3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

Favorite

How to Make a Cheap Multitouch Pad

video How to Make a Cheap Multitouch Pad

ALL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UPDATES WILL BE MADE ON MY BLOG:

http://sethsandler.com/multitouch/mtmini/

What's a MTmini?

A Multitouch Mini, MTmini for short, is a cheap, small, portable multitouch pad. It can be used for all different purposes including: drawing, OS navigation, multitouch operation, games, entertainment, experimentation, and more. I created the Multitouch Mini to show people how something that seems complicated or 'magical' can be made simply and at low cost.

The MTmini uses the "Front Diffused Illumination" multitouch technique, with normal ambient light (infrared not required or needed) and a normal off-the-shelf webcam (IR filter can still be in place). The MTmini technique is the first step in creating a full multitouch display.

-Parts List-

Box (ie. Cardboard, Plastic, etc)
Piece of Clear, Flat Sturdy Material (ie. Glass, acrylic, plexiglas)
Paper (ie. printer paper, tracing paper, almost any paper)
Webcam (most web cameras will work)
Computer (dual core recommended, but not needed)
Optional Picture Frame

Total Cost: $5 - $50

-How's it Work and What Conditions are Necessary?-

When you place your fingers on the surface, shadows are created where your fingers are placed. The webcam sees these shadows and sends the image to the tracking software which tracks the shadows as they move on the touch surface (paper).

All you need is a room with (at least) some light; a dark room will not work. Even room lighting gives the best results. Lights shinning from multiple directions onto the multitouch pad gives better results than lights from one direction.

-More Informatio including Software, Applications and More At-

http://sethsandler.com/multitouch/mtmini/

-Want to Build a Multitouch Surface?-

You can find information on how to make your own multitouch surface by viewing the How to Make a Multitouch Surface page.

192 comments

1-40 of 192

Apr 25, 2012. 6:47 PMarjay1491 says:

Hi uhm... how do i fix this problem? "missing msvcp71.dll" I made it work before but now I don't know what to do. Thanks.

Apr 25, 2012. 8:05 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Try this http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/7120/

Apr 25, 2012. 8:23 PMarjay1491 says:

ok that worked, now I have this "The application was unable to start correctly(0xc0150002). I already have my big box and all set, just the software is my problem.

Apr 25, 2012. 9:45 PMcerupcat (author) says:

It sounds like you also need this http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=2092

Apr 22, 2012. 2:40 AMJerryBYong says:

Hi there! Quick question, do I need a IR webcam for this?

Apr 22, 2012. 3:03 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Hi, you do not need an IR webcam for the multitouch pad. If you choose to project an image on the surface for a multitouch table, then you would need one. However, not for a simple multitouch pad in the instructable.

Best,

-Seth

Jan 23, 2012. 1:46 PMdjslipmat123 says:

when i download the mac version, it crashes before it even opens :( anyone know a solution? (running macbook pro on osx lion)

Jan 24, 2012. 9:59 AMcerupcat (author) says:

Maybe try an older version here: http://nuicode.com/projects/tbeta/files

Or newer version here: http://nuicode.com/projects/ccv/files

If you need more help, ask on http://nuigroup.com/forums where there's lots of people that can answer.

Jan 23, 2012. 10:31 AMDuskeniek says:

Very, very cool idea!
About the height of the box: If you would put a mirror in the corner of the box, wouldn't this decrease the height a lot? (I know the mirror/plate/cam is not proper placed but it is just for the idea)
This arrangement could possibly be more comfortable as well, don't you think? open for suggestions
grtz

Jan 23, 2012. 11:24 AMcerupcat (author) says:

I mirror would work fine to shorten the distance. I didn't use on in the tutorial since it would add complexity. Give it a try though, it'll work well.

Best,

-Seth

Jan 24, 2012. 7:53 AMDuskeniek says:

Ow okay thanks for the reply.
I'll add it to my to-do-list and when I do it, I'll make an instructable for it.
Don't expect anything soon though :P
Grtz

Jan 18, 2012. 6:16 AMblaz!ng says:

when i go to calibrate and press the start calibrate button it does nothing.

Oct 7, 2011. 4:19 PMarjay1491 says:

mine crashes when i click next camera. at first it worked but after that everytime i try it crashes. can anyone help me pls?

Oct 9, 2011. 11:45 AMcerupcat (author) says:

Delete the config.xml inside the downloaded CCV folder and try again.

