Linux MPX Multi-touch Alternative to MS Surface

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."

Re:Hardware seemed the issue

[ArcherB]

A traditional touch-screen monitor can only read one touch at a time.

Then we should break from tradition. [multi-touchscreen.com]

I'm sure cash is a limiting factor at this point, however.

MS Motion-Detect is more like

[djupedal]

MS 'Surface' is an array of cameras that motion-detect. The cameras are below the surface and they are responsible for all proxy work done between user and the system.

There is no interaction with the 'surface' other than to prescribe a boundary layer (zone) for the cameras to baseline.

Re:Actually it's more impressive...

[dave420]

How is it impressive? The microsoft demo showed a mobile phone being put on the table, it being recognised, and files being sent to/from the device. That's not been done before in such a fashion. Having google maps on a touch-screen isn't new in the slightest. It's not integrating anything new. The MS device had a whole different bunch of applications shown on it. As it can be so much more than just a desktop - a new way of interacting with a computer - showing it acting as a desktop is a bit short-sighted and uninspired :)

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?

Re:MS Motion-Detect is more like

[figleaf]

Apparently there is more than one group at Microsoft developing multi-touch capabilities using different techniques.
Here is one without cameras: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulwA3n8AYM0 [youtube.com]

Re:"schmancy"? well la-di-da

[nagora]

Linux is NOT an Operating System it is a Kernel. An operating system is Gentoo, Red Hat, etc..

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

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

There is a TouchTable with real applications

[streak]

Everyone keeps forgetting that TouchTable, Inc. [touchtable.com] already sells a 'multi-touch' table with a real application (that is actually being used!).

Re:"schmancy"? well la-di-da

[iluvcapra]

Besides the fact that the "fancy-schmancy" MS Surface looked a lot more functional than this MPX thing.

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 would ever), while the "MPX" project is built on X and you could install it on GNU/Linux or BSD tomorrow.

The Surface belongs with Nuveena in the Kitchen of Tomorrow.