MTmini - How To
.
6-27-08 ANNOUNCMENT: NEW MAC/LINUX/WIN Version getting closer to beta release! =)
Multitouch Mini (MTmini) - My Cheap Multitouch Pad
NUIGROUP.COM - For all your multitouch needs
Downloads
MTmini Discussions:
- MTmini Hardware Discussion: http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/1731/
- MTmini Software Discssion: http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/1825/
What’s a MTmini?
Materials
- Cardboard Box
- Piece of Clear Flat Sturdy Material (ie. Glass, acrylic, plexiglas) Paper (ie. printer paper, tracing paper, almost any paper)
- Webcam or Video Camera (I use a Philips SPC900NC)
- Computer (dual core recommended, but not needed)
- Optional Picture Frame
Total Cost: $5 - $50
Software and Demos
MTmini Package v1 here - Includes: Touchlib rev (393) Writen by David Wallen , Demos and Getting Started Instruction Guide.
How’s it Work and What Conditions are Necessary?
For this to work, all you need is a room with (at least) some light. The results will be best when the room lighting is even (no bright lights shinning from one direction onto the multitouch pad).
When you place you fingers on the surface, shadows are created where your fingers are. The webcam sees these shadows and sends the image to the tracking software which tracks the shadows as they
Coming Soon
- MAC version of the software.
- Simple Techniques for reducing the box height (mirrors, wideangle camera lens).
For more information, visit:
- http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini
- MTmini Hardware Discussion: http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/1731/
- MTmini Software Discssion: http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/1825/
- http://www.nuigroup.com/forum
Thanks to:
If you like this page (even just a little bit), please digg it:
This is brilliant, thanks for the great idea. I’m building one right now and will then try mounting it in a desk to so the touch surface is flush with the desk. Do you know if these multi-touch libraries have been ported to work on the mac?
Thanks!
This is so cool! I didn’t think I’d be able to make something like this from so little. Thank you!
Hey, where do I select which camera to use? I have two web cams (one built into my laptop), and the other a normal usb one. When I load up any of the apps (configapp.exe, mousedriver.exe, etc..) I get a bunch of windows but neither one of my cams are being used. Did I miss an important step?
I try to make a tablet pen from a ballpen attached little tiny smd led . Your project is very cool !
Pretty sweet… what is nice about this was it was fun for me to construct with my 4 year old… Human interaction projects are amazing withthe kids…
Thanks for putting it up there.
Ryan, that’s great to hear! I’d love to see pictures. I’ll be putting a package of software together that will include some great demos that kids would love. Check back for updates soon. =)
I would love to install and try this but I think I will wait for the photo app to come out first thats what I really want anyways.
Email me when it comes out PLEASE.
Ethan
I am thinking about making this into a Coffee Table type design to use with a PC hooked up to my living room TV.
Can you put a piece of plexi-glass over the paper and still have it function the same way?
Also, making the box bigger and more of a rectangle be a problem? (Length 6′ x 4′ Depth 3′
@ Ethan, a new download package should be out soon (including Photo App).
@Christopher, as long as the plexi-glass on the paper isn’t too thick it should still work just fine. The farther away your fingers are from the paper, the less contrast your finger shadows will have. A bigger size is definitely dooable =) check the rest of my blog out, and you can see I have a bigger Multitouch Table with visual feedback. So a large MTmini would work just as well! =) I’d love to see pictures/video if you do it.
This looks like great fun! I set up the MTmini with my Logitech camera. Thing is, I’m finding it hard to create a result as good as that in your screenshot. Using the provided XML stops touchlib from working. I’m stressed out as I would love to play with this.
Any help appritiated,
Emmet
Try using this config: http://nuispace.com/ss/config.zip
Cerupcat, that looks great, but now I’ve lost the ability to selct which video input to choose. It seems I’m stuck with my TV card noise.
Thank you again,
Emmet
I built the hardware, but still stuck onto what to do with touchlib, would love to get some help
Hi Elia, there will be a tutorial up soon. Until then, try and be patient =)
thx! i ve been trying, but i can’t get it to recognize my camera (otherwise working in XP)
[...] DIY Tiny $50 multitouch surface Building a small portable multitouch pad Have fun and make a MTmini! This uses Front Diffused Illumination, with normal ambient light (infrared not required or needed) and a normal off-the-shelf webcam (IR filter can still be in place). So hot. (tags: diy howto multitouch awesome) [...]
[...] si legge da questo blog è possibile creare una piattaforma completamente amatoriale e un software analizza e filtra le [...]
