Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Multi-touch and Interactive Whiteboards

What is multi-touch?

Basically it's using more than one finger or point of contact on a computer or electronic device's interface to control software programs using gestures (ex: pinching images to shrink them) or allowing more than one person to use a program (ex: 2 students writing with digital ink). You have most likely seen multi-touch in products like the i-phone, Microsoft Surface, the CNN touch screen used in the 2009 elections. Here's what wikipedia has to say:

Multi-touch is a human-computer interaction technique and the hardware devices that implement it. Multi-touch consists of a touch screen or touch tablet (touchpad) that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points and software to interpret simultaneous touches.

So what?

It's the next generation of human interaction with machines! Microsoft's next operating system, Windows 7 will support multi-touch and the devices that support Windows 7 will be able to take advantage of these new applications & touch features. So if you're using a single touch whiteboard, you won't be able to tap into the true touch potential of Windows 7 and other software titles that will support multi-touch.

Benefits for Educators:


1. New and exciting way to interact with content & software in the classroom.

2. Collaboration have more than one student manipulating and using the computer at once.

3. Use natural & intuitive interfaces to allow special needs users to overcome physical & mental accessibility issues that limits their interaction with software & hardware.

4. Using unique gestures to demonstrate, manipulate, simulate, & model processes.

5. The sheer awesomeness and "cool" points you will earn by making your Venn Diagram activity look like a scene from Minority Report.


Do interactive whiteboards have multi-touch?

Yes
, SMART, HITACHI, InterWrite/e-instruction, & Promethean to name a few...

For today's post I'll show SMART and follow up with other brands later.

SMART


DVIT Plasma/LCD TV Overlay
Supports 2 points of contact

This is a digitizing frame that is placed on top of a compatible flat screen display and turns it into a giant touch screen or interactive whiteboard.



Feedback: Expensive solution (Overlay + Flat Screen TV), the single touch operation is good, but I've seen the multi-touch response act kind of funky, so it's not the most natural and smooth system. You have to get a "feel" for it as opposed to the other way around, meaning the technology should be compensate and understand your gestures and what you're trying to do as opposed to you touching it just right.

SMART Table
Supports more than 2 points of contact

The SMART Table is a multi-touch table that allows multiple students to play interactive games and participate in e-learning activities. It claims to be, "the first multitouch, multiuser interactive learning center that allows groups of primary students to work simultaneously on its surface. " That's funny, I thought that was the chalkboard. Just kidding.



Feedback: The SMART table is like a fisher price version of Microsoft Surface. I think the idea is there and it's a good concept product, but I can't imagine dropping $7K-$8K on this and only having 4-5 kids working on it. If it was a more scalable & affordable technology that could be built into classroom tables with software publishers actively creating content for it, then they would really have something. We will just have to wait and see...

I think this Surface Parody captures my skepticism on the SMART table:



SMART Board SBD600
New - Interactive Whiteboard
Supports 2 points of contact with certain restrictions.

The SMART Board SBD600 is SMART latest interactive whiteboard that allows 2 students to interact with it. It seems to be using their familiar touch resistive technology, so from my understanding they have achieved dual touch through hardware, firmware, & software tweaks. The writing area is divided into 2 sides and does require some physical pressure when making contact, but pretty cool for SMART lovers looking for dual input.


Feedback:
It seems to have Hitachi's limitation of dividing the screen area in half when 2 users are writing. I'm guessing so the board can register the points of contact more easily. If the two users are too close to each other it might confuse the board, so you can't have 2 students freely writing wherever they want. Because the points of contact needs to be some distance apart this board is NOT likely to support the cool hand gestures such as zooming in and out. However, having 2 students interacting is a plus nonetheless.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi this one is great and is really a good post. I think it will help me a lot in the related stuff and is very much useful for me. Very well written I appreciate & must say good job..
Interactive whiteboard

Anonymous said...

Is it worth buying a Touch screen laptop?
display

Jhon Marshal said...

I have been reading your posts regularly. I need to say that you are doing a fantastic job. Please keep up the great work.
digital signage software

Jhon Marshal said...

It was another joy to see your post. It is such an important topic and ignored by so many, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more aware of possible issues. Great stuff as usual...
www.mcafee.com/mtp/retailcard

Smith said...

mcafee.com/activate Online Help :– Step by Step guide for McAfee Activate, Download & complete installation online. We are providing independent support service if in case you face problem to activate or Activate McAfee product. Just fill the form below and will get in touch with you as quick as possible.mcafee.com/activate

Jannifer Stone said...

