Las Vegas is Everyman's cut-rate Babylon. - Alistair Cooke

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has brought six Microsoft Surface tabletop computers into its iBar ultra-lounge for use and play by bar patrons. Cool. I cannot wait to get out there and try it out.Surface is a thirty inch tabletop computer that features an interface that allows several users to move data around with their hands on the tabletop. I really do not know what practical value that has, but I am not Microsoft.

The chief application is called Flirt. This is described as "an exciting new way to chat and meet people from one Surface to another. Strategically placed video cameras at each Surface add even more energy to the action, allowing guests to interact with old friends, flirt with new acquaintances, and take and send photos across the lounge." Cool. But, my significant other and business partner is probably not into this feature. Guests will also be able to play a variety of games, order specialty cocktails, view videos, and tour Vegas virtually.

The Microsoft Surface team blog has a video and a description of the first days' implementation of the project. Having spent significant time in the Rio, I doubt the tabletop will stay as clean, spill-free, and without ashes, as shown in the video.

I have checked out the schedule at the Rio to see if I could justify a convention trip on the business tab. No dice. The Institute of Internal Auditors have the next big convention out there in July (with the exception of a June seminar on Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities). Neither sound at all interesting (no offense internal auditors - Go Flirt with the other auditors!).