Surface? What Surface? Ideum, which popped out a rather gigantic MT2 multitouch table earlier this year, is now introducing another model that makes that fellow look like child's play. The 100-inch MT-50 is an outright beast, boasting 86 viewable inches, a 16 x 5 aspect ratio and a stunning 2,304 x 800 resolution. It was engineered for the Space Chase Gallery at the Adventure Science Center, which is one of several high-tech exhibits the company has deployed at the Nashville, TN-based science center. The table itself can support over 50 simultaneous touch points, and while the Flash-based software is obviously tailored for learning applications, there's nothing stopping this thing from becoming the world's next great arcade fixture. Hop on past the break for a drool-worthy vid.
"Multi-touch technology dates back to 1982, when Nimish Mehta at the University of Toronto developed the first finger pressure multi-touch display.[3]
In 1983, Bell Labs at Murray Hill published a comprehensive discussion of touch-screen based interfaces. [4] In 1984 Bell Labs engineered a touch screen that could change images with more than one hand. The group at the University of Toronto stopped working on hardware and moved on to software and interfaces, expecting that they would have access to the Bell Labs work.[3]
A breakthrough occurred in 1991, when Pierre Wellner published a paper on his multi-touch “Digital Desk”, which supported multi-finger and pinching motions."
Success is not measured in the invention of something but rather the mass adoption of that invention.
As much as geeks and inventors hate to admit it, the "best" technology frequently looses out to someone that has a better combination of technology, cost, and marketing.
The electric engine was invented in 1832 but hybrid usage in vehicles wasn't cost effective until 10 years from now (notice how I didn't say today =-)...
This is pathetic. What does that picture show? The same worthless crap that multitouch has been shown doing FOR YEARS: zooming, rotating, and shoving stuff around.
The hype was empty. It didn't pan out. People didn't think the practical limitations of this technnology through.
looks like a back projection solution. we used the modules from www.multitou.ch and they can be used in highly lit scenes like here at the geneva motor show. see it at www.yolk.org (under interactive and motion graphics)
So wait, you go to the closet, pull out the Monopoly game box, carry it over to the surface table, open the game box, remove the game board that is sitting on top, grab out the game pieces, put the game board back in the box, then put the pieces on the surface table and a board pops up...just like the board that was in the box you opened. Sweet!
OR since you know it has that function you could keep the pieces on the edge of the table. Plus there's no clean up after AND the possibility to save a game with non-digital game pieces. That's kinda rad
i wonder - will we be able to use these tables as diner tables, in near future?? eating diner and surfing the net , while your plate sits on your favourite picture! :D
They actually made an entire display window of a store in to a giant aquanoid touchscreen game... Interesting technique as it is already launched and not a prototype/concept
If he or Apple invented and patented it. Or if it was using the patent Apple had on modifications to the multi touch interface that was invented by another company. Or if it used a conventional touch screen instead of cameras in a way that was patented by Apple. Or if he was really really stupid and wanted to have his butt handed to him in court.
So in reality.. No.. He couldn't really sue anybody.
product red is nothing compared to bill and Melinda Gates foundation. And its actually their pocket money theyre using to help people with AiDS in Africa.
For something of this size, is 2,304 x 800 really "stunning"? I've seen monitors a heck of a lot smaller do 1920 horizontal which isn't far off and the new iMac, for example, does 2560 x 1440 and that is 27" rather than 100".
Can we please shut up about the Microsoft/Apple thing? Please? Pick what you want. This story has nothing to do with Apple, so please don't bring them up at every opportunity. Microsoft on the other hand....I get it. They make The Surface. I still think this type of thing has a long way to go before it makes sense for businesses to use such an expensive item to do very few things. I've said this before, but it bears repeating:
In any given situation that the Surface (or Surface type table) will be in, it will be impossible to use it for its other features. It's heavy and large and can't easily be taken from place to place. What that means is that if you have it in a restaurant, you'll be able to use the bill splitting and ordering application, but not comparing cell phone application, not the spilling out photos application, not the shopping application... etc.
