The weekend is here again fellow geeks and geekettes so I am back with another week in review. Monday more rumors surfaced that has Apple launching that long anticipated tablet device this November. The rumors further claim that the tablet will be aimed at gaming and media use. Early this week Verizon cut the pricing on all its smartphones save a few of the new ones to $99. That makes us think lots of new smartphone hardware is on its way.
Epson has entered into the world of surface computing with the X-Desk. The X-Desk is a 52″ screen that can recognize 16,000 objects simultaneously. Hit the jump for a video of it in action.
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
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
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
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
I can’t get enough of these DIY multitouch projects, in fact I’m hoping that the more companies like Microsoft see that there’s demand for large-scale, low-cost touchscreen technology, the more likely it is that they’ll release products that the less DIY-able among us (myself included) can tackle. This latest, by Christopher Jette, outwardly resembles a rear-projection TV, but in actual fact it’s a purpose-built multitouch displaythat uses the Frustrated Total Internal Reflection system to recognise multiple points of contact. As with many of the other projects, it relies on a hacked webcam, a standard projector and special software.
Check out the demo videos after the cut
ASUS continued their assault on the budget computing market this week, with the Eee PC 900 finally launching in the US while its Intel Atom powered sibling the PC 901 broke cover. We also saw a live photo of the Eee Box B202, a desktop version. It looks as though the rumors of a separate Eee brand could be true; the ASUS logo is notable for its absence on the new products. Meanwhile, OLPC and Microsoft finally shook hands on a Windows XP deal for the XO education notebook, and Fujitsu showed off their own Atom-based ultraportable, the U2010 UMPC complete with 3.5G WWAN and GPS.
Making DIY versions of Microsoft’s multitouch Surface table seems to be so popular, even Microsoft themselves are getting in on the action. Somewhat bizarrely, the company has developed another multitouch platform, this time coming in a whole lot cheaper than the $10k Surface. TouchWall basically relies on three infrared lasers that scan the surface of a plexiglass board, and an infrared camera to register any touch against it; in Microsoft’s demo of the system, they used a rear-projector, 4 x 6 foot plexiglass screen, and a basic Vista PC running the software app, Plex.
Check out the video demo of TouchWall after the cut
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