How does cross-platform multi-touch using Kinect sound? Like a dream? Well it isn’t.

I’m not quite sure how this incredibly slick proof-of concept (i.e. hacky first version) video showing off multi-touch in Ubuntu using Microsoft’s recently launched Kinect hardware passed us by, so props to yo2boy for sending it in.

The video shows a simple image browsing application being controlled using the Kinect in a manner like that you’ve probably seen demoed on Microsoft’s Surface table (which has appeared in Smallville a few times since it’s part-sponsored by Microsoft). The great thing is there is no actual physical interaction thanks to the Kinect: you can manipulate the images using nothing more than your hands in the air!

It’s all powered by something called TISCH (Tangible Interactive Surfaces for Collaboration between Humans) which now has a PPA with support for Kinect baked in.

Install

Yeah. You can install this (!) via the following PPA: –