Spaceman Technologies - Multitouch Tactile Sequencer

video upload by AndrewFentem

"Spaceman Technologies has pioneered multi-touch touchscreen research. Many different 'multi-touch' interfaces for both musical and general-purpose computer applications have been developed. These surfaces are capable of discriminating between (and tracking) multiple objects, human touches, and/or elements of a user-reconfigurable mechanical or graphical overlay in contact with that surface.
The images above show several different multi-touch touchscreens and multi-object-tracking interfaces developed for various musical applications in collaboration with Novation EMS Ltd - an electronic music equipment and synthesiser manufacturer.

IP status: Various patent applications filed. Since spring 2007 when Apple Inc announced their IPhone, and Microsoft announced their 'Surface', both products incorporating 'multitouch' touchscreen technologies, there has been considerable commercial interest in this field. Spaceman Technologies began this research project in 2002, prior to Apple Inc commencing the filing of their 'multitouch' touchpad patent applications in 2005."

"In 2003/2004 Spaceman Technologies developed quite a number of innovative sound synthesis and electronic music controllers, sequencers and interfaces. These efforts were mainly concentrated on developing tactile instruments, sequencers and mixing desks based around the Spaceman Technologies multi-object tracking and multi-touch sensor technologies, in collaboration with Novation EMS Ltd.
One of these interfaces - a multitouch tactile sequencer (shown above) was exhibited by Kinetica Museum, London, 18 May - 29 June 2007.

In addition to these projects various DSP-based sound synthesis and spectrum analysis toys and gadgets were developed such as the SoundMouse and the OpticalMicrophone."