Multi-touch interface

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A multi-touch interface (or multitouch) is a human-computer interaction technique and the hardware devices that implement it, which allow users to compute without conventional input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard). Multi-touch consists of a touch screen (screen, table, wall, etc.) or touchpad, as well as software that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points, as opposed to the standard touchscreen (i.e. computer touchpad, ATM), which recognizes only one touch point. This effect is achieved through a variety of means, including but not limited to: heat, finger pressure, high capture rate cameras, infrared light, optic capture, and shadow capture.

A myriad of different applications for multi-touch interfaces both exist and are being proposed. Some applications are focussed on improving the interface for a single individual (e.g. iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air), however multi-touch technology is often used to incorporate collaboration into the computing experience (e.g. Microsoft Surface).