Multitouch

Technolog
y
Technical Report

Souranil Sen
 SOURANIL SEN
b.tech
4th semester
Information technology
Roll no. : 08130002048
 Report
on

Multitouch technology

Submitted
to
Paulomi Mukhopadhyay
Lecturer,English Dept.
Techno India,Saltlake

By 
Souranil Sen
4th Semester
Information Technology,Techno India
CERTIFICATE
 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To,
Mrs. Paulomi Mukopadhyay
Lecturer, English Department,
Techno India, Saltlake

Date :30 April,2010

Subject: Submission of Report on the effect of increased atmospheric carbon

Dear Madam,

As agreed we are submitting the report entitled Multitouch technology . The multitouch technology is
is an enhancement to touchscreen technology, which provides the user with the ability to apply
multiple finger gestures simultaneously onto the electronic visual display to send complex commands to
the device.In this report I am going to not only give the details of the technology but also of a few
breakthrough applications of this technology such as the Microsoft Surface,iPad,iPod etc. These deal
with interfacing the UI with our daily life things and our mixing up with our life itself . I hope you find the
report interesting and upto the mark.

Thanking You

Yours Sincerely,
Souranil Sen
4th Semester,
Information Technology,
Techno India, Saltlake
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project could not have been prepared, if not for the help and encouragement
from various people. Hence for the same reason I would like to thank to my guide
teacher Mrs. PAULOMI MUKOPADHYAY.

It was for her support that I got proper guidelines for preparing this project. First of
all it was because of the internet I came to know of this mind blowing
technological breakthrough from Microsoft , Apple etc . So,I would like to
acknowledge www.google.com , www.youtube.com , www.microsoft.com ,
www.apple.com
etc.

- Souranil Sen
 CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

II. MULTITOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

III.HOW IT WORKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

IV. HOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON HOW WE INTERACT . . . . . . . . . 6

V. IS MULTITOUCH THE FUTURE OF INTERACTION . . . . . . . . . . . .7

VI. THE ADVANTAGE OF MULTITOUCH TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

VII. CONTENT DEVELOPMENT SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

VIII.USAGE OF MULTI TOUCH TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

IX. DOWNSIDE OF MULTITOUCH TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

X. CONCLUSION :THE FUTURE OF MULTI TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY . . . . .12

Multi touch screen is a new technology that is supposed to be the beginning of new

generation in a field of the human interaction with devices . Multi touch screen is an

interactive technique that makes use of points of contact rather than movement. It enables

people to use computer in more easier way by touching the screen with their all fingers . In

addition to the

interesting made by it , we can make a single computer works by many users

at the same time. Multi touch screen can feel finger's touch and tell this is

from whom. Multi touch screen is a simple built screen that can be done by

individuals . It can be seen now in the hotel , conference , restaurants and

any other public places.

1
 INTRODUCTION :-
 What is the multi touch screen?

Multi-touch screen interface is a set of interaction techniques which allow computer

users to control graphical applications with several fingers.

Multi-touch screen interface consists of a touch screen (screen, table,

wall, etc.) as well as software that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points, as opposed

to the standard touch screen (e.g. computer touchpad, ATM), which recognizes only one touch

point. This effect is achieved through a variety of means, including but not limited to: heat,

finger pressure, high capture rate cameras, infrared light, optic capture, tuned

electromagnetic induction, ultrasonic receivers, transducer microphones, laser rangefinders,

and shadow capture.

Many applications for multi-touch interfaces exist and are being

proposed. Some uses are individualistic ( e.g. iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook Pro, MacBook

Air, HTC Diamond ) and some are for collaboration( e.g. diamond touch , Microsoft

surface) . However, multi-touch technology is mainly used to incorporate collaboration into

the computing experience.

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 Multi touch screen – general view : -
Multi touch screen is input device that recognizes two or more simultaneous

touches, allowing one or more users to interact with computer applications through

various gestures created by fingers on a surface. Some devices also recognize

differences in pressure and temperature. Unlike a keyboard or a single-point input

device such as a mouse or a traditional touchpad, multi-touch technology introduces

users to swipe, pinche simultaneous touches, allowing one or more users to interact

with computer applications through various gestures created by fingers on a surface.

Some devices also recognize differences in pressure and temperature. Unlike a

keyboard or a single-point input device such as a mouse or a traditional touchpad ,

multitouch technology introduces users to swipe pinche rotation, and other actions that

allow for richer, more immediate interaction with digital content.

Multi-touch interfaces recognize these and other gestures from multiple

places on the device simultaneously, allowing several users to interact with an

application at the same time. The traditional way of interacting with a computer is by

using a mouse and/or a keyboard.

We provide the computer with inputs more or less by the use of

buttons. Regardless of the input type, the computer can more or less only handle one

input at the time which makes the input handling and sorting very easy. However, multi-

touch is as far from single input handling as one can come. The amount of concurrent

events in this interface is limited only by the data type holding the number of finger

inputs.

The amount of simultaneous users is pretty much unlimited in the same way,

which of course comes in handy for larger scale display systems. That amount of

potential synchronous inputs requires new ways to detect the inputs.Since they

3
aren’t the kind of ”on/off” inputs we are used to in the traditional sense, there are needs

for new ways to interpret and analyze the input type and the gesture(s) they make out.

