Open-Source Multitouch Display

shankar writes "Engineers at Eyebeam, an art and technology center based in New York, have created a scaled-down open-source version of Surface, called Cubit. By sharing the Cubit's hardware schematics and software source code, the engineers are significantly reducing the cost of owning a multitouch table. 'Multitouch displays are not new technology; in fact, they've been built in research labs for decades. Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs created an iconic multitouch table called DiamondTouch; more recently, Jeff Han, founder of Perceptive Pixel, based in New York, developed wall-sized multitouch screens that he sells to corporations and major government agencies. But because of the falling costs of many touch-screen components, such as infrared light sources and small cameras and projectors, it's now becoming feasible for people without access to a lab or venture-capital money to make their own multitouch displays.'"

Re:Benefits

[zappepcs]

I think the answer that you are looking for is that it allows joe sixpack (joe bloggs) to use a computer in a more natural fashion. Personally I manage to type at about 45-50 wpm and keyboard shortcuts as well as some mouse effects make me quite a bit more efficient than the low end of computer skills users.

With a multitouch surface and appropriate desktop UI software, it allows anyone to do things that they would be hindered in doing with keyboard and mouse. This type of interface is much more intuitive in as much as it works like our brain wants to work. That is not to say that it doesn't take learning, but it is easier/more natural to the way we work with other things in life. The keyboard and mouse are NOT natural interfaces.

Some demos I've seen let people work with documents and folders in much the way they would on their own desks with paper documents and folders. Ergonomics aside, I think this would help those who can least afford it the most.

Re:Yep...

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

And he used a Mac. Much cooler.

Uuuuh? You think that someone who's attempting to do something is cooler than someone with an actual finished product, that you can build yourself right now as the designer's have published the software & hardware schematics?

Seriously? What makes this kid's attempt at something much cooler than eyebeam's table?

(Oh, and your name is like my sig)