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Linux MPX Multi-touch Alternative to MS Surface
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:02 AM
from the touch-me-there-no-lower-no-a-little-lower dept.
from the touch-me-there-no-lower-no-a-little-lower dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Gizmodo has published an article (with video) on the Linux-based free alternative to MS Surface along with a quite interesting interview with its creator, Peter Hutterer.
"It may not be as fancy-schmancy as Microsoft Surface or Jeff Han's demos but this video of a Linux-based MPX multi-touch table shows that things are moving full speed ahead in the land of the free penguins. We talked with developer Peter Hutterer, who gave us his insight on the project, the iPhone and the ongoing multi-touch craze."
He talks about Jeff Han's work, MS Surface and defines the iPhone as "not the first in what it's doing, but definitely a huge impact" in the field."
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MultiMeh... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:MultiMeh... (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Bah! (Score:2)
-jcr
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Multitouch is not about dragging around multiple legacy apps at the same time; that is just to keep supporting old software in a seamless matter. What MPX does is it provides an interface which integrates the physical world and a computer far more seamlessly than is possible with a mouse and keyboard.
That is going to be the big push in IT for some time now, I beli
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
"schmancy"? well la-di-da (Score:5, Insightful)
I love how the community words stuff, sounds like a child being envious of big brother syndrome. I don't consider Microsoft offerings superior to others, just pointing out the wording and what is sounds like. I hear that kind of stuff way too often. Linux should be comfortable in what it is and not feel the need to compare.
Re:"schmancy"? well la-di-da (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Linux isn't comfortable or not as it's an OS but I disagree with your assertion that the community should be comfortable with the state the OS is in as it's no where near good enough to compete with more polished systems.
Until the day that Linux is just as easy to use as Windows/OS X and the professional application base is the same, the community will need to continue the push towards greatness. While that day may never come, I can
Re: (Score:2)
Linux is NOT an Operating System it is a Kernel. An operating system is Gentoo, Red Hat, etc..
Just because your personal opinion is that Windows or OSX is "better" doesn't make it true. Just as the opposite is true but based on your lac
Re:"schmancy"? well la-di-da (Score:4, Informative)
An operating system controls access to the hardware. Linux is an example.
Gentoo, Red Hat etc are application suites. Bash is not part of an operating system, it is an application, just like Inkscape or Word, or Emacs
TWW
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
The MPX vides just didn't seem to track the motion as well as the MS Surface video demonstrated. If "fancy-schmancy" means "more responsive", then give me fancy-schmancy any day.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Except the most compelling feature of the Surface, the ability to recognize objects placed on it, was faked for the purpose of demonstration. All the objects placed on the surface had large barcode stickers (called "domioes" [arstechnica.com]) placed on the side facing toward the Surface (and conveniently away from the camera.)
One also hastens to add that the Surface ran no form of operating system Microsoft sells (or wo
Re: (Score:2)
Even without comparison to Microsoft there are various things that don't appear polished with this MPX and Linux in general. While I do agree it's often taken too far, I think some level of
Re: (Score:2)
fancy-schmancy == Ready for the public.
sorry, but thats the first thought I had...
Re: (Score:2)
Re:"schmancy"? well la-di-da (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, until now. But with vi running on my coffee table, things are going to change around here!
Parent
So, does this mean... (Score:5, Funny)
-jcr
mod it up! (Score:2)
Ke? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
So this means I can hook up two usb touchpads and do the two-handed flipping thing/finger-paint with both hands at the same time, it seems. To me, this is more interesting than
Why not... (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.instructables.com/id/EJIXKOEF3ER7VN5/?
Hardware seemed the issue (Score:3, Interesting)
Also, I don't think it would have taken much to add Beryl for that extra bling that MS can't offer.
Re: (Score:2)
A traditional touch-screen monitor can only read one touch at a time.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Then we should break from tradition. [multi-touchscreen.com]
I'm sure cash is a limiting factor at this point, however.
Question: Common Practical Uses? (Score:3, Interesting)
Maybe it's just me, but I'm not seeing any widespread practical use for this critter outside of some extreme niches (e.g. kiosk or limited industrial or medical machine interfaces).
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Storage? How often do you store things on the surface where you use your computer?
Easily... I can jam paper items that need attention under the monitor (e.g. bills), the bucket o' caffeine (say, a 20 oz. bottle of soda or cup of coffee) sits somewhere next to the keyboard, blank CDs/DVDs, geek sticks, etc etc etc... clutter items all, but in the current setup, none of it blocks my view of the screen, or hinders my typing on the keyboard.
Stuff like that.
Re:Question: Common Practical Uses? (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, save the CAD file to a PDF, e-mail it to the client, and he can view the drawing package in full on their table, "Red Line" it/mark it up, save it, and e-mail it back.
Considering a package can run from ten to a hundred drawings, this potentially saves a ton of paper and other resources.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
This technology will be soon implemented in such unheard of places as conference rooms, executive boardrooms, public kiosks and convention displays.
