Every programmer who had to develop a Multi-Touch application from scratch knows how difficult it can be to handle many simultaneous interactions. Not only multiple fingers are used while interacting, but also multiple persons can use an application at the same time. Gestures can even be combined, for example to rotate and scale an object at the same time.

This can get quite complicated and it is not very effective to program the same interactions for every app so we looked for a framework that is capable of a high-level handling of gestures. At the time there were no usable solutions available so we applied for a research grant at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and developed a very powerful framework.

Here is a short demo video explaining the basic functionality of the MINT Framework:

We just launched the website, there you will find much more technical information, demo videos and in the near future also a download link for the full framework.

http://mint.strukt.com

Click here to visit the MINT website.

Working in close cooperation with Voss+Fischer and the marketing department Strukt had to develop the exhibits within a very short timeframe. From the start of the project to the opening of the fair Strukt had exactly four weeks for the whole interface design and programming of the media installations. Beside the overall design concept Strukt ensured that every installation got it’s own unique touch with some unique eye-candy. After only one day for the technical setup of the custom-made software, the terminals provided an attractive and intuitive experience for the visitors to experience Kia‘s design vision, philosophy and their global design process.

Timemachine

With the Timemachine visitors can compare the average power consumption of standard household appliances over a century and compare it to the population of Styria. This game points out how energy-efficient electrical devices help to compensate our ever-growing energy needs.

Energy-Network Challenge

On a map of Styria visitors are confronted with alerts in the service network of Energie Steiermark. When an alert icon is selected a box opens where they have to solve a riddle or puzzle to maintain power or gas services. That way visitors learn how much effort is put into maintaining a steady power coverage in the region. Once the game is over the software informs the player of the results and educates about possible mistakes.

e-Motor Puzzle

What are the components of an electric engine that will drive the cars of the future? To get that question answered visitors can play the e-Motor Puzzle where every component put into the right place reveals its function. Once all pieces are in their places more information is revealed on the topic of e-mobility.

Eco-Zones

With Eco-Zones visitors of the exhibition have the opportunity to play a fun and eventful action game. Up to four players have to take care of their tokens which are endangered by the playing field. Sooner or later their tokens will be taken by the game. The player who stays in the game the longest wins, however every player is a winner once the game is over – brief but useful information on renewable energy sources is presented to them.

A map of Germany was the starting point for the visitors to explore various cities and zoom into individual streets that were associated with real estate projects like shopping malls and retail stores. The application offered a comprehensive overview with blueprints, lists of store sizes and rent revenues, along with pictures that showed the buildings before and after renovation. Multiple users could browse at the same time because each city had its own window that could be moved around, scaled and rotated. This interaction concept allowed the visitors to share information without disturbing other users.

Ambient Control

The Ambient Control application was a very playful tool to control the light and audio set-up of the room. With RGB controls people were able to change the color of the lights. Also there was an animation sequence programmed for the lights which could be altered with various sliders. For the audio Strukt created a simplified step-sequencer that allowed people to add or take away layers of sound. Additionally there was a permanent audio track running built out of three layers. Using a two-dimensional control people were able to individually mix the three layers to create a unique audio experience.

Pecha Kucha Presenter

The Campus Tour was accompanied by speakers talking about the topic of energy in more or less abstract ways. Strukt was also granted a 6min 20sec slot in the series of Pecha Kucha talks, which Tanja Tomic and Gregor Hofbauer used to present the making-of of the RWE Power Table. The presentation software had two modes, one running an automated slideshow and one granting manual control of the slides. Slides were either skipped with buttons or gestures. Also the slides were mirrored on a second screen.

DJ- / VJ-Control

For the more entertaining part of the day the audience was invited to select their favorite tunes with a very advanced multi-touch juke box and a fun to use VJ software. While one can skip through the singles of different genres, another user can apply audio effects and filters or rearrange the cue list. Another area of the user interface was dedicated to the visuals shown on the secondary monitor. The user was able to create audio-reactive blobs, change the color of the objects and the room and also move objects around with 3d controls.

Some more impressions from the tour:

Solar Land

The first game Strukt produced is called Solar Land. The visitors can place solar panels on a map of Upper Austria, guessing where they would be most efficient according to the altitude of the sun in the area. After all items are placed, the participants can start a simulation of the insolation over the duration of an entire year. The game shows how much energy is produced during that period of time, and the top simulations are placed in a high score list. The results encourage people to discuss their decisions and to play the game once more, using the knowledge they gained to reach a better score.

Media Tree

Also a new adaption of Strukt‘s Media Tree software is in use, providing multimedia content about Upper Austria’s rail- and roadways, as well as water and tourism in the region.

Curator Markus Hanzer asked Strukt to create a multitouch installation that offers the possibility to put various signs on a “good” or “evil” side of an interactive tabletop, which was realized using the Struktable. The installation also keeps track of how long the images are on one or the other side, which at the conclusion of the exhibition will provide statistics of people’s choices.

The exhibition opened on May 20th 2009.

Screenshot of the Multitouch Application