What’s Going On With Multi-Touch Technologies?
Microsoft recently demonstrated it’s multi-touch screen-table intended for companies and corporations. Similar to the features recently demoed in Apple’s iPhone, the table (named Surface) allows you to manipulate images, videos and documents using touch-screen technologies. But before Apple announced the iPhone and its patented technologies, Jeff Han of Perceptive Pixel had demonstrated his very similar and jaw-dropping multi-touch display.
Before we go on, this table looks fantastic as demonstrated in the video below. I for one would welcome this kind of display for use in meetings, and even as a desk at home or at work — which so often tend to fill up with printed out papers and notes.
Perceptive Pixel, Apple iPhone, Microsoft Surface — all of these make me wonder even more what’s going on in the multi-touch world. Steve Jobs announced proudly at the first public iPhone demonstration that the multi-touch technology used in the iPhone is patented by Apple. Websearch turns up no reliable sources on whether there’s a relation to Jeff Han’s tech, but they do reveal some hints. An article by Pogue of the NYTimes claims that Jeff Han, founder of Perceptive Pixel knew about the iPhone in advance, and is quite jolly about it — albeit very mysterious, saying that there are some things he’s not allowed to talk about. There are also some that claim Apple had tried to hire Han, but were unsuccessful in their attempts.
Another thing to consider is that Apple acquired Fingerworks, a company run dry that specialized in touch- and gesturing technologies entirely unrelated to the tech of Jeff Han and Perceptive Pixel. Nevertheless, Han’s secrecy brings some questions to mind.
Ultimately, it leaves me with the following questions:
- Are Perceptive Pixel technologies being used in the iPhone?
- Has Apple bought the patent to those technologies?
- And now, is Surface in violation of any patents, have they come up with new technologies, or are they *gasp* leasing tech from Apple or Perceptive Pixel?
Let’s conclude with a video demonstration of Jeff Han’s amazing display.
[tags]Microsoft, Surface, Perceptive Pixel, iPhone, Apple, Jeff Han, video, multi-touch[/tags]
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4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Hrafn
Jeff Han appears in this Popular Mechanics video for Surface, explaining multitouch technologies. However, there’s nothing that explicitly states that he’s working with MS. Seems that he’s there only to provide commentary.
Jun 2nd, 2007
Tom
Just a thing about the technology showed by microsoft or Jeff Han, this is in no way new (screen+camera+projector). This in contrast with the IPhone wich uses a clever multi-touch lcd.
Recommended reading:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/01/fentem_microsoft_surface/
Jun 3rd, 2007
Kev
It’s very unlikely that anyone’s patents are anything like any others’ patents. Different base technologies, for one thing.
Sort of like, say, one laptop using a touchpad while another uses a mouse. They both use a hand and move a pointer, but that’s all.
Jun 10th, 2007
Hrafn
Regarding different based techs, I think both Perceptive Pixel tech and the MS Surface table use cameras for hand, gesture and object recognition. But, Yeah. By all likelyhood they’re unrelated.
The series of similar applications, oaths-to-silence, etc. are probably just coincidences or the media blowing stories out of proportion.
In any case, I was curious to hear whether Han had anything to do with Surface (or Apple). Thanks for the comments.
Jun 10th, 2007
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