Hey, I built it by following the tutorial.
But, I have 1 problem…
I can’t do anything on swf….the swf just don’t respond to my movement.
How to solve?
where is the turtorial i have already build tthe object but i only need to install the software but i don’t know how.
so can someone please makea turtorial or vid hof to istall the software!!!
[...] por Seth Sandler. Más información (en inglés). | Vía: [...]
Please be patient, I’ve made an announcment at the top saying there will be a tutorial (instructions). I can only work so fast.
Maikel, the config.xml file goes inside the touchlib folder and replaces the current config.xml file.
awesome!
It looks great I will try it soon … are you planning on making it work on a drawing software, such as paint?
Lolita.
A new tutorial! Woohoo, you are great, keep it up!
Thats a really great soft you wrote!
Will there be an easy to install package (.deb or .rpm or .tgz etc.)for Linux anytime soon?
zmjjmz, I’m not sure yet if there will be a linux install package. Touchlib (the tracking software) does run on linux though, but you must compile yourself right now. If you’d like to compile yourself (doesn’t take too long) go here: http://www.multigesture.net/articles/touchlib-compiling-instructions-ubuntu/ for instructions on how to compile touchlib on linux. Smoke will also work on linux, along with the flash applications (some of which I’ll be releasing very soon).
People, if all you see is grey check if you have touchlib beta v2.0 instead of v1.0 its easy to get the downloads confused as they are really near in the same page. calibrating now…..hard work to do an night ……..good luck
Hello!
EXCELLENT!
This week I will try to build one of this. I’ll buy a fine webcam to aproach that trick!
So long!
[...] Link: http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini/ [...]
Hey, I just started building one of these, purely on an experiemental/entertainment basis.
I was wondering; can I use this as a replacement for my mouse? IE, will it be able to interact with normal Windows applications? I saw that this was done with Windows Mousedriver in the video: is that a part of TouchLib?
Thanks.
[...] [link] Segnala presso: [...]
This is a the coolest thing I ever seen in the last two decades :))
i dont no how to get it working on XP im really stuck can u tell me how to do it, what to open ect. thnx
[...] fix, multi-touch, multiple, patch, touchlib, two, webcam Today I saw this excellent HOWTO at http://ssandler.wordpress.com/mtmini/ on how to make your very own multi-touch pad, which is the coolest thing i’ve ever seen [...]
Seth ~ I might have a solution to the lighting issue. Have you been to a restaurant that displayed a menu with neon grease pens? Same concept. Focus the light into the edge of the glass (plexi has been proven to work best). I think the camera will pick up on the light in the glass before ambient lighting. Maybe some leds powered by the camera usb cable. Another idea… Put a document protector over the paper allowing folks to draw or sketch with dry erase or wet wipe pens.
Hi Skip. I like your thoughts. If you look at the rest of my blog you can see I’ve build a Multitouch Table (with projection) and method similar to what you’re talking about (focusing light into the edge of acrylic).
For the MTmini, ambient light is actually a benefit. There’s isn’t really a lighting issue. As long as there’s shadows it’ll work. Shinning light into the sides of acrylic takes a lot more (not making this How-To as easy), but it’s a good thought. I tried to make the easiest working solution for people to get started.
As for projection, you can’t use projection without using infrared light. The light on the projector would confuse the camera (since it will see the projection), this infrared light is needed (which is just an added step to more work). If you’re interested in this, check out nuigroup.com where a whole community of people are building multitouch tables.
[...] autres accessoires ? Vous êtes nominés pour vous créer un multi touch pad maison. C’est ssandler qui donne la recette avec ses ingrédients, son budget (comptez entre 5 et 50$) et les softwares [...]
hi first great work but i have just one question where do i get the full tourtorial on how to build this desk: how to set up projector and mirror and ir leds to all work??
Hi Xpayne,
This MTmini page is only about building a non projector based multitouch pad. The rest of my blog shows some of the steps to building a full table, but I don’t have a full tutorial up yet. For information on nuilding a full table with projector, mirror and LEDs I would recommend joining nuigroup.com/forum where we discuss how to build these.
Fascinating ideia! It seems to be great!
Tomorrow I’ll start to build mine, hope I do everything right =)
Thanks!
[...] progetto si chiama MtMini ed è di semplicissima costruzione. Di cosa necessitiamo: carta, uno scatolone di cartone, un [...]
[...] Instructions Here [...]
[...] by AudioTouch - [...]
