Multi-touch is tomorrow’s interface

By September, TinkerTouch is changing from a scientific project into a commercial spin-off. TinkerTouch specializes in the development of interactive multi-touch applications.

Business development manager at TinkerTouch, Filip Simoens, informed us at a recent edition of Friday Food: “Touch is the new big thing; even children as young as 11 complain if their first cell phone lacks touch features.” TinkerTouch is the result of a mutual research project run by IBBT and the University of Hasselt (EDM department) who had already done some previous research on the subject back in 2006. Today, TinkerTouch consists of a multidisciplinary, 4 –person team.

TinkerTouch’s main expertise lies in the development of software and interfaces that work best with multi-touch screens. However, the company prefers to undertake projects that involve the use of  both hardware and software components. Additionally, TinkerTouch covers other services such as application implementation, user education, and maintenance. 

When it comes to hardware platforms, the company uses a niche product as well as MuTable, developed by IBBT, which is based on FTIR-technology (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection). TinkerTouch also works with commercially available LCD touch screens. “This generally only involves dual touch screens, but even they offer plenty of possibilities.” Microsoft Surface is another possibility. TinkerTouch has already signed an agreement with a Belgian manufacturer for tailor-made screens.

Multi touch screens are applicable for use in many sectors, although their real potential is seen when used for marketing purposes: presentations at fairs and events, advertising… But the cultural sector also presents plenty of possibilities. For example, TinkerTouch developed an interactive timeline about historian Henri Pirenne for the University of Ghent library. By touching the screen people can scroll the timeline, and subpages with background information can be requested at a simple touch.

Opportunities are also present within the hospitality sector. TinkerTouch is currently developing, for a company based in Limburg, an application for use in soccer club VIP-lounges. In this case VIPs can request all kinds of information about different European soccer teams and players. Another such example, even closer to home, is the development of a collaboration tool for i.Lab.o which allowed researchers to use the touch screens during breakout sessions.

In fact, the possibilities are as good as endless. Clients can indulge their imaginations in thinking up all manner of applications. Even screen size is no obstacle: TinkerTouch investigated, for a museum, the potential of a several-meters-wide screen.

You can find the pictures of this event here.