3M M2256PW 10-finger multitouch display hands-on (with video)
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 7th 2010 4:50PM
posted January 7th 2010 4:50PM
Multitouch may be losing the buzzword game to "slate" at this year's CES, but 3M's doing its best to keep things interesting with its new M2256PW multitouch display, which we've now had a brief chance to play with it ourselves. While the monitor itself is 3M's usual understated fare, the multitouch functionality does indeed work as promised, and 3M's in-house application demos do a respectable job of showing off some of the possibilities that double-digit multitouch opens up. Interestingly, while 3M's press materials only boast about 10-finger multitouch, the monitor seems to be equally capable of handling twenty fingers just as well. Of course, this one won't come cheap, with it apparently set to demand upwards of $1,500 when it lands sometime in the first quarter. Head on past the break for a quick demo video, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look.
I thought it was t with those 3 lines... LOOK @ the LOGO!
@pankomputerek No, you fail. The 3 lines come at the end, and not after the "T". So when it's abbreviated to just the first letter, the 3 lines stay at the end. Apparently you've never seen them post a podcast, or any of the other hundreds of posts a month with it...
http://img.engadget.com/common/images/2768755886686308.JPG?0.6202710638260707
http://www.engadget.com/tag/podcast
What about the people with extra digits.
@Banksta3 +20 fingers?
I'm holding out for the 11 finger version
@Melmation
it's 20 finger. looks like you dont have to wait any longer.
Everyone stealing Engadget's logo these days eh..
@Kila he was showing how easy it is to steal engadget logo with this display
Well I'm happy with single-finger touch capabilities on my Nokia 5800, but I'm sure there will be a time when I need all 10.
He said it was 20 fingers, the title only says 10. Guess that means I can use my toes too!
They need to make a touch screen that is sensitive enough for finger nail.
@techlord They do - those are resistive touchscreens.
Those have disadvantages though so most things are moving towards capacitive screens like this (i'm assuming this is capacitive).
There are some technologies (SAW) that people are working on that will do fingernails and fingers just as well, but that is still expensive.
-Taylor
@techlord Pretty much all resistive touch screens are good with fingernails. I use my nail for more accuracy when browsing long lists of music for example on the 5800. I've not tried on a capacitive screen though, but I suspect there may be issues there. I could be wrong.
"...we've now had a brief chance to play with ourselves"
NOW we know why they like the idea of 10 finger touch so much.
Oh no, it looks like that monitor has taken your logo, Engadget!
Unleash the lawyers!
I'm holding out for the 21 digit technology.
Oh yeah.
@DC MIKE If you want to use your dick hold on till the Augmented Reality Porn comes out
like guitar hero says, its even cooler if you use your feet together!
You did put in your business card right?
Did you put your business card in the fishbowl? Good luck. Hope you win. And did you get a badge?
(And no-one's made any jokes about taking your pants off to count to 21. Probably for the best)
Someone quick!, sue that monitor!
@mmauve
awesome!
@mmauve
About ten minutes too late.
". Interestingly, while 3M's press materials only boast about 10-finger multitouch, the monitor seems to be equally capable of handling twenty fingers just as well"
Maybe because most people only have 10 fingers?
why do you need more than 10 fingers on the multitouch, unless you are having 2 ppl play a game on it, laying horizontal on a table maybe? that could be cool
Digital Porn: Perfected. Nearly...
Engadget you better sue. Somebody put your logo on the multi-touch screen. Uh-oh.
Once again gadgetry fails to fill the niche for the freaks and the victims of inbreeding. Tut tut.
I demonstrated graphic touchscreen point of sale on the Atari ST at CES 1987. I was the only graphic touchscreen at the entire show and I was using a Microtouch capacitive touchscreen on a 12" color display with 320 x 200 resolution. Things sure have changed a lot.
Very unfortunate there are not many apps supporting this much multitouch. The hardware is there, now more investment must be done on delivery more apps fast.