[...] más información y ayuda pueden visitar el blog de los creadores, está en inglés pero es todo muy entendible, sin duda hacer un touchpad casero nos ahorra mucho [...]
[...] a cool howto on making your own multi-touch pad! This DIY should get you jump started on your next cool multi-touch project or at least you can [...]
Would I be able to tweak the windows driver for use in design applications such as Photoshop like a drawing tablet? Great work by the way, gonna pick up a webcam tomorrow!
Hi. Great job, but i have a question. The camera must be infrared sensitive? Or a normal camera is good? With my camera i not have any moviment and the finger don’appears white (infrared effect?). Thx so much!!!!
[...] vidéo de Seth Sandler va vous permettre de réaliser un multitouch pad en quelques minutes et pour quelques euros [...]
I have two cams in my laptop, and the touchlib always uses the built on the screen of the laptop, and not the usb-cam. How can i choose which cam to use?
[...] http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini LET THE WORLD KNOW: [...]
I have a question…what’s the software for mouse function?
how do you know where to place your fingers on the pad? Is there a better way to know where to place fingers than just guessing?
Hi,
I know you said you’re working on it, but when you release it will you release it on this website?
I’m trying to make one of these but am waiting for the Mac version to be released as I tried compiling the software on my own (no luck
Thanks
[...] What’s interesting to see is how Google is enabling these Surface-like, multi-touch efforts through it’s student summer programming programs. There’s a whole TouchLib that Google is hosting here which was built in part during this past summer. If you want to experiment with the binaries you can download them here and build your own multi-touch panel using the video below as a guide and Seth Sanders’ description on his blog. [...]
[...] Il blog: http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini/ [...]
[...] seen in those Youtube videos of multitouch screens for ages. I would highly recommend visiting here and checking out the video below, I will be trying to make it and will hopefully succeed. Wish me [...]
[...] You can build your own in about 30 minutes or so. All you need is a camera, a USB camera, and well, a box. Seth Sandler provides a great how-to on his blog here. [...]
Hey man,
Awesome idea. Any chance we can incorporate this in photoshop? The main problem I would think would be that using a pen might not create enough of a shadow for the webcam to pick up under the normal ambient lighting conditions, but perhaps I am wrong. Also, does the camera’s response time really lend itself to such applications? Just some thoughts. Again, awesome design.
[...] Informationen sowie die Software gibt es hier. Teile und hab Spaß These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]
Does the camera need to have infrared(ir) light or I can use it with my Creative Live!(http://ee.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=218&subcategory=219&product=1614
<- that one
http://ee.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=218&subcategory=219&product=16148 <- this is the actual website
[...] [Quelle] Bookmarken bei: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
[...] Die Anleitung und die benötigte Software findet ihr hier. [...]
Hi, really interesting!
I’m considering to build one using a hollowed CTR monitor: do you think it’s possible?
Hi! I would like to know if this could could be used with fingerprint recognition software, if yes please post any info you have it would make my job much easier,
Thanks the idea amazing.
what about using a laptop webcam to allow for a smaller box? buy one off ebay and wire it into the usb
[...] MTmini - How To build a cheap Multitouch Table (tags: diy hack howto multitouch projects interface interaction software tracking vision) [...]
I’ve tried it and it was terrible cool!
[...] Everyone has the stuff at home to build this. Crazy how easy it is. Download the software HERE [...]
Wow…amazing idea, works fien with the demos….but mine seems to not want to integrate with windows…. Help?
@jae: I used a Microsoft NLQ-6000 notebook webcam in a box 7×7″. Works fine.
@MKNigol: The multi-touch box uses natural lighting.
@Alessandro: Are you seeing anything at all with your camera? If so, do you have more than one camera on your computer? Some multi-camera setups don’t seem to work. Otherwise, make sure you have enough ambient light outside of the box for your gf to cast a good shadow on the paper.
@Qebm: It’ll work in any container, but give a box a try first. It’s easy enough and will give you an idea of how this all works. Plus, it’s nice and light.
@Bavalova: Would be neat to have a paint program that worked with multi-touch. Not sure if you’ll have the precision you want though in Photoshop.
hello cerupcat,
i was just wondering if I could use this as a substitute for my mouse without any possible problem in the long run? thanx!!!
I never thought about something like this, it is awesome, I would like to build one that words with the eyes
works*
HI! I really really really want to do this but I downloaded your software and when i did the instructions (click config) all it did was bring up the command prompt window for like 3 seconds and dissapear again. Im using a windows xp and it hasnt been going well.
I ‘ve already made the box and everything! 