Hey, Loved it. Thanks For sharing this post with us.
Fix Your Technical Problem With us. We are a team of the tech geeks. problem with Router, antiviruses, Windows, printer etc. Visit Best antivirus app for android mobile

Unknown said...



Please remember you can remove Antivirus popups with manual settings also. you just have followed the link in order to Stop Macafee Antivirus Pop-ups Kindly visit
Remove Mcafee Antivirus popups

Unknown said...

I appreciate your effort to collect genuine information.
Wireless router contains the router tech information which provides to the user to get resolve their router technical issues.

kamin bold said...

mcafee activate
mcafee activate
mcafee activate
mcafee activate
mcafee activate

Unknown said...

I read many blogs but your article is very informative. Thanks for sharing this information.

Roku Activation Code

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing such a nice piece of information to us.

Visit:
Mcafee.com/activate

iamashishgill said...

All Browser Service Helpline | Https-Browser
Just Call at once +1-877-718-7117 USA All Browser Customer care executives for fast assist and support offerings via Toll Free Phone. By Https Browser
Https Browser
Google Chrome Customer Service Number
Mozilla Firefox Customer Service Number
Safari Customer Service Number
Internet Explorer Customer Service Number

iamashishgill said...

All Browser Service Helpline | Https-Browser
Just Call at once +1-877-718-7117 USA All Browser Customer care executives for fast assist and support offerings via Toll Free Phone. By Https Browser
Https Browser
Google Chrome Customer Service Number
Mozilla Firefox Customer Service Number
Safari Customer Service Number
Internet Explorer Customer Service Number

mohd javed said...

Great blog thanks for sharing with me. If you have faced any issue then click on customer service . They are best. They have experts who are highly qualified and well trained in their field. They observe your problem and give the best solution read more... Hotmail customer service

James Mill said...

Just head on over to www.amazon.com/mytv enter code and adhere to the on-screen guidelines. Simply go to the Amazon Instant Video application on your LG TV or Blu-beam Player and afterward Prime Instant Video to begin viewing.

Office.com/setup said...

Sling TV Pack Activation Help
======================
www.Sling.com/Activate | Activate Sling Tv | Sling.com/Activate
www.Sling.com/Activate Roku Steps, Sling TV Packages and Sling TV offers you an amazing alternative for cable at a cheap price. You can avail of many live channels including local channels with the Sling TV package subscription. Sling TV is supported on many devices including Roku.

Merri Macartney said...


Home Cleaning Services Near Me
===========================
Cleangic | Home Cleaning Services Near Me | At Home Parlour Services Near Me
Cleangic provides Commercial Cleaning, Residential Cleaning services in Delhi, PG/Hostel Cleaning, Sanitizing, Room Cleaning, Birthday Decoration, Best Ac Repair, Salon Services and Women Home Parlour Services at your home.
We are Providing these Below services with Location wise in affordable price:
Home Cleaning Services in Laxmi nagar Delhi Ncr
Best Commercial Cleaning service in Laxmi nagar Delhi
Best Residential Cleaning service in Laxmi nagar Delhi
Best PG/Hostel Cleaning service in Laxmi nagar Delhi
Best Sanitizing Service in Laxmi nagar Delhi
Best Celebration Specials Services in Laxmi nagar Delhi

Merri Macartney said...


Explainer Video Company New York
===========================
Explainer videos Services new york | Explainer videos Company
Explainer videos company are short online marketing videos used to illustrate the product or service of your business. These videos are often placed on a landing page, your website home page, or a prominent product page.

Unknown said...

Steps to Configure Tubi Television on Your Own Apparatus: Inch Download the Tubi Television program in your own Television 2 Open the program and click on the house 3 Out Of house, click Sign in 4 The program on Television will display an activation code 5 Type the activation code properly 6 Tubi Television will trigger with No Issue
tubi.tv/activate | tubi.tv/activate enter code | tubi.tv/activate

John Ruth said...

hbomax.com/tvsignin
Cricut.com/setup
Turbotax.ca/download
itv.com/hub/pair
www.itv.com/hub/pair

Fantasy Power11 Khelo Apne Dum Pe said...

Ipl most dangerous teamMultiple Sports :Use Your Great Experience and Game Skills From Multiple Sports like Cricket Football and Basketball Etc.Instant Bank Withdrawal Fantasy Power 11 app is available only for the Android Platform Play Cricket and Win Money find the Best Fantasy Cricket tips only at Fantasy Power 11.