In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the graphics shown on the panels in the USS Enterprise-D‘s bridge caught the attention of hardcore Trekkers. And the way the characters interacted with the ship computer was awesome, too. And now, LCARS is fast becoming a reality, thanks to Microsoft.

Microsoft? Yes, Microsoft.

Microsoft introduced yesterday at Wall Street Journal’s “D: All Things Digital” the Surface, a concept computer that will do away with keyboard and mouse. It is basically a table computer with a screen under a hard plastic table top, where interaction is by pen, touch, and voice. Though commercial production is geared for businesses like casinos and mobile phone shops at the moment, it is really exciting just to think of the possibilities. (After all, just put the Surface in an angle, and voila! Star Trek ship panels!)

Will this new Microsoft product reach warp 9? Or will it putter at mach 1 (like the Zune)? That remains to be seen, although the concept is exciting and sound.

I hope that the underlying OS in Surface is skinnable (my WinAmp skin is LCARS). LCARS-themed Surface, aye, Keptin.

(Star Trek’s relevance never fades. I suggest tech companies hire Mike Okuda.)