After years of research on touch-driven computer displays, Jeff Han has created a simple, multi-touch, multi-user screen interface that just might herald the end of the point-and-click era.

Why you should listen

Jeff Han's intuitive "interface-free" computer displays -- controlled by the touch of fingertips -- will change forever the way you think about computers. At TED 2006, the audience whistled, clapped and gasped audibly as Han demoed (for the first time publicly) his prototype drafting table-cum-touch display, developed at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. The demo included a virtual lightbox, where he moved photos by fingertip -- as if they were paper on a desk -- flicking them across the screen and zooming in and out by pinching two fingers together, as well as a Google Earth-like map that he tilted and flew over with simple moves.

When the demo hit the web, bloggers and YouTubers made him a bit of a megastar. (His video has been watched more than 600,000 times on YouTube alone; "Amazing," "Incredible" and "Freaking awesome" are the typical responses there. Also: "When can I buy one?") After this legendary demo, Han launched a startup called Perceptive Pixel -- and when he came back to TED2007, he and his team brought an entire interactive wall, where TEDsters lined up to play virtual guitars. His talent and reputation earned him a place on Time Magazine's 2008 list of the world's 100 Most Influential People. 

What others say

“Working all but alone from his hardware-strewn office, Jeff Han is about to change the face of computing. Not even the big boys are likely to catch him.” — Fast Company

Jeff Han’s TED talk

More news and ideas from Jeff Han

Photosynth + Multitouch = an astonishing look at the oath of office

January 20, 2009

Photosynth on Multitouch, uploaded by TED Conference. On CNN’s Inauguration Day coverage today: a massive Photosynth of the precise moment that President Barack Obama took the oath of office. In the image above, an anchor sifts through individual images on a Multitouch screen. We’re proud because both these technologies — Photosynth and the Multitouch screen […]

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Design

Cool touchscreen sketchpad

November 25, 2008

Fans of Jeff Han‘s touchscreen will enjoy this demo of ILoveSketch, highly intuitive new software that enables designers to create fluid 3D sketches through a gesture-driven interface: ILoveSketch from Seok-Hyung Bae on Vimeo. Via Kevin Kelly at The Technium.

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Jeff Han's "Magic Wall" on CNN

November 4, 2008

CNN has a story today on the Magic Wall they’ve been using in their coverage of the US elections. The wall was built by TEDTalks star Jeff Han and his company Perceptive Pixel. From the story: Throughout the 2008 primaries and the general election, John King, CNN’s Chief National Correspondent, has stood before the now-familiar […]

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