Multi-touch Goes Mainstream

I have been talking a lot about multi-touch, and I am very excited about how you can use it to directly manipulate something - as opposed to having a detached interaction. But the time for most of the wild experiments are over. We have indentified which areas that don't work very well and now multi-touch is moving into mainstream use. It has matured.

Of course we all know about the iPhone and its use of multi-touch, but take look at this newscast from CNN, where they are visually presenting the track of Ike (the hurricane) using a multi-touch screen.

Loading video

Yes, I am aware that CNN has been using multi-touch screens for about 6 months now. Also, in case you are wondering. The multi-touch system used by CNN is licensed version of Jeff Han's multi-touch screen technology

I think that we will soon move into the second multi-touch revolution. The first revolution, which we are still in now, is where this new fantastic technology emerged and it is the place for the wild experiments. It is where the most innovative companies flourished, and the source of the "buzz effect".

The second multi-touch revolution is very different. We pretty much know what we can do with it. There are still some experiments to be done, and the innovative companies will still be able to "do its magic". But the reason why people use multi-touch is no longer to get a "showoff" effect.

The second multi-touch revolution is not about marketing. It is about using this technology to:

make better products
create better experiences
make people more efficient
help people learn more easily
...and sensible experiments, that fits within the above 4 points

The success criteria in the future will be about making multi-touch products that work.

But if you are into experiments, you don't have to worry. There are still tons of things to play with. The field of multi-touch combined with sensor input is still largely unexplored. Also physical multi-touch, where you can feel what you touch, is also wide open.

And the entire field of using sensors (not just accelerometers) is probably going to fuel the next interaction revolution.

Comments

David - Sep. 13, 2008

Beautiful representation of what the technology can do day to day. Having this permeate our society in data filled areas would be amazing. Medicine, architecture, science, should all be trying to find ways to use this technology to make explaining their concepts easier.

I can't wait until this technology becomes common and is used as you've mentioned. Great post, gave me an inspiration boost.

Aleksandersen, Daniel - Sep. 13, 2008

Thomas, can you still do no better than “Loading video” for users without the Flash player? I thought you cared about web accessibility?

Robert Augustin - Sep. 13, 2008

This is some amazing technology. I hardly watch TV and stay updated via the internet - there's simply no time and most of what you see on TV is crap anyway. So this is the first time I see multi-touch in action, and I think it's great!

It's also noteworthy how nicely the weatherman shows it off, including Google's product placement. It seems to be more about the effect than the hurricane... Very interesting indeed!

Thomas Baekdal - Sep. 13, 2008

Thanks David :)

Actually I am more looking forward to having multi-touch in regular objects in our home.

Thomas Baekdal - Sep. 14, 2008

Daniel, Why don't you have flash installed? :)

I thought you cared about web accessibility?

Well I do...

Robert, I actually watched this on CNN's online TV channel. I hardly ever watch TV either :)

Klaus Silberbauer - Sep. 14, 2008

We've been discussing the same clip (http://silberbauer.dk/wp/2008/09/hurricane-ike-presented-by-multitouch-nice/) and we're not sure that this is really multi touch. I see a mouse cursor, and it looks like the guy's just using his right hand.

How do you know that CNN licensed Jeff Han's system?

Thomas Baekdal - Sep. 14, 2008

Klaus, It is multi-touch :)

You can read more about here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020402796.html

Jonathan - Sep. 14, 2008

Conventional weather men/women talk about the weather while having some control over a pre-built animation that can be whatever they want:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSIZgjGyN0I

I suppose this means CNN can get rid of an animator or two if the person in front of the camera is doing it on the fly with a touch screen, but I wouldn't call that particularly amazing. For one thing, the production quality is a lot less that way (and WTF is that mouse pointer and other junk doing on the screen?).

I can't see what this brings to the presentation of the fact at all. Would you be equally excited if you saw somebody on TV using a mouse back in 1990?

Ovi Demetrian Jr - Sep. 18, 2008

Weathermen don't have took look stupid not being able to control what's going on behind them anymore. Now they can look stupid trying to figure out how to control it themselves. :)

Multi-touch Goes Mainstream

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