Because there's only a couple reasons to use a giant touch screen in most locations, the Surface becomes a little impractical for how much you pay. In the demo, they showed it in a cell phone store, being used to compare different mobiles that were placed on it. It's competing against printed spec sheets, because you sure as hell won't need to split a bill or play electro pong in there.
with the understanding that once you put the monopoly pieces on the surface, a pop up asking for a missing .dll would ruin your chance of playing said game...
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posted Oct 31st 2009 8:50AM
hmm...big table for multitouch air hockey...nice :)
WOW big multitouch table with digital pictures on it... you can move them and pinch to zoom the how interesting....
Useless!!!
Funny how Apple invented multitouch and now everyone is using it. As usual, Apple leads, others follow.
Funny how Apple invented multitouch and now everyone is using it. As usual, Apple leads, others follow.
"Multi-touch technology dates back to 1982, when Nimish Mehta at the University of Toronto developed the first finger pressure multi-touch display.[3]
In 1983, Bell Labs at Murray Hill published a comprehensive discussion of touch-screen based interfaces. [4] In 1984 Bell Labs engineered a touch screen that could change images with more than one hand. The group at the University of Toronto stopped working on hardware and moved on to software and interfaces, expecting that they would have access to the Bell Labs work.[3]
A breakthrough occurred in 1991, when Pierre Wellner published a paper on his multi-touch “Digital Desk”, which supported multi-finger and pinching motions."
Now please go away.
@macjonny
it's funny how Microsoft invented the Microsoft Surface, and then Apple made the iPhone.
@Look_Around_You -
Success is not measured in the invention of something but rather the mass adoption of that invention.
As much as geeks and inventors hate to admit it, the "best" technology frequently looses out to someone that has a better combination of technology, cost, and marketing.
The electric engine was invented in 1832 but hybrid usage in vehicles wasn't cost effective until 10 years from now (notice how I didn't say today =-)...
@macjonny, must be one of those misinformed consumers who buy stuff for wow factor.
"Success is not measured in the invention of something but rather the mass adoption of that invention."
Uh, ok, that's nice, but Apple did not invent multitouch. Thank you.
This is pathetic. What does that picture show? The same worthless crap that multitouch has been shown doing FOR YEARS: zooming, rotating, and shoving stuff around.
The hype was empty. It didn't pan out. People didn't think the practical limitations of this technnology through.
LET IT GO ALREADY.
Thats already been done here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/panasonics-103-inch-plasma-repurposed-as-multitouch-air-hockey/
The Beverly Hillbillies would just use this thing as a fancy eatin' table. Except it doesn't come with those long wooden pot passers.
In the year 2000, we'll be able to pinch and zoom. And that's all we'll be able to do.
looks like a back projection solution. we used the modules from www.multitou.ch and they can be used in highly lit scenes like here at the geneva motor show. see it at www.yolk.org (under interactive and motion graphics)
The microsoft surface can detect things on it like cameras and download the pictures of of it. Surface is not just a flat touch screen.
Like putting monopoly pieces on it and automatically bringing up a monopoly board .
So wait, you go to the closet, pull out the Monopoly game box, carry it over to the surface table, open the game box, remove the game board that is sitting on top, grab out the game pieces, put the game board back in the box, then put the pieces on the surface table and a board pops up...just like the board that was in the box you opened. Sweet!
Well if programmed yes exactly how it would work. Somebody has already done that with a microsoft surface and dungeons and dragons.
Microsoft surface can detect the outline of the thing placed on it and do things accordingly.
The DnD example that was posted last week on the surface gives a really good example.
@Jail - very slick
OR since you know it has that function you could keep the pieces on the edge of the table. Plus there's no clean up after
AND the possibility to save a game with non-digital game pieces. That's kinda rad
i wonder - will we be able to use these tables as diner tables, in near future??
eating diner and surfing the net , while your plate sits on your favourite picture! :D
Something like the *ahum* sensibly named Ibar?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaKehq6qsdY
m$ Surface can detect 56 touch points. =D
Count 'em!
