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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.'"
http://reactrix.com/
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.
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but the ways that it is being used are. With more powerful processors being smaller and cooler, now devices like the iPhone and the Surface can be built. In addition, these devices have only really become applicable in a time where people are already linked by technology, not 20 years ago when there was no processing power for such a device. One of the more interesting features of Surface is that it can detect digital cameras or cell phones placed on it and (somehow) download photos and videos from it, this too was worthless back in the day before these devices existed or became as common as the wristwatch. The iPhone would have been worthless without the processing power to run the animations used with multi-touch features and the desire for a device more versatile (in user interaction) than the traditional mobile phone or smart phone, which was already pretty good. Having an open source multi-touch kit doesn't provide the software that make devices like the iPhone and Surface what they are, but merely demonstrates to the average guy that multitouch is not a new idea and is easily implemented.
Here are Cubit's project websites:
http://nortd.com/cubit/
http://eyebeam.org/project/cubit
johnny chung lee's had it down for years: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/projects/wii/
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)
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
Seriously. Even if they just get the fire/water effects of compiz going with a device like this, it would be much more awesome than the demo videos. Could have a small table like this as an input device, and a larger screen to show all the compiz coolness. I don't have the requisite skills, but I hope someone in the community hears me :)
Geeks like to think that they can ignore politics, you can leave politics alone, but politics won't leave you alone.-rms
Maybe the problems it can solve are just not ones you ever have?
I'm an artist. When I do art in the real world I'm working on a big surface. When I do art in the computer I'm squinting at it through the lens of my laptop screen. I would much rather spend about $1000 for a table-size display I could draw directly onto than the $2500 a 21" Cintiq tablet would cost.
If your main use for the computer is "writing" - whether it be code, text, mail, irc, or whatever - then yes, a keyboard is your best choice.
egypt urnash minimal art.