Microsoft has made a short video about our lab's work with the Microsoft Surface and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio. It is featured in an article on the Microsoft Research Connections Blog titled Learn How Robots Can Help When Disaster Strikes. 

"Robots that are used for search and rescue are essentially an extension of the human rescue team. Cameras, microphones, and other sensors that are attached to the robot transmit critical information to the rescue team, who typically controls the robot’s movement remotely. Until recently, rescuers who managed a search-and-rescue robot normally had to manipulate complicated joysticks, dials, and switches on a very elaborate controller with multiple electro-mechanical parts. As described in our blog entry last year, the robotics lab at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell (UML), has developed a natural user interface (NUI) controller that promises greater finesse and control of robots during search-and-rescue operations."

See Stewart Tansley's blog post to watch the video and for more information: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/msr_er/archive/2011/08/08/learn-how-robots-can-help-when-disaster-strikes.aspx