This is brilliant. I'm working with a client who wants to get involved with Microsoft Surface. I think I've just found a much better solution, and one that's more versatile!
There are many alternatives to do this with webcams and related stuff... however as I was saying above, this is probably the best option, and the more versatile tech I've seen for this effect.
I'm not much of a hardware hacker but this looks like a pretty small DIY project. A tighter, nicer package might be nice but I think the point is that the ``commercialized" version (cf. Microsoft Surface) is really expensive.
Even commercialized, this could be a cheaper and more versatile version of electronic whiteboards. Just bundle a portable LCD projector and an infrared sensor together and include software so it just works. Get a good team together and apply to Y Combinator.
I agree. I've done some research on how to develop all kind of Microsoft Surface related stuff, and no doubt there are a lot of alternatives to create a similar effect in a much cheaper way. However, I haven't seen anything this versatile... this idea and implementation is absolutely fantastic.
True, but it all depends on the way the individual claims are written in the patents governing multi-touch systems. If they have separated the claims for determining touch points and for the using different touch points to control zoom for example it might still be a problem, need to read the patent claims carefully to be sure.
Still amazes me you can get patents on such things.
If you touch a screen with 2 fingers, and draw them outwards or inwards, what other thing could they conceivably control other than zoom?
Amazing :)
Also, generally you can't patent ideas like "multitouch" but rather processes or methods of implementing an idea. Not sure if there's any patents on IR-based input like this, but a quick search didn't turn anything up.
