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Microsoft Invents Split Screen PC

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sun May 06, 2007 11:35 AM
from the let-me-have-less-please dept.
Microsoft
An anonymous reader writes "New technology from Microsoft Research India in Bangalore could end the waiting game in offices with limited computers. Researchers are developing software that splits a computer screen in two halves, each side with its own operating system, desktop, applications, cursor and keyboard." Mom! Timmy is on my side of the screen again!
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  • Fixed (Score:5, Funny)

    by fatduck (961824) * on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:36AM (#19011041)

    Researchers are developing software that splits a computer screen in two halves, each side with its own Vista CD-Key, desktop, Office 2007 license, cursor and keyboard. And don't even think about copying music from one side of the screen to the other, you pirate!

    • Re:Fixed (Score:5, Funny)

      by keird (519534) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:48AM (#19011131)
      it's like a guiness commerical.

      billg: you know how we've forced every computer user in the world to buy a copy of windows for their computer?
      steveb: yes
      billg: well, i've come up with a way to make them buy TWO copies of windows for each computer!
      steveb: brilliant!
      billg: brilliant!

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by suv4x4 (956391)
      Researchers are developing software that splits a computer screen in two halves, each side with its own Vista CD-Key, desktop, Office 2007 license, cursor and keyboard. And don't even think about copying music from one side of the screen to the other, you pirate!

      give them credit where credit is due. The same research facility came up with another similar technology where you can attach multiple (unlimited) mice to a single PC and all operate independently. This means that you can put many kids on a single c

      • Re:Fixed (Score:5, Interesting)

        by timeOday (582209) on Sunday May 06 2007, @12:53PM (#19011613)

        if you can have each OS copy on a separate monitor (most cards today handle 2 monitors at least by standard), it's a really really good thing to have.
        Putting several terminals on a computer is a fine idea which has been done since long before the invention of the PC. But this is different; they are actually splitting a single screen in two [discovery.com]. What a horrendous setup that is. And since the price of a display is superlinear in relation to its size, it wouldn't even be cheaper!

        • Re:Fixed (Score:4, Interesting)

          by Locutus (9039) on Sunday May 06 2007, @03:24PM (#19012709)
          An application window essentially splits the screen and could easily be sized to equally split a single screen in two parts. So, considering that the application is something like VNC and VNC is connecting to a virtual machine running on your computer then you already have two computers running on one computer with split screen support. The only thing they did was implement something like the dual-head/multi-user stuff being done with Linux for that past 4 or 5 years so that the host computer has multiple input I/O channels.

          go see http://www.userful.com/ [userful.com] and/or Google for "hp 441 linux multiuser multi-head"

          We're talking about some really basic 'remixing' here and it's not THAT wiz-bang IMO. Heck, VMware and VirtualBox already use VNC for their remote GUI display of VM's. But hey, glad to see Microsoft ReSearch catching on to stuff that's been around for quite some time on other platforms.

          LoB

        • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

          by Eivind (15695)
          True, I wondered about that.

          Having multiple users on a single computer at the same time is a fine idea. But why not put 2 users on, each with a 15" screen, instead of letting them share a 19" ? It'll give them more space, more freedom (you head doesn't have to be 10 inches from mine...) and would actually be cheaper.

          The idea is old though. Really old.

      • Re:Fixed (Score:4, Informative)

        by Coryoth (254751) on Sunday May 06 2007, @01:12PM (#19011767) Homepage Journal

        give them credit where credit is due. The same research facility came up with another similar technology where you can attach multiple (unlimited) mice to a single PC and all operate independently.
        Remarkable. I bet no one has ever thought of that before [unisa.edu.au]. This is why Microsoft is so successful. They come up with these ideas first, and then implement basic research prototypes that will likely never appear in any shipping product. By comparison open source and X11 has only managed a complete system that lets you hotplug as many mice and keyboards as like that you can install and have working right now.

      • Re:Fixed (Score:5, Funny)

        by Garabito (720521) on Sunday May 06 2007, @01:17PM (#19011817)
        Microsoft Research: The place where computer scientists produce cool ideas and innovations that never get into Microsoft products.

      • Targeting tech support? (Score:5, Interesting)

        by ushering05401 (1086795) on Sunday May 06 2007, @01:25PM (#19011879)
        It doesn't mention this in TFA, but tech support management apps that I have seen could easily fit on 1/2 a screen w/a tabbed interface. Your main tasks are to lookup the customers, record billable time, notate key points of the problem, read some stepped hep files, and pass it on if the fix is not simple.

        And considering this was developed in India there just might be something to this.

        Regards.

