DiamondTouch Applications
The goal for this project is to develop novel applications to provide a shared focus of attention for collaborating users, exploiting DiamondTouch, a novel multi-user input device. (See DiamondTouch Hardware and DiamondTouch SDK for more details on the underlying technology, and DTFlash for a novel authoring environment.) Possible applications include command-and-control rooms, business or technical meetings, and a variety of casual applications (e.g., musical instrument control, home coffee table, games and entertainment, etc).
Background & Objective: To date, most software applications are intended for single users and designed to utilize traditional input devices (a single keyboard and mouse). In contrast, DiamondTouch is well-suited for shared-display groupware applications; it enables many people to simultaneously interact with the surface without interfering with each other. Our multi-user applications are developed with the DiamondTouch SDK.
Technical Discussion: DiamondTouch applications come in a variety of styles. Some exploit DT's multi-user nature, while others may utilize its multi-touch capability -- each user may touch the unit in more than one place. Furthermore, DiamondTouch's ability to provide identification information for each touch (which users are touching where) is critical in many applications. Our efforts this year were focused on providing better backwards compatibility with legacy software by adding new capabilities to DTMouse. DTMouse is an application to provide mouse emulation capabilities for DiamondTouch. In addition to basic mouse operations, it provides a zooming feature for pixel-level precision input. We are exploring alternative methods as well. Other applications include DTMap, a multi-user map application, and a number of entertainment and gaming applications to showcase DiamondTouch. Most recently we have begun to explore multi-display applications (e.g., table plus wall) for DT.
Outside Collaborations: We have active collaborations with universities who will explore DiamondTouch as a collaborative input technology.
Contacts:
Adam Bogue
Alan Esenther
Clifton Forlines
Samuel Shipman
| Technical Reports: | |
| DiamondTouch: A Multi-User Touch Technology | |
| DiamondTouch SDK: Support for Multi-User, Multi-Touch Applications | |
Technology Area: Off the Desktop Interaction and Display
Modification Date: July 24, 2008
