On my last project I had to use a gesture to initiate an event. Due to this, I recently started experimenting in creating a simple multitouch version of some gesture engines that are available. I’ve come across three that are already available in AS3 and chose to start with the $1 gesture algorithm http://depts.washington.edu/aimgroup/proj/dollar/. It only seems fitting to start with this one since Andy Wilson of microsoft research (and many multitouch devices) had a hand in it’s development.
Like most algorithms, this one matches points drawn with a template that’s …

Before I started with multitouch, I was experimenting with interactive virtual gaming. As a result, for one of my final class projects at UCSD, I created a dynamic game I call ‘Slider’ which is a 1-3 player virtual hockey type game that adapts to the number of people playing.
This games uses reactivision software, along with Flash, to detect ‘fiducial’ or symbol block movements. The game is played by moving these symbols on a table. Players can enter and exit the playing field at any time. The game adapts to the …

For a while I’ve been interested in emergent behavior where simple rules can create complex behavior. One of the most known examples of such behavior is Craig Reynolds ‘boids’ where a few simple rules can recreate the flocking behavior of birds.
I recently came across a great and clean example of some boids code by soulwire (make sure to check out his whole site; it’s great). Since we’ve seen various examples of this behavior on multitouch tables (like on the iBar), I decided to add some basic touch support to soulwire’s …

I’ve been going through and trying to collect and organize things on my computer and happened to find some old artwork. I’m hoping to eventually get time to revisit some of the more visual and artistic times I used to have time for.
Here’s a glimpse of some of my past work. I’d love to hear what you think!
These include: pen and ink and pencil drawings, illustrator and photoshop work, logo and magazine design and some other random manipulations.
Check out some of the dates on these; I feel old.
So? What’s your …

The long awaited Multitouch Technologies book authored by members of NUI Group (http://www.nuigroup.com) has officially found it’s first release! As one of the co-authors of the book, I am proud to see a final initial version come to fruition. The book, which consolidates articles from the NUI Group Wiki, includes sections on how to build Multi-touch devices, multitouch software resources, a glossary of terms and more. I  believe, as the book develops further, this will be the best resource for multitouch information on both the web and in print.
If you’re …

Last weekend my multitouch table and Audiotouch software were on display at UCSD’s Music Center Openening. The turnout was good and it was great meeting the enthusiastic crowd that took the time to try out the table.
The majority really liked the simplicity of the new ‘Bloom‘ application that acts as a screen-saver type application when no other application is loaded. The kids really liked the ‘Wall Pong’ game and it was fascinating watching them take part in the interaction.
Several people asked if the installation was permanent and  based on that, …

During the last 8-9 summer’s I’ve been participating in leadership camps for various high schools in southern California. I thought i’d post a few interesting leadership handouts that I’ve come across over this time period.
Keep in mind, there’s a difference between leadership and management and no one, without the other, can lead to success.
“Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow. Management directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established. Leadership combined with management sets a new …

Eugene has just ported Memo’s fluid solver work to AS3 http://blog.inspirit.ru/?p=248. With the source now out, I was able to quickly add multitouch support and it works great! Thanks to cyandesign and simpleex for keeping me on my toes.
A couple notes, the touchlib AS3 classes had to be corrected since they currently don’t send dX and dY values which the fluid solver needs to calculate directional velocity. Other than that, things went fairly smoothly and took little time to make touch sensitive.

Click the above image to play
Download:

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University of California, San Diego has finished their new Music center and will be having their opening this Saturday.
It’s last minute, but for those that are around the San Diego or La Jolla area tomorrow, i’ll be demoing my multitouch table and Audiotouch software between 1pm and 4pm at the opening.
There will be a public open house between Noon–4:00 p.m. “Free and open to the public. Come and explore the excellent architecture and state-of-the-art facilities. With demonstrations and free concerts, including recitals by Cecil Lytle (noon), Janos Negyesy, (2 p.m.), …

That headline sounds really odd, doesn’t it?
With that said, with the new website and blog, Ive realized it takes a decent amount of work to start fresh. Redirecting my old blog, ensuring all permalinks and trackbacks stay in place can be a real nightmare. Luckily wordpress makes things fairly simple.
After 30 plugins and a lot of research, I’m close to being satisfied with the new resulting website you’re now seein; still a few things I want to add and simplfy on the design.
If you’re wondering what the greeting message is …

I took the plunge. I finally bought my own domain name (sethsandler.com).  It was time; with a decent amount of traffic on my wordpress.com site, I really needed the ability to customize the site and make best use of the wordpress platform.

So, goodbye wordpress.com and hello wordpress.org. The customizability of having my domain makes theming and widgets much more fun! Best of all, I have my old blog ssandler.wordpress.com redirecting to this new one so I hopefully won’t loose all my pingbacks and permalinks etc.
Let me know what you think …

Well, it’s about time I released another application right? If anyone has ever played Bloom on the iphone, I’m sure you’ll recognize my port from iphone to table.
If you’re not familiar with bloom, it’s a very simple music creation application. Press anywhere on the screen to create circles that grow and ‘bloom.’ As they fade out and re-appear, they play a note. The note is based on the x-axis. As you move right, the notes go higher.

Click the above image to play
How to use:
-Press on screen (mouse, touch, multi-touch)
-Rollover/touch/click already …