Kiosks I could see - an interactive "you are here" sorta map/info center... the expense might limit how many get used, though I like the idea...
Board/conference rooms? Good idea. We're still at a place where everyone brings their own PDA's or laptops to show off the latest Powerpoint-built labor-of-love, so that'll have to be factored in. I suppose that some sort of driver could be plugged into to translate not only outbound video, but mouse inputs (then again, don't they have similar rigs already, at
Actually it's more impressive... (Score:5, Insightful)
This demo uses real applications! It's easy for MS (or whoever) to throw together a video of someone using a neat interface. You see all kinds of slick animations of photo-libraries and data being automatically uploaded to cellphones. The problem is it's probably all fake--the visual equivalent of a mockup. Basically they are showing you the way they *hope* it will look at work. If you look at some of the older Vista demos (before it was released) you'll see alot of mockup video that was never realized into actual code.
In this demo, they actually start by using Google Earth and scrolling through webpages. The fact that they are using real applications is much more impressive. It makes me believe that they may have something functional in a reasonable amount of time. It also shows that they are thinking about it as an extensible platform that can run generic software, rather than something locked-down that will only run approved code (i.e. just a really big PDA interface, rather than a novel way to interface with existing computer hardware and software).
I'll be impressed when... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Actually it's more impressive... (Score:5, Informative)
Or do you think MS were somehow incapable of getting google earth to run on a computer? Because that's the only assertion you've made that, if true, would make this offering "more impressive" than that from MS. Or, maybe, these guys didn't have the ability to make new applications, and had no choice but to use some really basic stuff somoene else had made, that's been knocking around for years?
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
1. It shows the power of X.
2. It works within and "extends" existing frameworks.
This makes it way cooler than .
With MPX, you're starting from all of the tools of "legacy" X, and all your "legacy" applications work.
X development is getting very exciting; and MPX and/or Compiz are just two examples of this.
Re: (Score:2)
There is variety of tools to record such demos and replay them and no-one would notice the difference. I've done some demos myself because I really didn't want to make live demos everytime some customer visited our website :) We even did one demo where we were supposed to show how files move through IPSEC tunnel and how system is able to roam between LAN/WLAN/Dialup at the same time. Well, everything worked for about minute or so, then the system crashed and had to be rebooted. Our clever marketing droid bl
Arbitrary window rotation? (Score:3, Insightful)
Everything should be vector drawn, so theoretically it shouldn't be a problem. But it will require pretty high resolution to keep from getting too fuzzy of text. At least that's how it seems to me.
Re:Arbitrary window rotation? (Score:4, Funny)
The one without any windows can pick up his chopsticks and eat.
Parent
GAH! Stop! (Score:2)
On the other hand, I think this has to be a record with a new technology getting Linux support. It used to be you'd have to wait a while
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
MS Motion-Detect is more like (Score:4, Informative)
There is no interaction with the 'surface' other than to prescribe a boundary layer (zone) for the cameras to baseline.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Here is one without cameras: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulwA3n8AYM0 [youtube.com]
Re:MS Motion-Detect is more like (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't understand all the sour grapes associated with this. While I have no use for the interface it's not to say something worthwhile can't be produced.
Parent
demo shows flakiness (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe the mouse still has some advantage?
I found it funny that.. (Score:2)
The big problem with tabletop displays... (Score:3, Interesting)
There is a TouchTable with real applications (Score:3, Informative)
Software! (Score:5, Interesting)
You know, Microsoft didn't invent this multi-touch stuff, and neither did Apple. Its been around as research projects for years. So why is the MS version such a big deal?
Software!
See, the real hard part about all this is the fact that you need to come up with a completely new set of UI conventions and implement a completely new set of applications in order to make it a useable product. Until now with MS, nobody's done that.
From the article, this MPX thing seems to consist of nothing more than a modified X server, running "normal" (i.e., designed for a single cursor) applications. Therefore, it is not nearly as impressive as the MS Surface.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
From the article, this MPX thing seems to consist of nothing more than a modified X server, running "normal" (i.e., designed for a single cursor) applications. Therefore, it is not nearly as impressive as the MS Surface.
Forget "impressive" - let's talk "practical". (warning: impending car analogy...)
One of these two I might or might not see in the indeterminate future; sort of like looking at a "concept car". The other I can likely put to use right now, with only the matter of getting my mitts on the right parts to do it; sort of like looking at a "custom car".
One of these two uses parts that haven't been invented yet, and may or may not even work. The other uses common parts that anyone can put to use.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Microsoft Surface uses Diffused Illumination, which is so far the easiest and most effective way to do these.
The iPhone uses a capacitive touch screen to do its magic. Slightly less fun since is not an easy do-it-yourself thing and it costs significantly more money the bigger your screen gets...
Surface and other (big) multitouch tables tend to use "optical touch
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
funny coming in with an article praising linux for ripping of ms.
but then again what can we expect from people who also think that ripping off unix is innovation?