    • Re:Fixed (Score:4, Informative)

      by eraser.cpp (711313) on Sunday May 06 2007, @12:32PM (#19011475) Homepage
      To be fair, this is Microsoft Research we're talking about. They don't (directly) exist to fill Microsoft's pockets and mostly research problems/ideas broadly related to computer science. Many famous figures in CS work there, including the creators of LaTeX and Quicksort.
    • If necessary, a user can move her cursor to the other half of the screen, which opens the door on sharing and collaborating with documents.

      You are right there, just point at the screen. There's no need for virtual collaboration when you have physical collaboration. The ONLY time I can see this being a factor is if my colleague, who is having a heart attack, has the number to 911 in their Outlook Address book and I don't.

  • All it needs... (Score:5, Funny)

    by 6Yankee (597075) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:38AM (#19011061)
    ...is a Hello Kitty theme. I'd gladly suffer it just to piss the other guy off!

    • Microsoft just needs to innovate (Score:4, Interesting)

      by rolfwind (528248) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:49AM (#19011143)
      how to split the mouse and keyboard effectively (ergonomic split keyboard?).

      Otherwise, why not just use dumb terminals? Because sharing a computer jostling the person next to you is going to be a nightmare.

      Not to mention the suckage of having your side of the monitor always in ultra-narrow landscape mode when most programs and OSes aren't made for that. Vertical scrolling is okay, horizontal is just plain tedious.

  • Bill Gates quoted saying: (Score:5, Funny)

    by dotgain (630123) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:38AM (#19011063) Homepage Journal
    "that's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Microsoft."

  • Too late for April fools! (Score:5, Funny)

    by gvc (167165) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:39AM (#19011075)
    Two virtual desktops on one screen! What will they think of next?
    • Maybe they'll come up with the idea of putting virtual desktops on a cube?
    • How is this anything like virtual desktops, exactly?

    • Re:Too late for April fools! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Threni (635302) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:51AM (#19011161)
      Sharing a screen using a high refresh rate and lcd glasses that shows each user alternate frames?

    • Re:Too late for April fools! (Score:5, Funny)

      by goombah99 (560566) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:54AM (#19011191)
      Well they consider the fact that you have to have two keyboards a major issue, and the mouse for the person on the right is a problem as it elbow the guy on the right. TO fix this bombay engineerd have developed a new spoken and written language based on a 13 letter alphabet. Actually they have invented two languages. The first language uses the letters "QWERTYASDFGZXC" and the second language uses the letters "YUIOPGHJKLVBNM". Punctuation is only allowed in one language, and top engineers are still working on a base-5 math curriculum for schools.

      In a lab down the hall Microsoft chemists and psychologist are experimenting with drops that can be added to Milk to cause children to develop lefthanded allowing better mousing interaction when one child is lefthanded and one is right.

      An unexpected bonus on the 13 letter alphabet was that now the keyboard can be used one handed allowing the griping hand to hold the mouse all the time. Apparently this is fully engaged mouse posture is helping productivity in the telephone sales boiler rooms of calcutta.

      Problems have arrisen between children unable to speak each others language, and a caste system is developing in which the left-screeners or "sinisters" are considered unclean.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by hawaiian717 (559933)

        TO fix this bombay engineerd have developed a new spoken and written language based on a 13 letter alphabet.

        Actually, there's already a language out there with a 13 letter alphabet: Hawaiian [wikipedia.org].

      • Re:Too late for April fools! (Score:4, Funny)

        by Saxophonist (937341) on Sunday May 06 2007, @01:14PM (#19011785)

        13 letter alphabet... "QWERTYASDFGZXC"... "YUIOPGHJKLVBNM"...

        You forgot to mention that there will have to be a protocol developed for sharing the Y and G keys which appear in both of the fourteen-letter alphabets...

      • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward

        a caste system is developing in which the left-screeners or "sinisters" are considered unclean.
        No wonder. The left-screeners are the ones who get caps lock. And their only punctuation is the exclamation point. Can you imagine?

        WE R GREAT!!!!!!! WE 133T!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE #1!!!!!~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!
  • Jetway Magic Twin MiniQ Computer [anandtech.com]

    One of our favorite things on slashdot! The obligatory "This isn't news, I've been doing it for X years!" post

  • Dupe! [slashdot.org]

    Well, sort of.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by myyrk (660336)
      How was he supposed to know it was a dupe, it was on the other half of the screen and since wasn't sharing a keyboard and mouse he didn't think he was supposed to share the screen as well.

