Why prototyping rules!

This is a MutliTouch table we are building now. Feodor T. created a stunning sketch. It's almost 1.5x1.2 in dimensions. So mistake in making it will be rather tragic.

That's why I decided to try with a small one at first. To say the truth — it already paid off. Now I know that 850nm IR illuminators get hot like hell in no time. There should be a cooling mechanism. Don't know if it's a feature of all diodes of this type. Maybe it's only this particular Russian ones.

Also there is a need to use a IR bandpass filter on the camera. Objects are visible on the screen, so I need to cut off the visible spectrum and allow IR light only.

Hope this will make blobs shine like stars!

Why Apple rocks!?

Finally I've got a logical explanation to my addiction with Apple products. It's about exclusivity (not any more anyway) or top speeds. It's all about the feeling you're getting a product. E.g. Sony notebooks are pretty advanced but when I used them — I was continuously getting a feeling of playing with micro Lego constructor. So many parts that it felt like they are falling apart the very next moment.

Psychology is a power!