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Linux MPX Multi-touch Alternative to MS Surface

Posted by CmdrTaco on 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."

4 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. "schmancy"? well la-di-da by icepick72 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It may not be as fancy-schmancy as Microsoft Surface

    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.

  2. So, does this mean... by jcr · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that someday soon, we can run Linux on a big-ass table?

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  3. Actually it's more impressive... by kebes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You know what makes the video demo in TFA more impressive that the Microsoft Surface demos I've seen?

    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).

  4. Re:Question: Common Practical Uses? by Tabernaque86 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Any company that has a drafting department should love it. Just develop a CAD program so you can work on a drawing on an actual "page" that could be displayed at 24"x36".

    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.