Johnson Controls Uses Microsoft Surface to Showcase Solutions for Sustainability

REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 25, 2010 — Johnson Controls, the global multi-industrial leader in providing energy efficiency and sustainability solutions, is taking unique advantage of Microsoft Surface technology to display and assess its energy-efficient solutions for commercial buildings.

Johnson Controls is using Surface, Microsoft Corp.’s massive multitouch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real-world objects, to display customized applications that show key data and information from its industry-leading Metasys® building management system and enterprise information solutions. Both systems gather information from one or multiple buildings to gain visibility to improve energy efficiency and operations. With its massive multitouch, multiuser functionality, Surface offers Johnson Controls a unique way to access and interact with scale graphs, pictures, video and other related information more effectively. In addition, the large horizontal form factor allows for a more collaborative experience among multiple users.

“The Surface technology offers a new way for our customers to look at their building and identify ways to make it more comfortable, safe, productive and energy-efficient — all with a touch of a finger,” said Laura Farnham, vice president, Global Controls Line of Business, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls. “This is the type of innovation that Johnson Controls continuously brings to its customers, and we are excited for the possibilities that this technology can offer end users.”

Microsoft Surface helps businesses enhance communication and more efficiently deliver information and services to their customers. It is an innovative computing platform that responds to touch, natural hand gestures and real-world objects placed on the display, providing effortless interaction with information and digital content in a simple and intuitive way. With a large, 360-degree, horizontal user interface, Microsoft Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with content and each other.

“Businesses today are looking for ways to cut costs and reduce their impact on the environment at the same time,” said David Graff, director of U.S. automotive and industrial equipment industry solutions, Microsoft. “Johnson Controls offers a wealth of solutions that help companies do this, and now with Surface, they’re able to demonstrate the full spectrum of their offerings in a visual, compelling way.”

Microsoft Surface moves beyond traditional computing interfaces to a more natural way for users to interact with information. Four key attributes make Microsoft Surface unique. The first is its horizontal form factor, which makes it easy for several people to gather around together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face, multiuser computing experience. Microsoft Surface’s massive multitouch capability recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, which allows for the movement and interaction of several items at once by multiple users. Direct interaction allows users to “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard. Lastly, with object recognition capability, users can place physical objects on the display to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, the company creates smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Johnson Controls’ team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability drives its environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in workplaces and communities, and the products and services provided to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

For more information, press only:

Jen Spark, Ruder Finn, (617) 784-3245, [email protected]

Caitlin McCabe, Microsoft, (646) 220-2261, [email protected]

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