Linux may soon gain “multi-touch” support similar to that found in Apple's iPhone. The MPX (multi-pointer X) project is currently developing software aimed at enabling multiple cursors and input devices on standard OSes that use the X Window System, such as Linux and BSD.

According to a Gizmodo interview with developer Peter Hutterer, the MPX project is working toward acceptance into the mainline X.org distribution of the X Window system. However, lots of bugs remain, Hutterer said.

Apple's iPhone uses multi-touch to enable “gestures” such as squeezing fingers together to reduce the zoom level. The device could help increase awareness of multi-touch technology, even though its multi-touch technology is not very advanced, Hutterer suggests.

Multi-touch becomes especially interesting when combined with “display tables” in which large tabletop touchscreens are combined with overhead projectors to create group collaboration systems. The video below demonstrates such a system based on Linux and MPX.

The complete Gizmodo interview can be found here. More details can be found on the MPX Project homepage, where source code awaits anyone “insane enough” to try building it.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.