Conclusion
The monolith unit was a huge success in regards to a first version prototype. However if it was to be built again I would change some of the design features. The FTIR method works in a very “exact” manner. That is that you need to make a direct action of pressing the screen in a definite manner for FTIR to be triggered. The DI method has a much lighter touch, but is more likely to trigger false touch points. After trying the FTIR Method it could sometimes be difficult for some users to trigger touch points.
On the whole I believe I may be better to use the DI method with efforts towards better calibration techniques than trying to improve mechanically the FTIR system which will always be limited to the user’s skin moisture levels. The search for a complaint surface (an overlay surface which sets of FTIR under pressure - eliminating the reliance on users skin moisture levels) was not fruitful the surface either reduced the FTIR effect of was not practical for seeing through or projecting onto. The compliant surface issues are more reasons to favour DI in future.
The interface “The Monolith Launcher” was as successful as I had hoped for. The programming methods I developed in creating the surface interface worked well for what the surface interface was intended for – a concept based program aimed at promoting multi touch technology. The applications are demo applications aimed at showing the possibilities of Multi Touch and to give a basis for ideas of more complex programs likely to be coded in a higher language such as C#, C++, JavaScript or Python. The launcher I believe fulfils all of its intended goals and has been proven through user testing and installation to be a reasonably solid platform for basic interface design for simple public multi touch installations.