The multi-touch screen interface makes the user handling very

intuitive. It is in some ways comparable to paper sheets laid upon a table, in the sense

that there isn’t really any need for a manual in how to interact with a piece of paper or

move it around – the simplicity of it makes it all very natural for us. Software interaction

through a multi-touch interface has the potential of becoming as intuitive and natural

for us as moving papers around on a table.

4
 How it works?

 Software :-
o What the camera sees - a bunch of brightly lit “blobs” .

o Software tracker cleans up the image to produce a list of points

in (x, y) coordinates to be passed to the application .

Multi touch interfaces are input devices that recognize two or more

simultaneous touches, allowing one or more users to interact with computer

applications through various gestures created by fingers on a surface. Some

devices also recognize differences in pressure and temperature. Unlike a

keyboard or a single-point input device such as a mouse or a traditional

touchpad, multi-touch technology introduces users to swipes, pinches,

rotations, and other actions that allow for richer, more immediate interaction

with digital content.

Multi-touch screen allows multiple users to work together to solve

difficult problems. However, simply scaling the techniques that work well for

a single user creates awkward systems. In a collaborative environment,

sharing a single mouse is very awkward. Providing multiple mice only makes

matters worse .It is extremely difficult to keep track of what each user in the

group is doing. Touch screen technologies appeared promising since a glance

reveals each users activities. However, touch technologies are usually

restricted to detecting a single touch point. They also tend to be somewhat

fragile. Multi-touch screen unique hardware that provide multi touch input;

it is a touch technology specifically designed for a multi user environment.

Enabling input from multiple participants is important for computer-

supported collaboration and access to this hardware will facilitate

exploration in these areas.

6
 Is Multi-Touch the future of interaction?
o The pace of development has been incredible over the past year,
we see it working well with the RIGHT content.

o Multi-touch interactivity opens up new dimensions and possibilities

7
 The Advantages of Multitouch Technology : -
Multi-touch technology has the potential to replace traditional input devices,

such as the keyboard, the mouse, and even the stylus, with an “invisible” interface

that enables new ways of interacting with information.

The multi touch screen also enables users to manipulate new functions easily advantages

include optical clarity, durability and cost-effective implementation of

multi touch features.

The use of touch screen and touch systems is growing at a tremendous rate.The

Software in multi touch screen can alter the screen while it is running making it more

flexible than a printed overlay keyboard and no extra peripherals are needed apart from the

touch screen monitor itself. Multi- touch interfaces have the potential to alter the way we work

with data and applications, resulting in more dynamic interactions around content .

In addition ,the multi touch technology intuitive user interactions. In it there is multiple point of

interactions. Multi touch technology allows multiple users interaction with software. So, the

multi touch screen is cool and interesting technology.

The multi-touch screen technology enables the users to interact with what is

displayed directly on the screen, where it is displayed, rather than indirectly with mouse or

touchpad.

The multi-touch screen technology lets one do so without requiring any intermediate

device ,again, such as stylus that need to be held in the hand. Such display can be attached

to computers or, as terminals, to networks. They also play a prominent role in the design of

digital appliances such as personal digital assistant (PDA), satellite navigation devices and

mobile phones.

8
 Content Development – Samples : -

The iPad

The Microsoft Surface

9
Usage of Multi-Touch Technology : -

Content for large format multi-touch displays can apply to many

industries, to name a few -

 Telecommunication

 Finance

 Entertainment

 Museums

 Advertising

 Gaming

 Military

 Education

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 Downside of Multitouch Technology : -

Despite mouse and keyboard limitations, not to mention the risk they pose for repetitive

motion injuries, they are familiar tools, and to the extent that multi-touch interfaces

completely do away with these devices, some users will be uncomfortable

adopting an entirely new method of using computers. Moreover, multi-touch

interfaces may present a barrier to users with visual impairments or disabilities

that limit physical dexterity . .

Similarly, few applications have been developed for Microsoft Surface, which

so far has only been piloted in a small number of AT&T stores. These later two systems

are also relatively expensive.

The multi touch screen not suitable for inputting large amounts of data and

Selecting detailed objects can be difficult with fingers. Also, it Difficult to select small items.

It is still approximately expensive to use by regular users.

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 Conclusion : The Future of Multi Touchscreen Technology :-

Even multi touch screen , the interaction technology , is not very

necessary to use the computer but it will change the whole way of interaction

as the mouse generation was changing the keyboard century . The use of

multi-touch technology is expected to rapidly become common place. For

example, touch screen telephones are expected to increase from 200,000

shipped in 2006, to 21 million in 2012.Data visualization tools work to

present information in visual , often dynamic or animated , form , and multi

touch screen would seem to offer new opportunities for creative

manipulation of such tools . Digital games , simulations, and their

entertainment counterparts will also be good candidates for multi-touch

interfaces as they mature .Developers of the technology have suggested a

variety of ways that multi-touch can be used including:

o Enhanced dining experience -.

order food, ask for refills, split check, pay bill, entertainment

while dining .

o Concierge service.-

locate landmarks, plan day, uplink info to cellular phone

o Gaming .

o Governmental use .

o Concept mapping .

o An enhanced multimedia experience .

o Collaboration and instruction on Interactive Whiteboards.

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