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Multi-Touch for Your Laptop

Written by on October 31, 2007

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You have already seen Microsoft Surface, and the incredible interaction it brings with it. But one of the really big problems (literally) with Microsoft Surface is its size. Wouldn't it be great if you could move the technology to smaller and much thinner devices?

Microsoft Research in Cambridge has been working on this for a while. I saw it for the first time several months ago - and I was very impressed.

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Remember that this technology is not like the multi-touch technology used in products like the iPhone. The iPhone "only" reacts to pressure, meaning that it can detect and interact when you press down on the screen. The technology from Microsoft is very different in the sense that it doesn't use a pressure sensor. Instead it detects your actions through infrared cameras.

The advantage of this technology is that you can do much more than simple "multi-touch". You can detect proximity and physical objects that doesn't really apply adequate pressure (like a piece of paper).

You cannot - for instance - place your credit card on the screen of your iPhone to complete a payment, but you can potentially do that with the technology from Microsoft.

&#187 Watch the interview with the research team

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Thomas Baekdal

Thomas Baekdal

Founder of Baekdal, author, writer, strategic consultant, and new media advocate.

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