Multi-touch surface for UNK’s Computer Science department

While an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, I spent some a good deal of time researching, constructing and learning about programming for DIY multi-touch surfaces. To me, multi-touch surfaces represent a shift in casual computing workflows away from traditional desktop machines (keyboards, mice, screens, etc) and towards more natural methods of interaction that are more aligned with the way we communicate with each other and objects in our common environments.

First FTIR prototype

Although this post will primarily focus on the latest multi-touch surface, I actually constructed a prototype FTIR surface before this blog was created. With help from Philip Lempke and Jess Bazer, a wooden enclosure approximately {dimensions} in size was built, inside which is an adjustable mirror, projector and camera assembly. On top of the enclosure was a sheet of Endlighten acrylic with strips of IR LEDs on it’s edges.

This original prototype took a considerable amount of research, effort and work to construct, but as any experienced maker will tell you, that’s where the real learning happens! Ultimately, the surface was not successful, and was disassembled in favor of a more simple, modern design.

New LLP prototype

Following the completion of the original FTIR prototype, I knew that there were many improvements to make. However, there were so many improvements needed that it seemed just as viable to construct a new multi-touch surface using the experience I gained from the first prototype. The most important lesson required a fundamental re-design of the system used to illuminate users’ fingers as they touch the surface. Essentially, where the old system used IR LEDs shining through the surface, the new system would use IR lasers shining just over the top of the surface. Much more detailed information about this technique can be found here:

Based on töken multi-touch surface
Steel structure fabricated and powder coated locally
Adam Zheng and Tyler McConville helped by installing and calibrating the laser system
Webcam is analyzed by Community Core Vision, which outputs touch events using the TUIO protocol.

In my Interactive and Generative Art class, Tyler McConville built a touch-based color mixing app and demoed it at the 2011 Interactive and Generative Art Class