Applications of Multitouch and Gaming Technology for the Classroom

Abstract

Multi-point touch screens have enjoyed recent popularity due to their natural tendency to create highly intuitive and user-friendly systems for even the novice user. We believe that multitouch is well-suited for educational purposes, since it engages users through an invisible interface and natural, gestural interaction, as well as promoting collaborative learning through equal access, as opposed to individual or "driver and co-pilot" learning at a traditional computer workstation. In this paper, we adopt this powerful interface and combine it with 3D simulation and gaming technology to create a novel teaching tool, incorporating digital learning content co-developed with educators and providing access for administration and student assessment.