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Project 314 Overview

Welcome to Project 314, my name is Daniel Jacobs and I am the founder of Project 314. Project
314 is in the stages of developing a multi touch table such as the Microsoft Surface. The Microsoft
Surface claims to be a one of a kind table like those seen in the movie Minority Report. Microsoft is
selling these tables at around ten thousand dollars each. Project 314 strives to show big companies like
Microsoft that any average Joe can produce this technology at a reasonable cost.

A multi touch table can be made using a few different designs. Project 314 will first build a table
using the rear diffused illumination (rear DI) method, and then later the table will have the option of
incorporating frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) technology to improve the touch sensitivity. Both
of these technologies use infrared cameras to pick up infrared light from fingers touching the screen.
The computer then recognizes where the fingers are touching on the screen and this allows for multi
touch interactions.

Project 314 will be looking to acquire a team of people along the way of its creation. The people
targeted to join this team will have skills that Project 314 needs to become better. It will need drafters,
electric engineers, mechanical engineers, and computer programmers. With all of the pieces required
for the challenge put into place, Project 314 will be able to continually grow into a very successful multi
touch table on the smallest budget required. Project 314 is just for fun. It is to prove a point. A point
that people do not have to pay big bucks for what they want, rather they can save big bucks by doing it
on their own.

This project requires too much funding for college students to back by themselves. Project 314
will also be looking for sponsors. We hope to acquire funding from Gonzaga University on the bases
that once the multi touch table is finished it can be used by Gonzaga’s computer science department to
research and develop multi touch software. The computer science department may eventually be able
to have a class based on multi touch software. Multi touch technology will soon be in our everyday lives
and Gonzaga students could be a helping hand in helping develop it.

The future is decided by us, not decided for us,

Daniel Jacobs
Founder of Project 314
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Project 314 Table of Contents:

Pg #:

Part 1 – Rear DI (Project 314)

3 – Example Art (Nordt Lab’s Touchkit Run)

4 – Rear DI Theory from NUI Group

5 – Rear DI Materials List

6 – Rear DI Procedure

Part 2 – The Free Air FTIR (Project 314)

7 – Example Art (Nordt Lab’s Cubit)

8 – FTIR Theory from NUI Group

9 – Open Air FTIR Materials List

10 – Open Air FTIR Procedure

Part 3 – Add-ons (Project 314)

11 – Combine FTIR and Rear DI Technology

12 – Individual Hand Detection Technology

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The Cubit
Created by Nortd Labs
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Theory from NUI Group

Rear Diffused Illumination (DI):

Infrared light is shined at the screen from below the touch surface. A diffuser is placed on top or on
bottom of the touch surface.  When an object touches the surface it reflects more light than the diffuser
or objects in the background; the extra light is sensed by a camera. Depending on the diffuser, this
method can also detect hover and objects placed on the surface.

Rear DI Parts List:

o Clear sturdy clear surface (Glass, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Plexiglass, etc.)
o Infrared Illuminator (Infrared LEDs, Infrared Illuminator, etc.)
o Diffuser/Projection Surface (Vellum, Mylar, Lee Filter, other, etc.) *Note: The Diffuser/Projection
Surface must let some light through.
o Infrared Camera/Modified Webcam
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Rear DI Materials List

 Box to hold everything together

 Screen (32 Inch preferably)
 Projector
 Infrared Camera, modify a PS3 eye
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-PlayStation-Eye-PS3-PS3/7790584?
sourceid=1500000000000003142040&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=7790584
 Infrared illumination rated 1-9, 1 being the best option
1) http://www.environmentallights.com/products/13092/LED_Bar_12_inch_850nm_infrared_
pair_kit

2) http://www.environmentallights.com/products/13094/LED_Bar_12_inch_850nm_infrared_
quad_kit

3) http://www.pinecomputer.com/li36allanind.html

4) http://www.ktnc.co.kr/english/viewtopic.php?t=505

5) http://www.pinecomputer.com/li36allanind.html

6) http://www.cloverusa.com/shop/shop_subview.asp?
top=55&cnt=1&Steps=000550005600000

7) http://www.lammenscodirect.com/index1.html

8) http://www.surveillance-spy-cameras.com/infrared-illuminator.htm

9) http://www.ixbay.com/english/new-powerful-dome-ir-array-infrared-illuminator-led-night-
120.html
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Rear DI Procedure

Rear DI step 1:

To make sure that a rear Di setup will work the first procedure should be to make a simple screen to go
on a cardboard box, get our IR PS3 Eye cam up and running, buy a cheap infrared flashlight, set it all up,
and download some simple multi-touch software to test it on. This will cost only about 40 dollars and
the majority of that cost comes from the IR camera that we will also use for the main project.

Rear DI step 2:

Order a projector and whatever IR lighting is needed to make a successful rear DI multi touch board.
These components won’t be cheap but the end product will be much worth it. With all of these
components a multi touch table can be constructed that will rival 10,000 dollar tables.

