up to a secondary device, like a cell phone or laptop, to indicate what you’re interacting with.  Pretty neat if you ask me.  Currently Mobile Surface is a Microsoft Research project and Microsoft did not comment on a potential mainstream release.

[Via Pocketlint; Engadget]