Not a bad implementation.
i can see it now... "sorry man, we needed a beer pong table and yours was the only one around..."
*cue fetal-position weeping*
I'm sure there are precautions taken to make it so no liquid can leak through the glass.
It's not that I'm not impressed with these advances, but why not (practically) infinite touch points?
How many fingers do you have?
With something that large, I would hope that it supports as many touch points as it does. At least, I support that many touch points...
Well, that's what she said, anyway
16 : 5?
I think 16 x 5 is kind of confusing. If everyone starts developing their own language, we'll be back to stone age in no time.
...
This was ... cool .... but have you seen/tried this:
http://www.touchme.nu/
They actually made an entire display window of a store in to a giant aquanoid touchscreen game... Interesting technique as it is already launched and not a prototype/concept
@Miles
See the second condition I mentioned..
Steve jobs could sue for them stealing iPhone multitouch technology. But he's too busy saving lives with product red so he won't.
Well.. He could..
If he or Apple invented and patented it.
Or if it was using the patent Apple had on modifications to the multi touch interface that was invented by another company.
Or if it used a conventional touch screen instead of cameras in a way that was patented by Apple.
Or if he was really really stupid and wanted to have his butt handed to him in court.
So in reality.. No.. He couldn't really sue anybody.
Funny... I google product red and I get a picture Bill, Mike and Bono. I think Steve should stick to suing.
@John Bailey
They already said they would sue people who tried taking THEIR multi-touch innovation.
I'm assuming that you simply lost one of your sarcasm tags, so you can use one of mine:
/sarcasm
:)
product red is nothing compared to bill and Melinda Gates foundation. And its actually their pocket money theyre using to help people with AiDS in Africa.
If someone were to have sex on this table, how many touch points would that be?
They'd probably break through.
If you ask me, it'd be two points. My feet would be the only things making contact with the surface.
I would hold the girl with legs up on my shoulders, grabbing her back ( she holds on to my neck) and me pumping away. =D
wtf man. save weird ass comments for youtube
http://www.nptimes.com/09Nov/npt-091101-2.html
So is THIS what was used in Quantum of Solace?
I thought the same thing.
This reminded me of the latest 007 series.
touching is good
For something of this size, is 2,304 x 800 really "stunning"?
I've seen monitors a heck of a lot smaller do 1920 horizontal which isn't far off and the new iMac, for example, does 2560 x 1440 and that is 27" rather than 100".
Haha, this is awesome.
Can we please shut up about the Microsoft/Apple thing? Please? Pick what you want. This story has nothing to do with Apple, so please don't bring them up at every opportunity. Microsoft on the other hand....I get it. They make The Surface. I still think this type of thing has a long way to go before it makes sense for businesses to use such an expensive item to do very few things. I've said this before, but it bears repeating:
In any given situation that the Surface (or Surface type table) will be in, it will be impossible to use it for its other features. It's heavy and large and can't easily be taken from place to place. What that means is that if you have it in a restaurant, you'll be able to use the bill splitting and ordering application, but not comparing cell phone application, not the spilling out photos application, not the shopping application... etc.
Because there's only a couple reasons to use a giant touch screen in most locations, the Surface becomes a little impractical for how much you pay. In the demo, they showed it in a cell phone store, being used to compare different mobiles that were placed on it. It's competing against printed spec sheets, because you sure as hell won't need to split a bill or play electro pong in there.
that's a whole lot of touching ...hmmmmm
Its amazing how when Microsoft came out with Surface, everybody mocked it, but now that a different company came out with a clone, its all the rage.
We're ignoring the important question here people. Will it get 60fps in Crysis?
with the understanding that once you put the monopoly pieces on the surface, a pop up asking for a missing .dll would ruin your chance of playing said game...