It may be because I like messing with codes in notepad and I may just need to erase everything form computer again. 
Hopefully you know a solution but if not I ‘ll see what I can do. 
I have had similar problems with the software. When I double clicked on the configuration batch, a message popped up saying, “the application has failed to start because cv100.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem”. This is also the second time i had to download the software, the first time it wouldn’t unzip the main folder claiming there were no files in it. I am using XP home edition SP2.
Any help would be greatly appreciate. I really honor what you guys are doing here
@ Austin and Bryan: are you using the MTmini Software Package v1? Make sure you are using that package and not the touchlib beta v2 one.
@Bryan, the Mtmini Software Package v1 has the cv100.dll which makes me thing ur using the touchlib one.
Great tutorial — I wanted to try it so badly that I bought a webcam just for it!
Looking forward to the mac package.
Thank you
Best regards
Amazing stuff!
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THIS IS GREAAAT
, but i have problem . When i start Configuraion.bat the dialog box ( black one ) is open for very litle time ( <1 sec ) and then it’s closing. Can you help me ?!?! PLEASEE!!!
Congratulations…. your Idea is simple, but the simple solution is the hardest to find. I will try to build one for me here in Brazil.
Great Idea.
Marcos
i installed it and it says ” The Compressed (zipped) Folder is invalid or corrupted” it it wont unzip,
please help,,
iphonemod@gmail.com
Man this is awesome! I suppose you’ve seen the creation of multitouch pad with using a controller and receiver from Wii console but this is much much easier to create for anybody! I am going to try this at the weekend I hope. Thank goes to you.
Hey,
I was just wondering could this multitouch pad be used as the computer mouse. For example use the pad as an alternative to the mouse?
Sounds great.
Have a good day.Thanks
[...] http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini/ Don’t have a Multitouch Table yet? Have one, but need something smaller for testing? Building [...]
I can’t download that software MTMini, maybe some body want to help me to send it on my email address “madegagah@yahoo.com”. i very interest about that software but I can’t download.
thanks guys 4 ur kindnese
i have built the pad, but when I try and configure it, only the first three screens do anything. The others are just black. If you can help, please do so.
to fix the issue where the windows after the first three are just black during configuration you need to find the brighness and contrast settings for your webcam and tweak them I did this and after about 5 minutes I found a brighness and a contrast setting that finally worked
@ anon: You can fix this by pressing ‘b’ after configapp starts. It’ll recapture your background. This only happens on a few webcams.
@ DD: yes you can use this as a mouse. A new mousedriver will be released soon.
Hi, just wondering could I use a Sony Mini-DV Camera plugged into a Mini-Dv port in my laptop instead of a web cam? and If yes what would I have to change for it to work?
Thanks Heaps
Milo
[...] table. Here’s how to make your own multitouch pad for $50. Software and hardware updates here. Tags: Hardware, multitouchShare [...]
[...] YouTube - How to Make a Cheap Multitouch Pad - MTmini Software dazu gibt es hier: MTmini - How To AudioTouch and more http://nuispace.com/ss/MTmini%20package%20v1.zip [...]
[...] Weitere Informationen sowie die Software gibt es hier. [...]
Wow. This is great! but i have little problems like really fast movement of the ‘mouse’ and it does sometimes ‘free will’ things unless if i disconect the real mouse and i dont touch the ’screen’. please help me how to avoid this!
the “MTmini Software Package v1″ doesn’t seem to be working.
i have tried to download it from 3 different computers and in all 3 i couldn’t get the complete file.
after like a minute it says that the download is completed, even though it haven’t reached anywhere near 41 mb.
like one would expect, i didn’t manage to unzip the files.
maybe it needs to be re-uploaded??
if its just me, can someone please please send me the file to
vertigo911@gmail.com
cerupcat - maybe you can send me the zip. file?
thanks ahead
@ Sylwia: a new mousedriver will released that is more stable soon. The current one isn’t very good.
@YW: I’ve changed the place the download is located. See if the new link works better.
Yes the mouse is kind of unstable, maybe in the next one you could make it where it doesnt go click-crazy, haha.
But man, you are doing good because YOU writing the software must be soo hard! You are smart though.
Hi. I’m really impressed in how easy you made to construct an multi-touch user interface, for that, kudos for you!
Now, the real thing is, I got really intrested on implementing this sistem, and would like to know more about how you/whoever did code the flash applications to work with the MTmini. Is it possible to post the flash version of any of the apps?(Specialy photo?)
Cheers, and great job!
