Linux learns multi-touch

Rotating a window using multi-touch on Linux. A team of developers from the Interactive Computing Lab at the ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile) aeronautics academy in Toulouse, France have successfully created proof-of-concept multi-touch drivers for Linux. Unlike the Multi-Pointer X (MPX) technology that's currently being integrated into X.Org 7.5 and X Server 1.7, the ENAC drivers works directly with the kernel and can provide native multi-touch support. In principle, the technology could then be used with other devices, such as embedded devices. The multi-touch support requires the latest 2.6.30 Linux kernel, in addition to several other requirements.

The demonstration application recognises the multi-touch gestures and sends them as D-Bus messages to the Compiz 3D window manager in order to create the effects. A video of the ENAC multi-touch technology is available and demonstrates several different gestures, including the ability to swipe, flip, rotate and resize windows.

(crve)