Multi-touch became trendy after iphone came up with it. We are seeing many new laptops with multi-touch. At hardware level, there is nothing special that you need, to make multi-touch work. You can also do two-finger scroll and two-finger tap to right/middle click. Also, three-finger tap, but, for me it is very hard to press three fingers at the same time(1 out of 10).

Create new file

gksudo gedit /etc/hal/fdi/policy/11-x11-synaptics.fdi

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <deviceinfo version="0.2"> <device> <match key="info.capabilities" contains="input.touchpad"> <merge key="input.x11_driver" type="string">synaptics</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig" type="string">On</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateTwoFingerMinZ" type="string">90</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.VertTwoFingerScroll" type="string">1</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizTwoFingerScroll" type="string">1</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton1" type="string">1</merge> <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton2" type="string">3</merge> <!--two finger tap -> middle clieck(3) --> <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton3" type="string">2</merge> <!--three finger tap -> right click(2). almost impossible to click --> </match> </device> </deviceinfo>

sudo /etc/init.d/hal restart

Update: Diagnosing your touchpad for multi-finger-sensing-capability Few people have problem with this not working, while it works for few others. This is posted in synclient -m 100 Fifth column in the output f is number of fingers on your touchpad. Put two or more fingers on your touchpad and watch the column. If you see it more than one, this should work for you. Few people have problem with this not working, while it works for few others. This is posted in ubuntu forums Fifth column in the outputison your touchpad. Put two or more fingers on your touchpad and watch the column. If you see it more than one, this should work for you.

Paste the following code into the file and save it.Restart hal and enjoy multitouch touchpad.