AudioTouch is an interactive multi-touch interface for computer music exploration and collaboration. The interface features audio based applications that make use of multiple users and simultaneous touch inputs on a single multi-touch screen. A natural user interface where users can interact through gestures and movements, while directly manipulating musical objects, is a key aspect of the design; the goal is to be able to interact with the technology (specifically music based) in a natural way. Users can load, exit, and move musical applications using gestures as well as have a multiple applications operate within the same work environment. The design is built into a table that hides all the hardware necessary for tracking multiple inputs as well as displaying visual feedback on the touch surface.
video of the applications on my multitouch table
Multikey
Currently, the AudioTouch OS consists of four main musical applications. MultiKey, the first application, is similar to a typical musical keyboard or piano. The application includes two polyphonic musical keyboards, one being a full octave, and the other being two octaves. Users can resize, zoom, and rotate a keyboard by using a two finger gesture.
Musical Squares
The second application, MusicalSquares, consists of color coded squares that bounce around within a bounding box. As the squares come in contact with each other, they collide, play a musical note (based on their color), and then bounce off each other in opposite directions. A user can press on a square and make a throwing gesture which causes the square to be thrown in the motioned direction.
Audioshape Seuqencer
Audioshape sequencer, is a third applications that allows users to create musical loops. Squares can be moved around and connected. When the play button is pressed on a square it plays through the connected squares in sequence.
Musical Wall Pong
Lastly, Musical Wong, is a multitouch game similar to pong/hockey. When the ball hits the walls, different sounds are played.
For information about the process of building the table and software, please check out the MTmini , my multitouch progress, and software sections of this site.
