Desktop OS X Multi-Touch Framework Concept, Demo

[hijofrizbe]

Maybe NOT for the average Joe...

I said this a while back, when iMac's started to hit more and more businesses' desks and check out isles. I wonder what kind of economic boost would hit apple if they made a product that was geared mainly toward the business sector by having touch screens. (We've all seen what iMac's can do as cash registers via our local Apple Store - now imagine it with out a mouse or keyboard?) NCR is a major competitor in this sector (along with a few other crappy based companies, ie. Dell); they also are apart of AT&T, which would also make for a VERY interesting watch.
I can't realistically see this coming to a desk near me, but the local resturant or apple store - sure. The possibility of a tablet... if that's the true implications of the touch technology, is a bit far fetched for me still, especially with the new(er) releases of MacBook(s) and the MacBook Air.

 

[sighlent]

MS wasn't first
Jeff Han wasn't even first

Check out this page by Bill Buxton, scroll down for implementations dating back to the early 80s
http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html

 

[gcmexico]

You have to go see Iron man and quick!!!

Whatever man. You can be the first and only one to purchase this crap. I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but this seems pretty stupid to me.

***
that movie had some sick tech...if Apple can create a touch tablet anything close to what it was like in the movie..I'm sold!! Also, the movie had all major characters using video calls on their cell phones (it was a verizon type fon, with a video camera in the front)...I so hope the new Iphone will have that option!!! For those that are about to jump on me, saying hey that was a movie, it's all fake!!! hold your horses most of the stuff that has been appearing on movies is now coming out

 

[stephenli]

Have you seen the 'Surface' computer by MS? A $10,000 1.5 ton box filled with infrared sensors, cameras, projectors, lenses, supported by mechanical arms driven by electronic engines. It now seems outdated before having the chance to reach the market. Once again, one giant leap forward for technology, one small step backward for MS.

Does it powered by...Windows? Will it have Blue screen of death?
Actually I like the idea of coffee table + computer, but I still cannot think of a good way to use it at home, and it is at concept stage and to be too expensive.
A small, Apple Multi-touch tablet would be very nice.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

You mean...

I dunno, I'm thinking just something like this. It's easy, practical, your fingers can still feel where they are on the keyboard, you've got the convenience of a real numberpad, and the total human touch of the touchpad. I'd go with a MBP-like touchpad over a glass one, since it stays smooth, whereas the glass on the iPhone gums up the motion as it gets oily.

Much like how MT was more subtly implemented on the MBP's, I think this makes sense with the way people use desktops. They aren't going to want to be using a touchpad to do everything, but it's right there when needed, and it'd do a much better job of cursor control than a mouse.

No doubt jobs likes revolutionary, as do I, but I see desktops as somewhat limiting in their ergonomics. If you were going to have a touchscreen monitor on your Mac Pro, you'd want it positioned like a Wacom Monitor, like you hold and read a book sitting at a table. But this desktop arrangement is cumbersome and is one that people usually set up only when they need it, adn then take down again when they're done with that task.

Revolutionary is a fully functional touchscreen tablet built around MT.

I'll make a couple mockups.

 

[Otaviano]

I really can't believe that there are so many posters arguing against this technology. Where are the forward thinkers? This is Apple, the company that told us to think different.

Why would multi-touch replace a keyboard and mouse rather than augment it? With the technology we have, a wireless keyboard and mouse need only be arms reach away. Imagine a tablet mac roughly the size of a MacBook Pro. It comes with a stand and can be position like an easel, or it can be laid flat down on your desk. As I already said, the keyboard and mouse only as complicated as turning on bluetooth on the machine.

Then imagine all of the radical applications that can be made. The most blatant is clearly a touch version of Photoshop, but that's only the beginning. Creative applications would have a renaissance under this technology. A pro DJ application that pulls songs from iTunes and allows you to manipulate them on screen (pitch shift, scratch, mix). For years now DJs have been dragging their laptops out and using them in their routines, now the laptop would be the only piece of equipment they need. Even an application like Final Cut Pro could become an entire new experience as you can quickly scroll and scrub through footage with your hands.

 

[headfuzz]

I dunno, I'm thinking just something like this. It's easy, practical, your fingers can still feel where they are on the keyboard, you've got the convenience of a real numberpad, and the total human touch of the touchpad. I'd go with a MBP-like touchpad over a glass one, since it stays smooth, whereas the glass on the iPhone gums up the motion as it gets oily.

Much like how MT was more subtly implemented on the MBP's, I think this makes sense with the way people use desktops. They aren't going to want to be using a touchpad to do everything, but it's right there when needed, and it'd do a much better job of cursor control than a mouse.

