MULTITOUCH DOCUMENTATION


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Introduction

In this documentation we refer to the realization of a Multi Touch Table in the winter
semester 08/09. The general basis for our documentation was the hardware documentation
of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland – School
of Engineering. This document serves as a supplementation for the mentioned documentation
and shall not substitute it. That’s why we apply to particular hardware
elements which were optimized in our construction. Furthermore the application spectrum
of such Interfaces shall be shown.

Why Multi Touch?

This project blends well in the content of the current Pathways Interface Design of
the Merz- Akademie - University of Applied Arts. This project concerns possibilities to
investigate new interfaces between man- machine and man- machine- man. The technology
Multi Touch is already used in an intensive manner concerning mobile phones,
PDAs, terminals et al.
It is conspicuous that this technology is merely designed as an Input- Device for only
one person. Actually, one of the most interesting things is the input and the interaction
of several persons at the same time.
An example is the entertainment industry. Entertainment software is a result of our
project and it brings into focus that several players act at the same time (see „Tabletop“,
„Game Console“). Other possible applications are daily labour situations where
new working constellations result from using Multi-Touch/Multi- User Interfaces. An
example for such a project is a digital light table which allows to sort, to elect and to
deal with pictures in common.

Beamer/mirror and camera

To extend the light path of the beamer and to get a undistorted image projection
screen we decided to use four 45° angles to fix the mirror. Two two
centimeter thick plexiglass angles were ordered to guarantee the stability
of the construction. Those modules are fixed on the aluminium profiles and
it is possible to switch and to adapt the images on the projection screen.
In addition it is impossible that deformation might appear on the projection
screen. The beamer is fixed on the middle profile of the sidewall. The displacement
and the positioning of the beamer allow a vernier adjustment.
The camera is placed underneath the beamer with a thread rod. It films
the projection screen above a mirror. The IR-light, which is reflected downwards
90 degrees onto the mirror, by pushing on the glasplate with your
finger, is tracked by the camera.