TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

 Jazzmutant brings us further along with multi touch, retrofitting it into a 12 inch Fujitsu tablet pc. The most impressive elements to this device are in its user software. The video shows how an artist or designer could manipulate an image with one hand, while using the other to select various tools, or vary settings like zoom or rotation. This should immediately make the technology desired by graphic artists the world over.

In addition to this prototype shown at SIGGRAPH 07, Jazzmutant has shipping products like the Dextor, an innovative touch device for controlling audio.

There is no end to the imaginative uses people have been finding for multi touch technologies. The Reactable looks like a cousin to Microsoft’s Surface. It is, essentially, a multi-user musical instrument.

The reactable is a tangible electronic musical instrument that allows expressive collaborative live performances for professional musicians without the limits of many screen-based interfaces for electronic music. As its name suggests the reactable is a table-based instrument; it can be played by manipulating a set of objects that are distributed o n top of the table surface. Each of these objects has its dedicated function for the generation, modification or control of sound. Bringing these objects into proximity with each other constructs and plays the instrument at the same time. While the table is equipped with sensors for the identification and tracking of the objects, the players themselves do not (and must not) have to wear any controller devices. In addition to the sound which is obviously produced while playing, the reactable also provides additional visual feedback by projecting a visualization of the sound-flow onto the table surface.

Be sure to check out the link up top for more videos and information on other multi touch musical systems. We could not make this stuff up if we tried.

The first thing we thought of is that this Reactable would make a perfect addition to the iBar we featured recently.

Carol Mangis has a bit of a recap of Apple and Microsoft’s multi touch launches this year. She sings the praises of multi touch, and specifically MS Surface. A little tidbit of info that has escaped us until now was that Surface uses a barcode like technology (called Domino) to identify devices you want it to interact with.

This makes sense, and certainly simplifies things technically. However, until that technology is built into devices, it seems like a stop gap measure. Having to put a two cent sticker on the bottom of your device so the $10,000 Surface computer can interact with it seems a little silly to us.

Michael Brown has a posted an interesting read about how families are using computers these days. He comments how systems like the HP TouchSmart or a future multi touch Mac fill the needs families have in this digital age. Quick and easy access to their media is what Michael thinks families striving for. To do real work,  he sees people using laptops more and more.

Some of the issues surrounding multi touch focus on the useful application of the technology. The hardware seems ready, but seeing examples of compelling uses of the technology is a more daunting task. What about playing games? That is sure to appeal to a mass market. Mitsubishi and their DiamondTouch platform have a video of Warcraft III as played with multi touch.

It sure looks impressive, and entirely useful. Maybe the few video game arcades that are left could jump on this bandwagon.

This is not new, but we thought our readers who haven’t seen it would find it interesting.

iBar is a system for the interactive design of any bar-counter

Does anyone know any bars that employ this product? Would certainly be worth a visit to see it in action.

Aving has the scoop on a 42 inch LCD that allows for multi touch. The only described benefit of it so far is that a two finger touch will be seen as a double click (as illustrated in the picture). It is a small step, but an important one. We maintain the hardware seems ready, now bring on the touch friendly software.

Microsoft seriously needs to get this guy on board the Surface project. The stuff he is doing with multi touch and interfaces is absolutely ground breaking. Here is another video of his.

The most impressive aspect of this video is the audio commentary/interview. Jeff seems genuinely concerned with bringing multi touch to consumers. Initially the target market is small, as he alludes to with his response to cost, but it is reassuring to hear him suggest the technology will trickle down. We wish you the best of luck Jeff!

As Michael Parekh’s comments allude to, touch computing has an uphill battle to gain widespread acceptance. He makes valid concerns about why would it be desirable on desktops. However, it seems to us it just takes a change of thinking to see touch’s potential, as has been mentioned on here a few times.

HP’s SmartCenter software that they include with the TouchSmart PCs is a start, but more touch enabled applications need to be released to help consumers see the value.

Thanks to Multitouch.nl for these. The first video is an interactive demo of Microsoft’s Surface. It is nice seeing the presenter having to answer questions, as well, it does a fine job showing some of the practical applications for Surface. We might have to plan a stay at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas next year to get chance to play with Surface hands on.

We do not have any information about the next video. If you have any details about the following, please leave them in the comments. The unique aspect of this technology is that it tracks hands in 3d space, actual touch is not needed.