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Multitouch Biggie (MTbiggie) – How To

What’s a Multitouch Biggie (MTbiggie)?

A Multitouch Biggie, MTbiggie for short, is a low-cost multitouch table. It can be used for a variety of purposes including: drawing, OS navigation, games, entertainment and more.

I created the Multitouch Biggie to show people how something that seems complicated or ‘magical’ can be made simply and at low cost.

0 Multitouch Biggie (MTbiggie) How To

The MTbiggie uses the “Front Diffused Illumination” multitouch technique, with ambient infrared light and a DIY infrared webcam. The MTbiggie is similar to the MTmini, but includes a projected image and infrared webcam (rather than a normal webcam).

The MTbiggie isn’t the most stable and robust setup, but it is the easiest to build. To see other methods of building more stable multitouch displays, view the full multitouch display list.

Parts List

  • 2 chairs (or anything to prop up the acrylic)
  • Piece of clear, flat sturdy material (ie. glass, acrylic, plexiglas)
  • Projection material (ie. printer paper, tracing paper, rosco projection material, etc)
  • Infrared webcam/camera (learn to build one yourself here)
  • Computer (dual core recommended, but not required)
  • Projector
  • Mirror

Total Cost: $400 (using low end projector) – $1000+ (using high end projector) – not counting the computer

How’s it Work and What Conditions are Necessary?

When you place your fingers on the surface, shadows are created where your fingers are placed. The webcam sees these shadows and sends the image to the tracking software which tracks the shadows as they move on the touch surface (paper). Below is a video demonstrating the view of what the camera is seeing and tracking.

0 Multitouch Biggie (MTbiggie) How To

All you need is a room with (at least) some infrared light (most lights give off infrared light); a dark room will not work. Even room lighting gives the best results. Lights shinning from multiple directions onto the table gives better results than lights from one direction.

Software and Demo Downloads

Tracking Software Installation and Setup Guide

My Results and other Techniques

You can find information on how to make your own multitouch surface (like the one I built in the video below), by viewing the How to Make a Multitouch Surface page.

0 Multitouch Biggie (MTbiggie) How To

Other Resources

Thanks to:

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  • Arthur Maia

    you advise me by the LEDs on the fingers? or make a circuit of LEDcannon and under the table?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      Either one will work. You can find parts here: http://peauproductions.com/store/

  • Raff Michael

    hi mr Seth may I ask? What kind of camera can I use? infrared camera or any webcam? im from philippines. thank you sir.

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

       MTBiggie needs IR camera. MTMini does not. If you’re going to project an image on the touch surface, you need a IR camera.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Yu-Fan/1326405193 Yu Fan

    Hi.  I’m deeply impressed by all the cool stuff here. 
     I’m preparing to build a Multibiggie and I could rly use a lot of help here.
    Could you tell me what kind of projector you use?   
    Will any projector do?.

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      I use a casio xj-s30 projector, pretty much projector will work ok. You can learn a lot more at http://nuigroup.com/forums

  • Pingback: How can I detect when to show a keyboard on a touch device?

  • Dat Le Thanh

    Do it work with (30%) white acrylics?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      I think it should work. I’m not positive.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DZ7JKYCIEGDI327A6IE4CQOGAY Zachariah Duel

    Would it work if you used two projectors together perfectly aligned to create a long touchtable? or does the tracking application only work with one projector?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      It’ll work with 2 projects. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000175152782 Tarrek Shaban

    I was wondering if only the apps that are designed for the touch screen will work or will the computer function as a touch screen computer. Such as will I still be able to navigate windows and use regular softwear like photoshop with the multitouch screen?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      Only applications that are built for multitouch will use multitouch. The rest will be single touch.

  • Gaurav Aggarwal

    Hi, The link to Multitouch Book is not working..
    Please update it.

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      It’s working for me, but i’ll try to upload a mirror in a bit.

  • Firepup104

    is there a way to make it work in the dark

  • auic

    Hi,i don’t have projector

    so can i use my LCD screen for that ?

    is this possible to zoom LCD with magnifier glass?
    (because after using mirror my screen getting small;anyway my lcd is 19″)

    please reply,and thank you for reading.

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      Hi, you can read about LCD techniques over at nuigroup: http://nuigroup.com/forums. Just search for ‘lcd’ on the forum.

    • auic

      Thank You Very Much…but one question…

      This is incredible to see my computer like as surface…can the interface change MT biggie like surface computer ?

      In surface we can manage our device by Bluetooth and simple navigate the pc…….is this possible in MT biggie ?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      Yes, but it does take a bit of work.

    • auic

      Anyone made it’s driver ?

    • auic

      Hey Bro,Can it support windows 8?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      Yes, it should.

  • auic

    Hey Seth;there are so many versions of adobe flash player on the adobe site,which version should i download?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler
    • auic

      but here are 4 versions:
      now what?

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      I’m not positive which one works best. I would try the second one.

    • auic

      ok bro i am going on your way…

    • auic

      i downloaded 2nd but some apps are running some not…

  • DDR Fan

    Hi Seth!!

    I’ve just complete my MT , I
    wonder is it possible for me to play DanceDanceRevolution S or S+ for ipad on
    my MT? Cos I’m kinda big fan of DDR.

    Here is the DDR S video:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRSerYJ5Vw

    Look forward for your reply.

    Thanks in advance.

     

     

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      You can only play applications written for your computer. So if it’s written for iphone/ipod, then it won’t work.

    • DDR Fan

      I see, Thanks Seth!!
      What if I want to play computer dance flash game onmy MT?
      The games are like:
      http://www.flashgame6.com/95-1-1/dancing-games
      Can I do it on my MT?

      Regards

      DDR Fan

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      If you use the mousedriver software, it’ll work.

    • DDR Fan

      Thank you Seth!!
      Can mousedriver control keyboard?
      Cos the game control is done only by arrow key on the keyboard.

      For example:
      http://www.shegame.com/view/3420/Bomberman-Bailon

      Regards,

      DDR Fan

  • Sratej

    Hi seth

    what is software reuired for making multitouch tables

  • Yonatan Schachter

    Hi Seth!
    How do you get that perfect lightning? When I try it with one light source, there is the shadow of my entire hand. When I use two, the black spot disappears!  
    Thanks

    • http://sethsandler.com/blog Seth Sandler

      It just takes expierimentation. You usually don’t want to point the light directly at it. Even lighting all around is best.

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