Radtable

The development journal of AJ Austinson (a.k.a. radpants) throughout the creation of a multi-touch table & interface.

Oct 23

CCV vs ReacTIVision

Two of the most popular pieces of software for processing input from a multi-touch setup are Community Core Vision (CCV), and ReacTIVision. I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of each to decide on which i’ll use for my table, here’s what i’ve come up with.

CCV

  • Easy to use adjustments for camera ( exposure, blurring, amplification )
  • Setting to detect dark blobs ( useful for rapid prototyping )
  • Can’t detect fiducials ( yet )

reacTIVision

  • Can detect fiducials
  • Seems to better handle blob tracking in general
  • A keyboard-shorcut only interface
I’d say if you don’t care about fiducial tracking, then i’d choose CCV. For my table I’m somewhat set on being able to track fiducials, so unless I can find a CCV solution for it, i’m going with reacTIVision.
Posted at 5:57 AM

It’s aliiiiiiiveeeee! Well okay… still just with a foam-core box and vellum. Still waiting on LED’s to get here so I can get a real FTIR setup going. But I’m excited to see things working.

It’s aliiiiiiiveeeee!
Well okay… still just with a foam-core box and vellum. Still waiting on LED’s to get here so I can get a real FTIR setup going. But I’m excited to see things working.
Posted at 5:48 AM

Now using vellum as a testing surface, getting some better detection of blobs even by only using ambient light.

Now using vellum as a testing surface, getting some better detection of blobs even by only using ambient light.
Posted at 5:46 AM

Second attempt! Same foam-core box with newsprint, this time with the surface backed by a dismantled poster frame cover. Had to use some books to weight down the plastic… hooray for rapid prototyping!

Second attempt! Same foam-core box with newsprint, this time with the surface backed by a dismantled poster frame cover. Had to use some books to weight down the plastic… hooray for rapid prototyping!
Posted at 5:44 AM

Some sliced n’ diced foam-core with a piece of newsprint for a touch surface. It worked some of the time, the touch blobs to be detected by ccv were not quite enough for predictable input. Also newsprint without any kind of backing means having to be extra careful not to poke holes in it… this is generally not so good.

Some sliced n’ diced foam-core with a piece of newsprint for a touch surface. It worked some of the time, the touch blobs to be detected by ccv were not quite enough for predictable input. Also newsprint without any kind of backing means having to be extra careful not to poke holes in it… this is generally not so good.
Posted at 5:41 AM Tagged: prototypesmulitouch

Ello’ world

Hello, my name is AJ but some people call me radpants.
This is the blog of my attempt to design, build, and develop the interface for, a multi-touch table. The rad-table will come to fruition in the months leading up to my portfolio show & graduation from the Art Institute of Portland. All this with the hopes that you, my fine readers, will come visit to play with the table at the show.

So stay tuned, and watch as I build, fail, design, learn, develop, and with any hope, mad science the hell out of Winter 09’s portfolio show.

IT BEGINS!!!
-radpants

Posted at 5:30 AM