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Multitouch display, build your own: new compliant surface complete test
Some days ago I was finally able to make a complete test of my new compliant surface made of the silicone rubber layer and the sketch paper. As usual, I can say that this was also a partial success.
The layers of silicone and paper gave great sensibility to my FTIR multitouch setup. Actually a very light touch is enough to trigger the blob recogniction, even the passage of a paper tape roll is detected!
As I was saying, there are anyway something to work on. The silicone rubber is still a little bit sticky and this cause the sketch paper to adhere to it for a little time after the finger touch passage. The result is a visible tray left after the finger movement. The software I used until now, Touchlib from NUI Group, is recognizing those trays as finger touches as well so that moving a finger result to several touches moving in a tray.
This bad effect is not impacting on simple application like Smoke but, unfortunately, it hardly impact on applications like the one used to play with photos. With this app, moving a photo result in enlarging it because of the multiple touches detected in the tray of the real finger touch. Anyway, you'll have a better idea looking at the video I shooted during the last test:
Actually, to be honest, I don't have big ideas on how to overcome this issue. I'm quite convinced that all those problems are coming from the type of silicone rubber I used, the Prochima Crystal Rubber, that is a good silicone rubber but probably not for this kind of (strange) applications. The other guys from NUI Group had infact better results with the silicone rubber layer without this kind of issues. My only workaround, for now, will be to buy and try other kind of papers and, probably later on, to try a different kind of silicone rubber itself.
But, anyway, actually I'm moving my interests also on software for multitouch. What I saw until now is that there's a lot of pieces around, most of them built using libraries or scriptable frameworks, few of them are compiled, mostly commercial and closed source. Unfortunately it seems to me that it is a lot of work done but in a fragmented way: there is no coordination and every app is a monolithic, separate app so that you cannot have a "multitouch system" but rather some multitouch-capable applications launched on a computer.
Actually I'm thinking about how to approach this matter, also because hopefully sometime in the near future I'll have a good multitouch screen and I will like to use it without the need for a mouse, keyboard or other "old" computer equipment.
In this brainstorming phase, every comment and suggestion is really welcome, feel free to contact me also privately.
The layers of silicone and paper gave great sensibility to my FTIR multitouch setup. Actually a very light touch is enough to trigger the blob recogniction, even the passage of a paper tape roll is detected!
As I was saying, there are anyway something to work on. The silicone rubber is still a little bit sticky and this cause the sketch paper to adhere to it for a little time after the finger touch passage. The result is a visible tray left after the finger movement. The software I used until now, Touchlib from NUI Group, is recognizing those trays as finger touches as well so that moving a finger result to several touches moving in a tray.
This bad effect is not impacting on simple application like Smoke but, unfortunately, it hardly impact on applications like the one used to play with photos. With this app, moving a photo result in enlarging it because of the multiple touches detected in the tray of the real finger touch. Anyway, you'll have a better idea looking at the video I shooted during the last test:
Actually, to be honest, I don't have big ideas on how to overcome this issue. I'm quite convinced that all those problems are coming from the type of silicone rubber I used, the Prochima Crystal Rubber, that is a good silicone rubber but probably not for this kind of (strange) applications. The other guys from NUI Group had infact better results with the silicone rubber layer without this kind of issues. My only workaround, for now, will be to buy and try other kind of papers and, probably later on, to try a different kind of silicone rubber itself.
But, anyway, actually I'm moving my interests also on software for multitouch. What I saw until now is that there's a lot of pieces around, most of them built using libraries or scriptable frameworks, few of them are compiled, mostly commercial and closed source. Unfortunately it seems to me that it is a lot of work done but in a fragmented way: there is no coordination and every app is a monolithic, separate app so that you cannot have a "multitouch system" but rather some multitouch-capable applications launched on a computer.
Actually I'm thinking about how to approach this matter, also because hopefully sometime in the near future I'll have a good multitouch screen and I will like to use it without the need for a mouse, keyboard or other "old" computer equipment.
In this brainstorming phase, every comment and suggestion is really welcome, feel free to contact me also privately.
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| « Multitouch display, build your own: preparing a silicone rubber layer, video howto! |
| Homemade Multitouch Display: a mini guide is coming » |
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Hi again Blaxwan,
Ive sent you some emails, but you didt't answer yet. I'm sorry for bothering, but I have just a few questions. I was reading the NUI forum, and the solution they found at first, was the silicon rubber. The sketch paper that you said, will I put it over the silicon rubber? Than there is the
sketch paper
silicon rubber
acrylic
is it wright?
And how is the durability of this sketch paper, if I use it without any protection, I guess the paper will scratch and be useless in a short period of time. What would you say about this?
And how do you fix the sketch paper over the silicon rubber? Some kind of adhesive?
Ive watched your video, and did you make this silicon rubber? Or can I buy it somewhere?
Sorry for all these questions, but it will help me a lot.
Thanks
Hi Afonso, you'll find a lot of answers reading through the blog pages and posts. For the other questions I answered you by email.
Hello.. This is a great thing you got going on, I'm thinking of making one myself!
As for the sticking problem you have.. Have you considered using a thin layer of silicone spray ( anti adhesive/lubricating type) After spraying on, most of them will dry out, but leave a thin lubricated coat on.. Just an idea..
cheers
Thanks a lot Sasa, no I didn't try the silicone spray but probably it could be a good idea, have you ever used it? Is the effect a soft, dry and not sticky surface? Could you post a link to a photo or a product name so I can understand exactly which kind of silicone spray you mean?
Thanks, cheers