Here's a cool product, the Drift Table (via Metafilter ). Neat idea, but a little limited, don't you think? Also, it seems a little thick for a coffee table.

Here's my idea: Start with a 60" flat-screen HDTV. That's the display, and it happens to be just about the right size for a coffee table in terms of surface area. Put a sheet of thick glass (just like the ones used for glass-topped tables) over the display to protect it.

Under the display is the computer used to drive it. Use a laptop with the screen closed to keep the profile thin. The whole thing gets a brushed-titanium skin and legs, to give it a suitably high-tech look (the current one looks like an air hockey table, and that's no good).

I like the idea of having it display drifting images of terrain, based on weight distribution over the table, but why stop there? Any number of slowly-changing screen effects could be used, and a wireless keyboard and mouse used to change the settings.

I would estimate that this could all be done for under $10 grand.

Anyone want to give it a whirl?