Hrvoje Benko has some info about a prototype interactive spherical display on his blog today.
Our prototype device builds on a commercially available globe projection system (Global Imagination’s Magic Planet). We have added touch-sensing capabilities with an infrared camera that shares the optical path with the projector. This novel configuration permits us to enclose both the projection and the sensing mechanism in the base of the device and allows for easy 360 degrees access to the device and high degree of interactivity without shadowing or occlusion problems. We have also developed a custom graphics projection pipeline that solves the distortion problems and enables projected data to be correctly visualized on the curved surface.
PC World New Zealand have additional commentary;
Microsoft is thinking outside the box when it comes to futuristic computer designs — literally.
The company today is showing off a prototype of its Sphere computer at Microsoft’s Research Faculty Summit in Redmond, Wash. The Sphere, which is a research prototype and not a finished product, is a multi-user, touch-sensitive display. An orb replaces a traditional flat-screen monitor
… and Gizmodo has more pictures and some additional technical background.
Fun technology.