No doubt jobs likes revolutionary, as do I, but I see desktops as somewhat limiting in their ergonomics. If you were going to have a touchscreen monitor on your Mac Pro, you'd want it positioned like a Wacom Monitor, like you hold and read a book sitting at a table. But this desktop arrangement is cumbersome and is one that people usually set up only when they need it, adn then take down again when they're done with that task.

Revolutionary is a fully functional touchscreen tablet built around MT.

I'll make a couple mockups.

Your mockup indicates that Apple don't like left handed people

 

[DMann]

D-o-s

Does it powered by...Windows? Will it have Blue screen of death?
Actually I like the idea of coffee table + computer, but I still cannot think of a good way to use it at home, and it is at concept stage and to be too expensive.
A small, Apple Multi-touch tablet would be very nice.

Yes, it is powered by Windows, and is indeed prone to the 'Blue-Screen-Of-Death. A Mac Tablet could easily outperform such a cumbersome and clunky monstrosity, which would be not be restricted to being anchored down by outdated machinery and hardware. Looking forward to WWDC 2008.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Your mockup indicates that Apple don't like left handed people

Nope, look again. That's what I meant before about the unit being modular. That touchpad unit would plug in on either side. ...or just be wireless I suppose, but then, more batteries, more pairing...

 

[macfan70]

Touch Screen Desktop

I think the touch OS for a desktop is a great idea but it needs a hardware fix.
I just recently went through an ergonomic evaluation at work and learned a few things. First the screen has to be level with you eyes and the keyboard has to be low and level with your arms at rest on the arm rests of the chair. This makes the use of a large flat screen on your desk but at an angle not a very good option. So maybe we need a large curved touch screen ( pardon my rough mockup )

This way the interactive part of the screen is close to you for comfort sake and the viewable area it oriented at a more reasonable viewing angle.

Just my thoughts.

 

[DMann]

oled monitors

This makes the use of a large flat screen on your desk but at an angle not a very good option. So maybe we need a large curved touch screen ( pardon my rough mockup )

This way the interactive part of the screen is close to you for comfort sake and the viewable area it oriented at a more reasonable viewing angle.

Just my thoughts.

Great mockup. You are correct, and on the cutting edge of OLED technology. This will indeed be possible using OLED - a 3mm paper thin monitor with no back light necessary, 1,000,000/1 contrast ratio, and amazingly vivid and bright.

It was demoed by Sony at CES - Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ufs9Wx0VXQ

 

[ThunderSkunk]

ok, here's muy little experment. I'm using a neaat little app called trackpad.app in conjunction woth my jailbroken iphone, which is laying flat on my desktop next to my keyboard, and presntly undr my fingers.

i'm actially typing yhos on iphons touchscreen keyboard. i can type pretty efficenty on it usually, buy lying flat youre kidn of behind yourhand, and can't see what you're hitting. not so good, but it's a small keyboard. ...Ok, back to my imacs keyboard. Kind of what some suspected, typing on a flat, slick, featureless surface does keep your eyes pretty well fixated on it. Probably on-screen touch typing makes sense for portable devices.

However, using the iphone/trackpad as a mouse substitute was really nice. Not paying for a full touchpad license which includes ScreenView functionality (turns your iphone into a fully-functional touchscreen remote desktop for your mac) I disabled the feature entirely in prefs, so it's just a trackpad with no display components sucking any resources. In this condition, this particular app is very fast and efficient (MUCH moreso than its competitor VNSea), and the cursor motion is very fluid and controlled. Compared to my mighty mouse, it's very smooth. I find the setup works better rotated sideways to match the widescreen. Funny though, I couldn't keep another finger from dangling onto the screen occasionally and mucking things up. You kind of wind up holding your hand in this elevated "Claw" pose, which makes for a little kink in the wrist after a couple hours. But, the main thing is, the accuracy required for graphics work just isn't there, to no fault of the equipments'. You just don't have as much control in one unsupported fingertip blobbing around under the weight of an also unsupported hand as you do with a whole hand gripping a pencil or stylus and stabilizing itself on a surface.

If Apple makes a tablet, and intends for creative people to be able to use it for things like graphics & possibly even cad, SJ is going to have to eat his words on the stylus issue.

And by graphics work, I mean more than rotating jpgs to some arbitrary angle for viewing in a disorganized pile on your desktop. If I see one more demo of that I'm gonna strangle someone.

 

[dicklacara]

If Apple makes a tablet, and intends for creative people to be able to use it for things like graphics & possibly even cad, SJ is going to have to eat his words on the stylus issue.

Maybe not... Apple has a patent application for a virtual stylus. You arrange your thumb & fingers as if you are holding a pen or pencil and place them on the MT surface. The UI software triangulates the position of the virtual stylus from the finger positions. If done well, this should give more accuracy than a mouse, using the "natural" act of writing.

AIR, there is also a patent application where MT software can detect brush or pen "pressure" by evaluating the difference (in surface use) between a "normal" touch and a "pressed" touch.