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Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:12:47 -0400

AccessMT: A Multi-touch Tabletop Built with Accessibility in Mind

Alec M. Pulianas

Shaun K. Kane, Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems

UC Ballroom | 10:00-12:30 PM

AccessMT is an accessible multi-touch table designed with accessibility in mind. AccessMT is a self-contained hardware prototype consisting of a projector, computer, infrared lights, and a modified camera. Users can interact with AccessMT using simple touches, gestures, and tagged objects. The table tracks touch by using a PlayStation Eye Camera modified to capture only infrared light. The inside of the table contains four infrared lamps in order to create a consistent swath of infrared light. The inside walls are painted white for even distribution and diffusion of light. When a user touches the glass top, his or her finger reflects back infrared light and creates a bright spot. Using the open source software packages Community Core Vision and BSQSimulator, we are able to track a user’s fingers and translate each of them into touch events. AccessMT builds upon prior multi-touch tables, but was designed to enable it to be easily adapted for use by people with disabilities. This presentation describes the challenges we have encountered and overcome in developing this new prototype.

This work was funded through an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Support (URAS) Award from the UMBC Office of Research Administration.