  • Would work better with this.. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ironwill96 (736883) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:41AM (#19011085) Homepage Journal
    If you look at the article the whole idea seems rather silly due to extremely limited screen real estate. It would be much better to do this idea in conjunction with this Sharp TV/Monitor that was announced a while back: http://news.cnet.co.uk/monitors/0,39029684,3919085 1,00.htm [cnet.co.uk]

    That way each user gets the full monitor but can be using the two operating systems completely separately. That way you get the same physical real estate being taken up and don't have to buy two completely different machines. Still, I don't think the idea in general is overly practical. Can you imagine sharing your cubicle with Bob the slob working right next to you all day every day?

  • Crash! (Score:4, Interesting)

    by gcostanzo (938305) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:41AM (#19011089)
    Can the two OS's crash into eachother?
  • how the hell am I supposed to surf porn in peace at work if someone else is sharing the same monitor as me? Well, unless she's cute, I guess...

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      how the hell am I supposed to surf porn in peace at work if someone else is sharing the same monitor as me? Well, unless she's cute, I guess...


      Perfect logic.

  • ...I'm running AROS hosted on Linux.... wait a minute....ok, now I'm running two instances of AROS on Linux.... wait a minute... Ok now 4...now if I put each on it own workspace....hahah I have prior art for four... uh err, 5 running....

    So what this is really about is trying to justify MS selling more OSs to a company than a company has hardware for.....

    So quick someone patent the split computer chair that holds two people and simply say no to MS.

  • Obviously a Microsoft product. (Score:5, Funny)

    by copponex (13876) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:50AM (#19011157) Homepage
    So, listen, we've really been working on a solution to customer complaints about the high cost of Vista licensing. So, here it is: we'll help you to afford licenses by keeping them at the same price, but offering technology that will allow you to share a computer and the screen so you can afford the licenses.

    Not having a computer for every employee should make Vista financially feasible for your organization. Plus, you get to participate in the Microsoft Buddy System, Or Binary User Licensing and Limited Software/Hardware Integration Team (BULLSHIT), and you get a MS Dubloon (redeemable for t-shirts and pens) for every time you report your very close neighbor for piracy. We would recommend waiting until he or she goes on break before reporting illegal activity. They're pretty much looking at your screen the whole time otherwise.

    Hey! Where are you all going? You get your own keyboard and mouse!

  • You young people..... (Score:5, Funny)

    by that this is not und (1026860) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:54AM (#19011195)
    You young people have it good. When I was a kid, we not only had to share one keyboard, we only had the ONE screen and had to each only use one half, or 40x12 apiece.

    Dad always derided our comments by mentioning that when HE was a kid, he had to share a punched card with all seven of his sibling, so they each only got 10 characters.

    Grandpa would chime in at this point about only getting to use half the dots on a morse code key, his three sisters got the other half of the dots and all the dashes.

  • Excellent. (Score:4, Funny)

    by FlyingSquidStudios (1031284) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:57AM (#19011211) Homepage
    Now if they figure out a way to reduce my ass by half, the person sharing my monitor can also share my chair!

  • Its a sure fire win for ..... (Score:5, Funny)

    by 3seas (184403) on Sunday May 06 2007, @11:59AM (#19011217) Homepage Journal
    ... micro management.....

    Ok so you have this 52" or DLP projector screen and the whole office working off of it.

    I can hear it now, as the manager tells Fred to move his cursor faster and Julie to stop slowing the computer down doing company graphics. While leroy on his break can no longer check to see how his stock is doing. Of course Jackson has to work after hours to do accounting as a matter of keeping the company numbers hidden from those who get paid less but do more.....

    Michael, That sentence you are writing should be done this way...

  • Siamese twins (Score:3, Funny)

    by Tribbin (565963) on Sunday May 06 2007, @12:04PM (#19011257) Homepage
    Apart from for Siamese twins, I don't see this being applied.

    Spare $$$ on the OS or office-suit; buy an extra monitor.
  • Exclusive photo [flickr.com]. :-)

  • When BSOD hits... (Score:5, Funny)

    by gentoofu (1028702) on Sunday May 06 2007, @01:47PM (#19012033)
    will it cover the entire screen or just the half of it?

  • Sun SparcStation (Score:3, Insightful)

    by lanner (107308) on Sunday May 06 2007, @02:27PM (#19012299) Homepage
    Wow, this like what my 1993 SparcStation 10 can do. You have a single CPU unit with multiple framebuffers, thus allowing for up to four sets of monitors, keyboards, and mice.

    I envision this as the only practical use of this technology; The ability to share a single computer between four office cubes of call-center workers, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

  • Obligatory Skinner (Score:3, Funny)

    by IntelliTubbie (29947) on Sunday May 06 2007, @04:57PM (#19013591)
    "Mother's gone too far. She'd put cardboard over her half of the television. We rented "Man Without A Face" - I didn't even know he had a problem!"

    Cheers,
    IT

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