DIY multitouch isn’t new – we’ve featured quite a few home-grown rivals to Microsoft’s Surface here on SlashGear – but MaximumPC’s tutorial does stand out by virtue of its completeness. Thanks to having a spare PC and projector to hand, they spent just $350 on making their multitouch table.
Video demo after the cut
Could it be that the traditional multitouch table has become passé? After various iterations of DIY and commercial products – not forgetting Microsoft’s own Surface, of course – the challenge moves on to better controlling 3D visualisations through a more flexible interface than a flat screen. Into the fray steps French firm Immersion with their iliGHT project, using a cube controller to better manipulate 3D environments.
Video demos after the cut
Some of our most popular netbook pages here on SlashGear are those describing DIY touchscreen projects, where a touch-sensitive layer is added to the budget ultraportable’s display. There are already kits available on eBay and elsewhere offering straightforward 7- and 8.9-inch panels, but what we’ve lacked to date is a really simple tutorial – something that takes you from stock Eee PC to touchscreen marvel. Happily, courtesy of argentum, such a guide is now available.
When mashup artists The ECC (Evolution Control Committee) needed a faster way to trigger any of hundreds of loops in their live shows, they ditched the mouse and instead hacked together a rear-projection touchscreen. Rather than some of the DIY multitouch displays we’ve seen before, the ECC setup uses two Wiimote controllers and a pair of custom LED gloves.
Demo video of the system in action after the cut
As Apple’s flagship laptop, the MacBook Pro arguably has an easier time than the MacBook. With a reputation of superlative performance and style, the Pro is targeted at an audience who, to stereotype a little, has higher priorities than budget than those looking at the MacBook segment. It’s a double-edged sword, though: since the last MacBook Pro refresh the laptop has faced fresh competition from Voodoo’s slick, niche range, as well as capable (if a touch more mainstream) models from HP, Lenovo and others. Apple’s retort is a MacBook Air-inspired casing and dual-graphics; is it enough to keep the MacBook Pro on top?
If Microsoft won’t return your calls and the thought of DIY fills you with dread, Atracsys may have the multitouch table for you. The atracTable is a custom-built multitouch surface available in anything up to 50-inches diagonal, capable of recognizing an unlimited number of finger contact points as well as individually ‘tagged’ objects such as cellphones, other mobile devices, books or even drinks.
Check out the video demo of the atracTable multitouch system after the cut
CityWall is an interactive multitouch project open to public experimentation at the Lasipalatsi medical center in Helsinki, Finland. Developed by the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, CityWall currently offers passers-by a 3D GUI to explore the benefits and nuisances of urban nature. It’s able to recognize an unlimited number of fingers touching the screen and uniquely identify them.
Check out the video demo of CityWall after the cut
NORTD have announced the latest version of their TouchKit DIY multitouch system, together with pricing. The system uses a plastic screen with embedded IR LEDs and a modified camera capable of recognising reflected IR light. Put together, with the included software, and you can create your own fledgling version of Microsoft’s Surface multitouch table.
Check out the video demo of TouchKit v.2 after the cut
For anybody wanting to jab rather than click on their iMac, Troll Touch offer a DIY touchscreen kit that adds a finger-sensitive layer to the front of the slick desktop system. Available for both 20 and 24-inch iMacs, the new touch panels join a range that already caters for Apple’s laptops and Cinema Displays.
Check out the demo video after the cut
Touchscreen manufacturer N-trig could be the people to bring my large-scale multitouch dreams to fruition. While Microsoft’s Surface is way too expensive, and DIY versions a little too complicated for the average Joe, N-trig are claiming that their DuoSense screens are ready for OEMs and ODMs to start integrating in mainstream products. Combining both digital pen input and capacitive touch, DuoSense offers all the usual MultiTouch features including rotating, stretching & shrinking and playing multi-player games.
Check out the demo video of N-trig DuoSense in action after the cut
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