It seems that Microsoft is hoping that soon it will be hanging on the wall (or mounted on a stand) of every company conference room, or rather companies with quite a lot of spare cash. With a view to improve collaboration Microsoft has revealed one of its newest creations, a massive 4K resolution (55-84 inch) digital whiteboard called Surface Hub designed for the purpose of interactive videoconferencing. Microsoft boasts that the new innovation which was used at the Windows 10 preview event last week will put an end to not always fluid video-conferences in which whiteboards and projectors have traditionally been used.

On what Microsoft calls an “infinite canvas” that will “shine” with universal apps for Windows 10, users will be able to make notes with stylus pen (“as fluid as a pen”) and brainstorm from all corners of the globe, with options to bring up charts, graphs and 3D images and easily move them around the screen. Using devices running Windows apps, even if on Apple devices,  participants are able to share files with the screen, while with WiFi capabilities employees can simply Skype into the conference, and if they missed anything the entire meeting can be saved to the app and viewed later.

The screen, designed by Perceptive Pixel, will likely come at some cost. Although Microsoft hasn’t mentioned what businesses will be expected to pay (rumors suggest around 25,000 dollars), Perceptive Pixel in the past sold touchscreens for a whopping 80,000 dollars to mainstream media for the purpose of covering large events such as elections. It’s unlikely that Surface Hub will cost anywhere near that amount as Microsoft’s intention for the new product is not for use when the world is watching, but for any medium-sized or large company with money to spend and who values having all their people in the same room at the same time. Microsoft says Surface Hub will become available some time later in the year.

Photo credit: Microsoft