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Multi-Touch (Apple iPhone / iPod touch)
In the 70s it was LED digital watches, in the 80s it was PCs, in the 90s it was stylus based PDAs. Now the noughties has its defining technology - the multi-touch interface, sported most famously by the iPhone and the iPod touch.
As its name suggests, multi-touch is where a surface can detect multiple contacts, making gesture based interfaces a reality, a step above the simple touch screens we've had for many years. This has revolutionised the way users can interface with their devices. No longer do gadgets have to be festooned with buttons; we can manipulate them in a more personal, connected manner.
The iPhone and latterly the iPod touch, have brought this into the mainstream in a big way as implemented into mobile Safari. If you're viewing a web page say, the chances are that you won't be able to read the text on the relatively small display. Instead you place two fingers on the screen, move them apart and the page will zoom in, and then re-render for clarity. The same method is used to look at and zoom in on pictures. If you haven't actually experienced it, it's worth finding your nearest Apple store and giving it a go - it's not hyperbole to describe it as revolutionary.
Naturally enough, we've seen everyone jump on the multi-touch bandwagon, such as HTC rather lamely hacking on a faux touch interface onto its Touch.
However, multi-touch can be so much more, as breathtakingly demonstrated in this demo of a true large screen multi touch screen by Jeff Han. This uses the whole hand rather than just two fingers, and gives a strong clue as to where desktop computer interfaces could go. As he says in the presentation, "the interface kind of disappears" and you see him moving around digital photos, zooming in on a 3D map, and creating animated puppets.
Microsoft has implemented some of this into its Surface table, but Apple has to take credit as bringing it to the masses, via the iPhone/touch.
In the 70s it was LED digital watches, in the 80s it was PCs, in the 90s it was stylus based PDAs. Now the noughties has its defining technology - the multi-touch interface, sported most famously by the iPhone and the iPod touch.
As its name suggests, multi-touch is where a surface can detect multiple contacts, making gesture based interfaces a reality, a step above the simple touch screens we've had for many years. This has revolutionised the way users can interface with their devices. No longer do gadgets have to be festooned with buttons; we can manipulate them in a more personal, connected manner.
The iPhone and latterly the iPod touch, have brought this into the mainstream in a big way as implemented into mobile Safari. If you're viewing a web page say, the chances are that you won't be able to read the text on the relatively small display. Instead you place two fingers on the screen, move them apart and the page will zoom in, and then re-render for clarity. The same method is used to look at and zoom in on pictures. If you haven't actually experienced it, it's worth finding your nearest Apple store and giving it a go - it's not hyperbole to describe it as revolutionary.
Naturally enough, we've seen everyone jump on the multi-touch bandwagon, such as HTC rather lamely hacking on a faux touch interface onto its Touch.
However, multi-touch can be so much more, as breathtakingly demonstrated in this demo of a true large screen multi touch screen by Jeff Han. This uses the whole hand rather than just two fingers, and gives a strong clue as to where desktop computer interfaces could go. As he says in the presentation, "the interface kind of disappears" and you see him moving around digital photos, zooming in on a 3D map, and creating animated puppets.
Microsoft has implemented some of this into its Surface table, but Apple has to take credit as bringing it to the masses, via the iPhone/touch.
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