Building Interactive Multi-Touch Surfaces
Johannes Schöning, Jonathan Hook, Nima Motamedi, Patrick L. Olivier, Florian Echtler, Peter Brandl, L. J. Müller, Florian Daiber, Otmar Hilliges, Markus Loechtefeld, Tim Otto Roth, Dominik Schmidt, Ulrich von Zadow · Journal of Graphics Tools · 2009
Multi-touch interaction with computationally enhanced surfaces has received considerable attention in recent years. Hardware implementations of multi-touch interaction such as frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) and diffused illumination (DI) have allowed for the low-cost development of surfaces. Although many of these technologies and associated applications have been presented in academic settings, the practicality of building a high-quality multi-touch—enabled surface, both in terms of the software and hardware required, are not widely known. We draw upon our extensive experience as developers of multi-touch technology to provide practical advice in relation to building and deploying applications upon multi-touch surfaces. This includes technical details of the construction of optical multi-touch surfaces, including infrared illumination, silicone compliant surfaces, projection screens, cameras, filters, and projectors, and an overview of existing software libraries for tracking.