Case study 4 What is a multi touch?

Multi-touch is a method of input on a touchscreen that allows two or more fngers to be used on
the screen at one time. Apple's iPhone is famous for introducing multi-touch to the cell phone
world by using it to allow pinching and stretching gestures on the screen to control zooming.
Multi-touch is something typically associated with capacitive touchscreen displays rather than
with more common resistive touchscreen displays.
Source http!!www.mobileburn.com!defnition."sp#term$multi-touch
%n computing& multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's 'trac(pad or touchscreen) ability to
recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface. *his plural-point
awareness is often used to implement advanced functionality such as pinch to zoom or activating
predefned programs.
%n an e+ort of disambiguation or mar(eting classifcation some companies further brea(down the
various defnitions of multi-touch. An e,ample of this is -M defning multi-touch as a touch-
screen's ability to register three or more distinct positions
Source http!!en.wi(ipedia.org!wi(i!Multi-touch
What problems does multitouch technology solve?
.elps people with disabilities - .elps autistic students to spea( to and communicate with others.
/eplace the use of mouse and (eyboard - 0or users who cannot grasp a mouse and want the
functionality of a P1. 'e.g the 2ell 3atitude 4* tablet.)
Minimize clutter with portable device - Such as the Android operating systems for smartphones
has support for multi-touch. 5sers can manage emails& contacts& calendars and hold virtual
meetings through a built-in webcam and microphone.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a multitouch interface? How useful is
it? Explain.
6,tremely good for ob"ect manipulations - *ouch& drag& 7pinch8 to zoom in and out& slide fnger
up and down or sideways as if they were physical ob"ects without moving a mouse& pressing
buttons or stri(ing (eys. 0or e,ample&Perceptive Pi,el o+ers pressure-sensitive multi-touch
displays that can sense an unlimited number of simultaneous touches with accuracy and
precision. *heir displays come bundled with the right software and have applications in
broadcasting& medical imaging& data e,ploration& digital storyboarding& industrial design and
more.
More versatile than single-touch interfaces - as opposed to the single-touch screen& which
recognizes only one touch point. Multitouch interface allows one or more fngers to perform
gestures to manipulate ob"ects.
Multi touch gestures are easier to remember than commands - 9ased on ingrained human
movement that do not have to be learned. touch is ideal for consuming!presenting information.
9ecause it is a more natural interface& it increases user productivity.
1ollaborative use - before the multitouch technology was invented& even with computer display
connected to an e,ternal pro"ector and another mouse& it was impossible for more than one
person to ma(e edits when pulling together a PowerPoint presentation. *here is now an operating
system that would support a minimum of dual input for 7group conversations8 on a single
wor(station. Made editing easier as more than one person can ma(e edits to a pro"ect or
presentations at the same time.
*here are some disadvantages for the multi touch that might be a problem to some and to
others might be only a simple accommodation to new technology.
6yes on
*ouch screen interfaces are nearly all 7eyes on8. :ou cannot type by touch while your eyes are
occupied elsewhere li(e most cases of ;<-;= year old (ids than can te,t and type without
loo(ing. >ith an all touch-screen interface you generally cannot start& stop& or pause your MP-
player& for e,ample& or close and answer your phone by reaching into your poc(et& purse& or
briefcase li(e you usually do since you don't have a one mechanical (ey to memorize it's location
and operate eyes free. *his ris(s serious accidents for e,ample if someone tries to operate a
multi touch car radio while driving.
.ands on
.andheld devices that rely on touch screens for input re?uire two hands to operate one to hold
the device and the other to operate it. *hus& operating them generally re?uires both eyes and
both hands. 5nli(e the usual phones that can be operated and held using one hand one hand to
hold the device and a fnger of the same hand to operate it.
0ingers on
:our fnger is not transparent the smaller the touch screen& the more you obscure what is being
pointed at. *hat is why a stylus or pointer should be used it is very s(inny and accurate in such a
way that nothing on the screen gets obscured. *here is a reason we don@t rely on fnger painting
even on large surfaces& writing or drawing with the fnger is generally not as e+ective as it is with
a brush or stylus. And on small surfaces& it is even more ine+ective to try and draw or write with
a fnger.
*his is a disadvantage as for note ta(ing and writing as well as for applications for drawing and
design since it is ine+ective& a stylus should be used instead to replace the (eyboard on a multi
touch surface.
Prices
Prices of such devices might be too high at the beginning as it is for every new emerging
technology. *hat might be a disadvantage and people might refrain to buy it and be afraid to try
new stu+ but eventually prices will continually decrease year after year until the product reaches
every customer it can in order to spread the new technology
Sourceshttp!!www.namahn.com!resources!documents!note-*ouchscreens.pdf
http!!www.oreillynet.com!mac!blog!<AA=!A;!theBfutureBofBmultitouch.html
Multi touch in businesses
Multi touch has several uses in the business model of today@s technological era. *here are
several connections that today@s case study will have to emphasize on. 6,amples are such as
Mobile applications
*ools for sales teams& technicians& medical sta+& logistics trac(ing& ban(ing& insurance& and
teaching professional mobile apps are popping up in all industry sectors& particularly for tablets.
.ere are some of the latest to appear on the mar(et
C An in-store digital sales companion developed by S0/ 'Dodaphone) for its in-store sales
representatives. >ith access to catalogues& prices& special o+ers& real-time updates& etc.& the
sales reps now have new ways to pitch and sell products and services via an attractive interface.
C >hat do 3@ErFal& the 0rench boy scouts and 9ouygues have in common# *hey all use the
services of 75rban Gaming8& a 0rench company that claims to 7turn the city into a playground8
with touch-screen tablet-based team-building and incentive activities. 6?uipped with tablets with
7serious game8 apps& the teams are let loose in a city as part of a team-building e,ercise with a
di+erence.
he long!neglected o"ce!based wor#ers
*ouch-screen devices are huge at the moment tablets enhance users@ image and are ideal for
mobile sta+ and e,ecutives. 9ut what about sta+ who are chained to their des(s all day#
*he future will doubtless see an increase in interactive des(s& i.e. touch-screen features but
copied onto a physical des(& with all the advantages of interactive& paperless functions.
C Microsoft and Samsung have already begun with the launch of Surface <, a HA@@ multi-touch
table that can be laid horizontal or mounted on to four legs and costing around IJ&AAA. %t can be
used for anything from medical imaging to air patrol confguration and post-Kight debriefng 'as
demonstrated by 2assault at this year@s Paris Air Show). 1anadian company 6,oP1 is also
wor(ing on a HA@@multi-touch interactive des( that is compatible with >indows = and can be
hoo(ed up to a monitor. 6,o2es( will be on sale for around I;&AAA.
Souce http!!www.econo-blog.com!blog!multi-touch-devices-and-apps-for-businesses!#lang$en