When was the last time you were amazed by a touch screen or touchpad that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points. Its no magic, but the attributes of Multitouch which uses a software to interpret simultaneous touches. Elaborately speaking, Multi-touch is a human-computer interaction technique, which is implemented by the hardware devices which can frequently include the position and pressure of each touch point independently.
The journey of MultiTouch since its beginning in the year 1982, which initiated with multi-touch tablets and multi-touch screens, have since been extemely successful and fulfilling in terms of the technological revolution it has brought about.
Making a humble yet firm beginning in 2005 with the first commercially successful professional multi-media controller ‘Lemur Input Device’ with display using multi-touch technology, Multitouch has indeed come a long way since then.
With more innovation in the anvil, Multitouch technology has been widely accepted and its implemention in devices featuring multi-touch with more varied finger gesture options, such as in Microsoft’s Surface technology, Apple’s iPod touch and MacBook Air says it all. Apple is strategising its integration in future versions of MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks too.
Technology experts believe that the year 2008 might be a turning point for Multitouch. Just as Apple completely transformed our vision of Multitouch technology with its breakthrough implementation in iPhone, there are indications that MacBook Pro is also set to get a of multitouch trackpad very soon.
Apple’s latest report on Multitouch indicates the integration of the same multi touch trackpad as the one on the MacBook Air in the next version of MacBook Pro. Reports also mention the viability of the new MacBook Pro in comparison to its predecessors; where the new portables will be based on Intel’s latest Penryn processors, which besides enhancing performance will also increase its battery life.
The media is also enlightened with technology reports indicating N-trig’s Multitouch Capabilities. N-trig, the provider of DuoSense™ technology is reported to have demonstrated its multitouch capabilities and hopefully will have it for OEM integration in DuoSense™ in May, 2008.
Now, what is it that makes people ‘wow’ at Multitouch? Most probably, it is the simplicity of technology and the new dimension of enhancing touch usability it has offered to users in interacting with the computer, that has added to it popularity. Just as N-trig refers to Multitouch as capacitive touch and not resistive touch, thereby, enabling the best touch experience in any input device for the personal computing industry.
