[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3HGfIy_zCI[/youtube]

A new product from Microsoft Research. The Sphere comes from the same Microsoft Researchers that developed the Surface, aka “PlayTable”.

The touch-controlled Sphere can sense multiple, simultaneous contacts, allowing a number of people to use it at the same time.

In this video, researchers show several applications in use, manipulating photos, videos and panoramic images. They also play Sphere Pong.

The system works by projecting an image onto the inside of the sphere, while infrared technology senses the touch input. The device was developed by Hrvoje Benko, who describes it in his blog, working with Andy Wilson and Ravin Balakrishnan.

Via ZDNet