Rear DI step 3:

Figure out what size of screen should be used with the projector and how high the screen will have to be
above the projector. Order the screen and then make a closed box around it with a removable front
panel. Set up the IR lights, IR camera, and the projector in the box.

Rear DI step 4:

Download some basic multi touch software to get the multi touch board running. Work in part with
Gonzaga’s computer science department to develop new and useful software for multi touch boards.

Good Example of rear DI

A University of San Diego student’s multi touch website, he explains the process of making his own rear
DI table multi touch table in his blog:

http://peauproductions.com/

Rear DI plans from NUI Group:

http://wiki.nuigroup.com/Diffused_Illumination_Plans
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The Touchkit Run

Created by Nortd Labs
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Theory from NUI Group

Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR):

Infrared light is shined into the side of an acrylic panel (most often by shinning IR LEDs on the sides of
the acrylic). The light is trapped inside the acrylic by internal reflection. When a finger touches the
acrylic surface this light is “frustrated” causing the light to scatter downwards where it is picked up by an
infrared camera.
A silicone rubber layer is often used as a “compliant surface” to help improve dragging and sensitivity of
the device. When touching bare acrylic, one must press hard or have oily fingers in order to set off the
FTIR effect. With a complaint surface (like silicone rubber) the sensitivity is greatly improved.

FTIR Parts List:

o Acrylic/Polycarbonate/Plexiglass
o Infrared LEDs (or similar infrared light source)
o Compliant Surface (silicone rubber ie. Sorta Clear 40, Elastosil, Lexel, etc. )
o Projection Surface (Rosco Grey, Vellum, Mylar, other, etc.)
o Infrared Camera/Modified Webcam
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Open Air FTIR Materials List

 Need a strong frame to support pressure on the multi touch surface.

 Led Strips
http://www.environmentallights.com/categories/1303_2334_3459/led-single-color-strips
 Led track
http://www.environmentallights.com/categories/1303_2394/track-for-led-strips
 3/8 inch thick acrylic glass
 Projection Screen - dirt and scratch proof
http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/5785/
 Silicon Sealant
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/maximum_pc_builds_a_multitouch_surface_co
mputer?page=0%2C1
 Infrared light camera
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/maximum_pc_builds_a_multitouch_surface_co
mputer?page=0%2C2
 Projector
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Open Air FTIR Procedure

Open Air FTIR step 1:

To make sure that an Open Air FTIR setup will work the first procedure will be to set up the multi touch
screen and test it. This will require the purchase of an acrylic sheet of desired size and the Infrared LED
strips that will line them. A way to attach the LED strips to the acrylic will also be required, this will
mean a track to put them on will either have to be constructed or bought. Once all of the materials are
obtained the multi touch screen can be put together. With the screen put together you can easily run a
test to see if it works with a PS3 Eye modified to recognize infrared light and some simple multi touch
software. All of this will cost anywhere from 100-200 dollars depending on the amount of infrared LED
strips and if the tracks are purchased or homemade.

Open Air FTIR step 2:

With the FTIR screen complete all that is needed is a mount and a projector. The projector will be
purchased first so that the exact dimensions of the multi touch screen mount can be determined. If the
mount is built first then the projector would have to fit it rather than the other way around. Buying the
projector first will make this an easier process.

Open Air FTIR step 3:

Build the mount for the multi touch screen. A space saving design will be constructed. The Open Air
FTIR mount will not only be designed to be space saving but will also be designed with a futuristic look
that will blow away anyone who encounters it.

Open Air FTIR step 4:

Download some basic multi touch software to get the multi touch board running. Work in part with
Gonzaga’s computer science department to develop new and useful software for multi touch boards.

Good examples of FTIR

Touch Labs FTIR setup video:

http://www.touchfactors.com/?p=103

Good step by step instructions for an FTIR table:

http://feroz007.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/build-your-own-multitouch-display/
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Combine FTIR and Rear DI Technology

Once the initial two multi touch tables are created Project 314 strives to do more. The first step
will be to make an FTIR screen that will take the place of our normal Rear DI screen. This should
produce much more accurate board than either of the originals. Everyone’s always looking for superior
specifications and accuracy is a very important one in the multi touch industry. The combination of FTIR
and Rear DI should improve the intensity of the infrared light and the equal distribution of it across the
table. This will be pursued more upon the completion of the first two tables.
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Individual Hand Detection Technology

Individual hand detection combined with multi touch technology creates something almost
unheard of. There is one such table that I know of and it was developed by a multi touch team at the
University of Iowa State. This seems to be a very promising addition to a multi touch table and it could
easily be added on to either of Project 314’s multi touch tables. All it requires is a second camera above
the table. This camera then can pick out individual hands with the proper software opening up new
interactions in multi touch. It could someday be a great addition to project 314.

Iowa State multi touch website:

http://www.vrac.iastate.edu/uav/touchtable/