Multi-touch table as conventional input device

Abstract

In order to improve the functionality of multi-touch devices, the possibility of using them as input devices for other computers needs to be reviewed. The idea is, to get rid of many different peripherals (e.g. keyboard, mouse, multi-touch pad) by using a single multi-touch display. Furthermore the display can be used as an additional monitor to show for example toolbars, which can be directly manipulated through multi-touch gestures. We implemented a prototype, which provides an adaptive keyboard that shows shortcut keys for different applications, a multi-touch pad as well as the option to drag&drop standard Windows widgets onto the multi-touch table, which can be controlled by direct touch input. A user study was conducted to test the current system and to get information about the further approach to this concept. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.