Oct 15, 2011. 2:56 PMarjay1491 says:

cool :D it works now, thanks

Aug 21, 2011. 4:11 AMfuture-tinker says:

I can't get TUIO to work, I've erased most of the errors but on the last line:

make: g++: \%home\%alexw\%Desktop\%ccv-1.4-lin-bin\\

the makefile compiler says

Makefile:65: *** target pattern contains no `%'. Stop.

Please help!

May 23, 2011. 8:50 AMtinker234 says:

help me and my freind spent 48 hours working on the program nothing just a bit of help also if the this works could i project the image onto the surface

Aug 25, 2010. 3:46 PMElement1604 says:

Can you still use a built in webcam while running this? And are you going to do another instuctable detailing how to use IR in combo with a projection? ~thanks in advance

Feb 14, 2011. 10:35 PMcerupcat (author) says:

There's instructables about combing this with projection and I've also started a how-to article here: http://sethsandler.com/multitouch/

Aug 25, 2010. 4:41 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Yes you can still use a built in webcam. I'm working on doing another tutorial on how to use IR and a projection combo. It'll probably be a youtube video because an instructable. I recommend you subscribe to my youtube videos if you'd like to be notified.

Jul 6, 2010. 5:55 PM

Tomcat94 says:

What about us Mac users? Will we be able to do this?

Jul 6, 2010. 6:43 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Yup - runs on mac too!

Jul 7, 2010. 3:50 AM

Tomcat94 says:

How so? Can you elaborate?

Jul 7, 2010. 11:06 AMcerupcat (author) says:

The software needed runs on mac, windows, and linux; therefore, it works on mac. :)

Oct 18, 2010. 8:49 PMlockpick says:

All the software will run on macs?

Feb 14, 2011. 10:34 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Yes, all the software will run on mac.

Oct 18, 2010. 8:50 PMlockpick says:

Does this work with other webcams

Feb 14, 2011. 10:34 PMcerupcat (author) says:

Yes, it works with most webcams.

Apr 13, 2010. 7:17 PMkoebwil says:

I have been trying like crazy to get this to work on my computer, I run ubuntu and I can't get any of these programs to install. On top of that, the camera I got (logitech c120) doesn't seem to work with ubuntu at all, I'd appreciate any help at all

Feb 6, 2010. 2:38 PMchupitaz says:

This software multitouch is incredible Cerupcat . How you have so much control? How you configure your camera , I built my own multitouch but i dont have control at all. I dont know if you can help me.. sorry for my english

Jan 30, 2010. 4:44 AMdutchboy12 says:

the software sucks i had windows vista pc there it didn't work i now have windows 7 pc and it don't work i have tried windows xp also it also didn't work =.=
and i tryed tbeta that's even better it won't do anything else than crash it doesn't even start lol
think the software is kinda old

Jan 30, 2010. 10:19 AMcerupcat (author) says:

The software doesn't suck; it actually works quite well.

If you're having problems, it's best to ask for help. You have to be a bit more specific and say exactly what the errors you're getting, what kind of camera you're using, etc.

You should be using CCV (tbeta) which is not old by any means. If you need help, feel free to ask.

Jan 19, 2010. 3:38 AMmetal43v3r says:

i have a problem i made this staff but my computer already have a webcam so i can't use it what should i do???

Dec 17, 2008. 1:09 PMmaxpower49 says:

can you use ir if you want

Dec 17, 2008. 2:08 PMcerupcat (author) says:

yup. If you use IR, you can use a projection on the surface.

Nov 14, 2009. 7:28 PMwillrandship says:

IR is starting to sound infinitely more useful in this project, then you could have it be your screen.

Dec 7, 2009. 2:32 PMmikebruse says:

That's the idea behind FTIR, you can use a modified webcam and a projector.

Sep 1, 2009. 7:06 PMjamesking says:

Can the author contact me ?Or someone who can design the software can also contact me: kingfw@tom.com thanks

Jul 31, 2009. 5:19 AMmikebruse says:

What song did you use for the video?

Jul 19, 2009. 11:12 AMUltraSquirrel says:

And would it be possible to use a pen instead of your finger. To keep down size even more? I'm planning to use it for strategy games, but as I might have mentioned I do not wan't to have it as high as yours. And by reducing the height you also need to reduce the screen size. My camera have a Fisheye lens but still. So to point precise a pen would be good...

1-40 of 192