Methods for tracking and identifying multiple nger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing multi-touch surface (MTS).

The system allows the user to interact with paper and electronic objects by touching them with a bare finger (digit). Instead of “direct” manipulation with a mouse, this is tangible manipulation with a finger.

We have built in our laboratory "soft machine" interfaces .for computer systems to capitalize on the good characteristics of machines and overcome their limitations. A soft machine is implemented using the synergistic combination of real-time computer graphics to display "soft controls," and a touch screen to make soft controls operable like conventional hard controls.

Method and apparatus for detecting an operative coupling between one or more fingers or other appropriate objects and a touch pad includes processes for detection of multiple maxima with intermediate minima in appropriate sequences to emulate the operations of cursor control and button actuations in a pointing and control device.

The naturalness and variety of a touch-based hand gesture interface offers new opportunities for human-computer interaction.

Touch-sensitive tablets and their use in human- computer interaction are discussed.