[...] 有讀者問是否可以只製作 Multitouch 面板就好，這也可以。在這篇文章當中有介紹多點觸控 (Multitouch) [...]
[...] 有讀者問是否可以只製作 Multitouch 面板就好，這也可以。在這篇文章當中有介紹多點觸控 (Multitouch) [...]
yeah mac mac mac mac !!!!!
_________________________________
punk in drublic
daemon dosnt have digievolution
[...] dobozból http://ssandler.wordpress.com/mtmini « előző | Benke Zsolt — 2008. 05. 16. [...]
I’ve made this, it rules man, but you have to use it only on bright day, at lots of lights it’s no good (at least my) because of to much shadows
[...] Not to be outdone by the current rage surrounding the homemade Wii remote interactive white board comes a homemade multi-touch surface. A simple webcam, a box, a piece of glass and tracing paper allows you to interact with your Windows machine through a multi-touch interface. These interfaces are being developed by a number of companies, with Microsoft being one of them, and are being used by a number of cable news networks for displaying and interacting with the US Primaries election data. Materials, discussion and software can be found on the website of the undergraduate students blog wh…. [...]
hi
your work is realy good I would like use this whit compiz in my ubuntu 8.04
I use in Windows XP whith framework 2.0 and java 1.6 but the server no run
the smoke run well
you can help?
when I run the server directly say me that the aplication can run; and that i can reinstall this
help me
[...] http://ssandler.wordpress.com/mtmini/ [...]
Hey, great piece of work, that
I’ve sort of drifted here from the wii-whiteboard project. Sure, this one doesn’t have the display (btw: I know the way this works seems to preclude integrating the display with multitouch, but still - would love to see that sometime :)), but that’s acceptable trade-off for me, as you’ve just saved me whatever the wiimote costs, thanks
I’m wondering, though, how does the software handle widescreen displays? I mean, all I have at home are those, and there are apparently no webcams (save for the costly logitech one) that do anything other than 4:3 format. Any information would be greatly appreciated (in absence of it, I guess I’ll provide some, as I’ll start working on my multitouch as soon as tomorrow ;))
Highest regards,
Keph
Oh man, this is extremely cool<3 I need some help though… I followed everything in the getting started pdf. Configuration, server, and gateway bat files works great as far as I can see.
1) My entire touch pad is only mapped to the top left quarter of my display screen in Smoke_demo.bat. Is there a way to map the pad to the entire screen?
2) Are we supposed to keep the server and gateway .bat files open as we use the flash demos?
It’s kind of confusing because the configuration.bat had to be closed for the default smoke demo to work.
3) Flash still can’t register any touch events even though I gave permission to the ‘MTmini package v1′ folder.
Thanks. ^^
[...] This is a video showing a Nokia N95 with Mabiola Webcam USB working as a multitouch surface.More info: http://ssandler.wordpress.com/MTmini/ [...]
Here’s what you can do if you have low, inadequate light.
1. get a flashlight or more, make one from an LED and a battery (I found one in an old light of popsicle stick I bought for a quarter (it was expired though, still tasted good, a bit chewy)) or anything that produces light even a phone.
2. change the settings in your camera to inverted, I thought it was inpossible to do this but then I logged into yahoo instant messeger, chatted with nobody, turned on the webcam >preferences>camera settings>special effects, invert
3. then start the app. and use the light/s on the surface, you don’t even need the box! just in the air!
pics later
hey great idea but i’m havening trouble with the image i keep getting grey screens and i have tried the help section and it hasn’t worked. got any ideas
cheers any help would be much appreciated
Hi, I want build a multitouch table, but osx based…. The software for mac is already done, or is it under development?
Can you help me?
Thank you
Marco
Hey surf, multiguesture.net is another guy like this, he is coming out with linux and all that. Hope that helps you.
@ Surfparadise: an OSX based version will be released soon. Please check back here and nuigroup.com for updates.
“an OSX based version will be released soon. Please check back here and nuigroup.com for updates.”
YES!! Thank you!!
[...] that everyone is on the multi-touch bandwagon new systems are popping up all over. Seth Sandler’s solution is fairly ingenious. It uses a piece of paper and a camera to create a camera-based [...]
[...] that everyone is on the multi-touch bandwagon new systems are popping up all over. Seth Sandler’s solution is fairly ingenious. It uses a piece of paper and a camera to create a camera-based [...]
[...] that everyone is on the multi-touch bandwagon new systems are popping up all over. Seth Sandler’s solution is fairly ingenious. It uses a piece of paper and a camera to create a camera-based [...]