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Surface is a 30in multi-touch table computer which allows people to move and interact with the displayed objects without the need for a mouse or keyboard.

It can also recognise devices placed on its surface, allowing users to <

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top-up their mobile phones by laying the device down on the table or download photos from a digital camera.

Microsoft announced the technology last May, along with a $5,000 to $10,000 price bracket and an intention to ship the first models to customers in the gambling and retail industries.

At the time Microsoft said it would be looking at bringing down the price to consumer levels within five years. However, speaking at a recent analysts' conference, Steve Ballmer admitted that the company was now "following its nose" on a potential release date.

"We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror," Ballmer said, announcing the technology in May.

Surface was also demonstrated during Bill Gates's keynote speech at CES in January, as Microsoft begins to bolster awareness of the technology.