Chapter I - the cardboard touch box

After several months of researching the technology and gathering parts, I have finally made a small prototype FTIR multitouch box, so I decided to go ahead and start a blog to document the project! Although it's not that pretty, it's actually useful for me to learn the software with. It works quite well for a cardboard box with 10 LED's and a picture frame taped to it!

Of course my ultimate goal is to have a full size touch table with a 24" x 36" display, and I'll continue to update this blog as I progress. If all goes well, I would like to learn how to make applications to use with the table. At this point I need to make an aluminum frame for my acrylic (and pour a layer of rubber on the acrylic). I also need to construct a table to mount the acrylic to, and I need to get a projector.

The best place to find information about making and operating multitouch displays is the one and only nuigroup.com The forum is excellent and includes people from all over the globe.


I have basically just been combining knowledge from different tutorials that I found at nuigroup.com and at blogs from some of the forum members over there (mainly Seth, Harry, and BlaXwan).


Parts:

1. 50 Infrared LED's - Osrams SFH-4350 - I got these b/c DigiKey was out of SFH485, which is just a 5mm version of the 4350 (around $45)

2. Terminal Connectors to connect the LED's to one another and to the power supply (RadioShack Catalog #: 274-678)

3. Computer Power Supply Unit - Antech 450w (got it from craigslist for $10)

4. Microsoft Lifecam VX-1000 - RadioShack ($30)

5. Cast acrylic from eBay - 24" x 36" with a 3/8" thickness ($60 with shipping)

6. Temporarily using a 5" x 3" acrylic picture frame with about 3mm thickness and factory polished edges

7. Resistors - 47 ohms 1 watt, Metal oxide 5%

8. SPST switch to turn Power Supply on and off - RadioShack Catalog #: 275-712

- Projector*

- Wood for table*

- Aluminum Rails for acrylic frame*

- Rosco grey projection screen material*

- Silicone caulk, Toluene, and other items to make compliant surface for Acrylic*

...More to Come...

*Items marked with asterisks have not been purchased yet.