I got many excited emails in response to my post: Microsoft Surface: CAD data integration with personal devices? . The most popular question was "How does it work?" Popular Mechanics provides a glimpse into the technology.
The device uses a series of infrared cameras to see what is placed on its tabletop. It can read bar codes associated with particular devices. Just imagine if it could read the fingerprints on the tips of my fingers. Not only would I be able to manipulate digital data via touch, but the device would know that it was me! The CAD data that I had access to could pop up on the display simply with the touch of my finger. Check it out.