Multi-Touch Framework
Cocoa Multi-Touch Framework for Mac OS X
Abstract
MultiTouch.framework is a native Cocoa multi-touch framework for Mac OS X. It uses the default event handling system and the responder chain of the operating system, providing a familiar application programming interface to Mac OS X developers. It is built upon a modular low-level architecture that unifies all touch events, with input units for different multi-touch input devices including FTIR, DI, iPhone/iPod touch, as well as any TUIO-based devices. Thus, as a developer, you do not need to care about the actual input device being used.One of the great advantages of this toolkit is that you can develop and test your multi-touch application on your standard desktop Mac, using your iPhone as multi-touch input device, without having to work at an FTIR table all the time.
People
Stefan Hafeneger Malte Weiss Jan BorchersNews
The first public beta of our MultiTouch.framework SDK is now available for download. Please read the release notes first before you install the SDK. You may still apply for the private beta program to help us finding bugs before we release it as public beta. (October 9, 2008)We started the beta program today. Unfortunately Apple hasn't yet approved the iPhone App for the App Store so we need your unique device id if you want to apply for the beta program. (September 5, 2008)
We made a new video (Part 1, Part 2) showing how to develop multi-touch Applications for Mac OS X using our Cocoa framework. (September 2, 2008)
Since the beta version of our multi-touch framework is almost ready, we are now accepting applications for a private beta. If you know how to code in Objective-C with Cocoa, own an iPhone or iPod touch and would like to try out our framework before it is officially released, please write an email to Stefan with your contact details and your programming background. Please use MultiTouch.framework Beta Application as subject line since the emails will be filtered. If you got questions concerning the beta program please write Stefan an email as well. (August 14, 2008)
Our iPhone App now features a VNC like functionality. In addition to the new native mouse event generation in the multi-touch framework you can use the iPhone App as a nice VNC client without having to run a VNC server on your Mac. Apps linking against our multi-touch framework still receive multi-touch events. (August 7, 2008)
We will attend the IEEE Tabletops and Interactive Surfaces 2008 conference to present our poster PocketTable: Mobile Devices as Multi-Touch Controllers for Tabletop Application Development. (July 28, 2008)
Demo Video on YouTube showing our multi-touch framework in use. (July 16, 2008)
We are currently working on the first public release and will provide an early version of the framework soon. Please contact Stefan if you have any questions concerning our multi-touch framework. (July 11, 2008)
Download
- MultiTouch.framework SDK Beta 1 (MultiTouchBeta1.dmg.zip)
Mailing List
Sign up for our official mailing list to discuss with other developers and share information about our multi-touch framework.Resources
- Video Using iPhone as input device for multi-touch application development (YouTube link)
- Video Develop multi-touch applications for Mac OS X using MultiTouch.framework (YouTube link Part 1, YouTube link Part 2)
Publications
PocketTable: Mobile Devices as Multi-Touch Controllers for Tabletop Application Development Stefan Hafeneger, Malte Weiss, Gero Herkenrath, Jan Borchers. IEEE Tabletops and Interactive Surfaces, October 1-3, 2008, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (PDF)