Creative Drifter

Web, Print, Graphics, Interactive, and Technology Blog by James A. Longhini

Soon We’ll Be Multi-Touching Everything

March 27th, 2010

We’ve all seen an iphone and its multi-touch features but soon we may be surrounded by multi-touch surfaces. The technology has been exploding on to the market the last couple years and it’s not hard to imagine companies using this awesome interaction to make more money. A common reference to these possiblities is the movie Minority Report with Tom Cruise. His character is constantly interacting with interfaces, even when he doesn’t want to. Hallways and billboards light up and speak to him as navigates though the city, pitching their product. Here’s a clip:

We’ve seen similar technology at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. The following video demonstrates a 3D user interface for your mac with multi-touch technology. You can try it free at: bumptop.com/mac/. I gave it a shot and it really didn’t work out for my daily user actions of designing things, maybe it take some time to adjust. Check it out:

One area I could see multi-touch exploding is the gaming industry, which has shown a large growth in the recession. People are jobless, sitting at home, playing games. I’m not a “gamer” by any means but I can get down on some Xbox or some N64. We’ve all see what the Nintendo Wii does, what the ridiculous things people do while playing. What’s gonna be the next big jump in gaming interaction?

One thing I want to see is growth in multi-touch or UI for designers and creative types. Why hasn’t this happened yet? We’ve got tablets, mice, multi-touch pads, motion capture, and so forth but wheres the cool new futuristic stuff? I seek something that is an extension of me that controls the interface with out me having to think about it. I’m currently using the Logitech Performance Mouse MX and love it, but there must be more. Give me that minority report shit.

Here’s another cool video about multi-touch interface design that makes the technology easy to understand.

My main point is that these crazy interactive multi-touch surfaces and screens will be everywhere, its inevitable. Flat screens have taken over the past few years, maybe multi-touch is next.

This is off subject but check out these sick wooden iphone cases. I like the classic feel and look of wood grain, especially integrated with technology.