Hello word/Work experience part 2
Tags: introduction
Published: 2020-03-10 08:03:29

This was one of the best experiences, while it was not part of my professional job, it was an interesting project.

# 2013 — Multitouch table

While I was working in Zeitek, and since I love to learn new technologies, I got together with two friends to play with some techniques to create a multi-user multi-touch table. Everything here was made on our free time with budget for our pockets.

## Software

The idea was to learn while playing with the software, but the best way was to create a demo or a demo system, so, we started with the idea of a coffee shop with interactive tables, you could check the menu, ask for food or drinks, even play with friends, invite someone a drink, or ask and vote for songs!

![Table software design](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/bhu8lyp88xg5t1ls9pzx.png)

We started with ideas and a whiteboard, little by little, we refined the idea and then made some mockups, after the idea was clear, we designed the database and started working in different modules in the application.

{% youtube BHWlR5fV3AQ %}

## Hardware

From the hardware perspective, we create several prototypes, but 2 mayor updates:

### First model (OpenCv with PS3 camera)

![Table build version 1](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/ltehpe7wfuhbjx2a6uv4.png)

Our first model used 6 PS3 cameras and two 19" dismantled monitors with an enlighten acrylic, with a frame with infrared leds flooding the acrylic with light, so when a touch is presented the light is reflected and captured with the PS3 cameras which was previous modified by changing to a wider lens and removing the infra-red block filter, adding an only infrared filter (you can get a better and more detailed explanation in [this Johannes Luderschmidt post](https://johannesluderschmidt.de/the-multi-touch-table-virttable/153/)).

{% youtube 5hTlsg6SUb4 %}

The video was processed by an open software based on OpenCv that tracked the blobs from frame to frame and transforms into touch inputs for the operative system.

{% youtube hPJsErHFyeY %}

We designed the table with help of google Sketchup (now just Sketchup) and made it with wood.

![Table sketch](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/umued5k01ck7xd6540au.png)

### Second model (OpenCv with PS3 camera, but better)

For the second model, we made a steel base and a more precise container for the cameras, we tried a design a little more modern, we worked a lot with wood, improving our handcraft and improving the detection of blobs.


![Table model 2](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/kcjjb9k6m1fwzoku2pvy.png)

### Third model (Multi-Touch frame)

After some time, the frames with multi-touch capabilities were cheaper, so we tried a slim version of our table, this time with just one screen. Also, the woodwork improved a lot, we put a lot of love into this, and it was our last work together, since a little after our build was finished, I had a new job offer far away from home, so, this was our last version.

![Table model 3](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/zdu5n0p11xcsjwqmn38c.png)

Later I moved to Monterrey, a lot of things that I learned here helped me to get a good job as a developer, this is why this project will always have a place in my heart.