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.

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

The following is a timeline of interactive tables. These tables may involve multi-touch, single-touch, audio, objects, or other unique types of table interactions.

If you have an interactive table that is not on the list, please leave a comment or send me a message and I will update the list appropriately.

note: I cannot promise the following links are current and that the dates and names for each table is accurate. If you see a mistake, please let me know.

Total Count: 95 interactive tables and counting
Last Updated: 2/16/11

1998

• DissemiNET Table – Sawad Brooks / Beth Stryker for Wexner Center for the Arts
• Interactable – Fraunhofer

1999

• The Magic Board Project – CLIPS-IMAG, University of Grenoble

2000

• Lazy

LED-LP is similar to LLP in that a plane of light is created above the surface. Instead of using lasers like LLP, narrow angle LEDs are used. The LEDs are positioned just above the touch surface in order to create a plane of light. When a finger or object touches the light plane, it is illuminated and seen by a infrared camera below the surface.

Parts List

• Clear, Flat Surface (Glass, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Plexiglass, etc.)
• Infrared LEDs – Placed slightly above the surface on each side to create a plane of light
• Projection Material (Rosco Grey, Vellum, Mylar, Paper, other, etc.) – For displaying an image when using a projector
• Infrared Camera/Modified Webcam

Video Examples

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxrU2lE22p8]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysq3XAsKcuE]

DSI is similar to FTIR in that infrared light is placed at the edges of an acrylic panel directed towards the inside. A special acrylic with small particles inside, acting like thousands of small mirrors, is used to evenly distribute the infrared light. When a finger or object touches the diffuser, it lights up from the infrared light escaping from within and is seen by a camera below the surface. The effect is similar to diffused illumination. An image is displayed by using a projector connected to a computer pointed towards the projection material.

Parts List

• EndLighten Acrylic
• Infrared Light Source (LEDs or similar)
• Projection Material (Rosco Grey, Vellum, Mylar, Paper, other, etc.) – For displaying an image and scattering

In LLP, infrared light from single or multiple lasers shine just above the surface. The laser plane of light is about 1mm thick and positioned as close to the touch surface as possible. When a finger or object hits the light plane, the object lights up and  is seen by an infrared camera below the surface. An image is displayed by using a projector connected to a computer pointed towards the projection material.

Parts List

• Clear, Flat Surface (Glass, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Plexiglass, etc.)
• Infrared Laser(s) – Lasers can be placed in each corner of the surface
• Line Generating Lens – Creates a thin light plane
• Projection Material (Rosco Grey, Vellum, Mylar, Paper, other, etc.) – For displaying an image
• Infrared