Multitouch Windows XP?
Multitouch May 21st, 2007If you take a look at multitouch videos on Youtube, most of them are related to photo manipulation.These demo movies show the possibility of scaling, rotating and translating multiple photos at the same time.
A few days ago I created a small demo application called tDesk. tDesk is an experimental tool running on Windows XP which enables users with an FTIR multitouch screen to move and resize (multiple) applications with their bare hands.
(1) This movie shows how to move and scale dialogs in windows:
(2) This movie shows how to move multiple dialogs in windows:
Hmm you probably noticed it already in the movie, I kinda screwed up at the end of the movie.
Since my panel is not mounted on a frame it can move if you press with too much pressure… and that’s happened at the end.
* About the video clip played in movie 2, it’s Jamiroquai with Virtual Insanity. You might notice his whole environment is moving as well 
…
September 11th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Really interesting and nice to see that this type of research is also done here in Holland :).
Personally, I would like to have a multi-touch sensor being integrated in the display screen for an otherwise conventional workstation setup: vertical screen(s), keyboard, mouse. I am not ready to give up my mouse and keyboard (yet) and they do fill my desk space along with papers and other junk I use in my daily work. For some tasks though, the new technology is clearly superior and I would love to be able to use it [i]as well[/i]. I think it is a mistake though, to think it is superior in all aspects and can replace the existing human interface devices. On screen keyboards for instance look nice in YouTube demo movies but are really awkward to use in reality.
I hope I am not being offensive here
September 14th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
This looks great! How did you manage to control the cursour in regular Windows apps? And is it possible for multiple users to manipulate windows at the same time?
I have just started a similar project and have several ideas for multi touch combined with music software, so some info would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance, and cool blog by the way! Keep up the good work.
September 15th, 2007 at 12:19 am
@Rasmus
well the can only be manipulated with the mouse.
(its using the HWND handle in windows). So if both users would put one finger on the application, you should be able to manipulate it together…
It works kinda like the photo app, it needs 2 blobs to resize or move a window
However I made this as a test application, since it doesn’t has a real purpose atm.
September 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Thanks for your reply.
Is it possible to see how you made your test application? I can think of several purposes for controlling normal windows applications with multi touch - for instance painting together in a photo app or multiple musicians playing on the same screen on plugins or music apps like ableton live. I’m trying to figure out how that can be done - software today are really contructed for single user/single cursor, but there most be a workaround. Maybe the Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Software Development Kit could be used?
September 15th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Since windows XP doesnt supports ‘real’ multitouch it is not possible to paint together (which would require mouse hacks). I’ve seen the MS windows multipoint SDK but I’m not sure if thats the way to implent multitouch…
September 27th, 2007 at 9:04 am
hi Laurence. how can I download the tdesk app so that i can test it too.
thanks and more power!
January 5th, 2008 at 9:09 am
is it possible to download tDesk and if so how? im currently working on my multitouch display. its 8′x4′ and doubles as a home entertainment center. i would like to be able to do more than just play around with the smoke app. thanks.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Well its just an early techdemo I made, its not very usefull ;)…
It is not yet available as download (it is currently broken with the latest touchlib).
May 5th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
[...] ast year I demonstrated how Windows XP could be (ab)used with multi-touch interaction. [...]