Discussions related to Visual Prolog
Audun Tönnesen
Active Member
Posts: 36
Joined: 27 Apr 2000 23:01

touch sensitive screen

Unread post by Audun Tönnesen »

I've searched all forums for this topic, including "tablet pc".

I would need a simple version of the touch-sensitive screen concept, not the digitizing of hand-writing, only the locations of controls, click-functions, etc.
Please pardon my ignorance (I'm not an engineer), but would all that functionality be taken care of by the device's op-system? (...so that all the mouse-events would map to touch-screen events automatically)

Or is there a need for a specific API to tie it into the VIP-app?

Cheers
Regards,
Audun.
Gildas Menier
Active Member
Posts: 25
Joined: 8 Jun 2004 23:01

Unread post by Gildas Menier »

Hi Audun,

I am interested as well by the information.

For most of tablet PCs, the OS maps the touch click to mouse click, so, for simple interactions, there is no need for dedicated API, I think.

We used to use the wintab API with Wacom pads:

http://www.wacomeng.com/devsupport/ibmp ... evfaq.html

from within C&C++, not (yet) with Visual Prolog. But it is mainly a dll file, so I have no doubt it is possible to gain access to it from within Visual Prolog.

Wacom are not really touch screens, because you have to use one of their pens to perform a click.
The cintiq (their tablet screen) is great but really expensive :cry:

It seems that many touch screen in tablet PC also support Wintab API even if it is not wacom gear.

So, this may be a start (?)

Best Regards

Gildas
Audun Tönnesen
Active Member
Posts: 36
Joined: 27 Apr 2000 23:01

Unread post by Audun Tönnesen »

Gildas:
www.wacomeng.com was really a useful and comprehensive resource!

So far, the conclusion seems to be: "It is probably possible to map mouse-events to touch-events through the Windows tablet os." It may need an initialization call (directly to the win-api), and some few extra calls of the same sort.
Thanks, Gildas!
Really, nobody here with practical VIP-tablet experience?

Cheers
Regards,
Audun.
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José A. Becerril
Posts: 2
Joined: 22 Apr 2000 23:01

Re: touch sensitive screen

Unread post by José A. Becerril »

http://www.fingersystemusa.com
For tools under development this site is also interesting:
http://www.epos-ps.com/about.asp?pid=1313&ccid=1896
Paul Cerkez
VIP Member
Posts: 106
Joined: 6 Mar 2000 0:01

Unread post by Paul Cerkez »

I'm not sure if this is what you are referring to, but I use a SmartBoard (r) on a regluar basis with my VIP application. It makes it easy to teach classes interactively and to work as a group doing certain projects.

I use the SmartBoard as a touch screen and can run my entire application from end-to-end just like was using a mouse. all that is required is to have the SmartBoard drivers loaded on the PC. my finger (or one of their pointers) acts as the mouse. you can double click, push a button on the frame and the next screen touch acts like a right click, etc..... I can even put up an on-screen keyboard to type in text.

their web page: http://www.smarttech.com/

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Audun Tönnesen
Active Member
Posts: 36
Joined: 27 Apr 2000 23:01

Unread post by Audun Tönnesen »

Thanks for good suggestions!
I knew about tablet PC's, but I didn't know the two last alternatives even existed.
I'll be looking into them, thanks again.
Regards
Regards,
Audun.
Audun Tönnesen
Active Member
Posts: 36
Joined: 27 Apr 2000 23:01

Unread post by Audun Tönnesen »

Believe it or not: it's been SEVEN YEARS since this thread started!
On a daily basis, I use Windows only at work, with legacy apps, so I'm not up-to-date about the APIS.
The only programming I've done the past years, are specialized database apps for internal use, R&D where data are sampled from every-day clinical work at the hospital wards. So, efficiency, simplicity and hygiene are important demands. Interaction with a touch-screen is far more efficient and hygienic than "dirty keyboards" and mouse in a clinical setting.

So: can VIP 7,4 easily exploit the touch-screen interface of Windows 8 ??
Regards,
Audun.
Paul Cerkez
VIP Member
Posts: 106
Joined: 6 Mar 2000 0:01

Unread post by Paul Cerkez »

Audun,
Don't know if this is any help, but I use my VIP 5.x application (true 32 bit) on my Surface Pro tablet (with Win 8) with no problems.

I simply installed it and I use it. No mouse, no key board. Pinch 'zooming' works in most of the graphic's and user screens. (a couple won't zoom.)

Is it a Win 8 'tile' application? No. It runs in the "desk top' tile.

Thomas will have to address VIP 7.x and true Win 8 compatibility ('tiles', etc).

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Audun Tönnesen
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Posts: 36
Joined: 27 Apr 2000 23:01

Unread post by Audun Tönnesen »

Paul: this sounds promising! So hopefully, the Win OS does all the work, no need for special programming considerations?

I'm no longer familiar with Windows. Do you mean by "tiles" some kind of on-screen multitasking. applications side-by-side?
Regards,
Audun.
Paul Cerkez
VIP Member
Posts: 106
Joined: 6 Mar 2000 0:01

Unread post by Paul Cerkez »

Audun,
Basically, tiles are the icons/decktop shortcuts for applications. the only thing in WIN 8.x is that these icons can be 'active' displaying photes, status of the applciation that is running, etc.

I haven't tried a VIP 7.x in WIN 8 yet on my tablet but I suspect it will work ok. Developer might have to timplement some 'tweaks' to take full advantage of some of the newer WIN 8 features.

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