The device does not require the use of a traditional PC mouse or keyboard, and generally does not require training or foreknowledge to operate. Additionally, the system is designed to interact with several people at the same time so that content can be shared without the limitations of a single-user device. These combined characteristics place the Microsoft Surface platform in the category of so-called natural user interface (NUI), the apparent successor to the graphical user interface (GUI) systems popularized in the 1980s and 1990s.
The device's design allows for interaction with multiple individuals at once, enabling seamless content sharing without limitations imposed by single-user devices. This characteristic positions Microsoft Surface within the realm of natural user interface (NUI), which appears to be the successor to graphical user interfaces popularized in the 1980s and 1990s.