d-touch was initially developed as a software framework for building inexpensive tangible user interfaces and mixed reality systems. Physical objects can be tagged with fiducial markers to make them recognizable by a computer equipped with a webcam. The objects position and movement can then be mapped to interface parameters. The recognition works in real-time on consumer-grade personal computers and in standard lighting (i.e. no need for controlled lighting). With these characteristics d-touch can be used to develop applications for home and school environments.
d-touch was originally developed while I was at the University of York, working under the supervision of Prof John Robinson, as part of audio d-touch. The system was then extended, adapted and updated for a number of other projects.
On this page you can see some example d-touch markers used in Tangible Interfaces and Augmented Reality applications.
Single marker
An alphabet of 6 markers
Part of an alphabet of 24 markers
Part of an alphabet of 120 markers