Finnish researchers turn big size multitouch display into microscope

Teaching and research are set to get new dimensions soon courtesy the multitouch microscope developed by researchers at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM). The researchers have developed the new device which is a hand and finger gesture controlled microscope in collaboration with the Finnish company Multitouch Ltd. The researchers have combined two technologies: web-based virtual microscopy and a giant-size multitouch display to come up with this cool device.

multitouchmicroscope

The new device will change the way microscopy is performed currently as the user will now be able to touch a table- or even wall-sized screen to navigate within a microscope sample. The touch control will also allow the user to move from the natural size of the sample to a 1000-fold magnification, which is really significant because at this size one will be able to closely study the cells and even sub cellular details.

"The giant size, minimum 46" screen looks somewhat like an iPad on steroids. The sample viewing experience is like a combination of Google Map and the user interface from the movie Minority Report."

says researcher Johan Lundin, one of the creators of the method to Physorg. The screen displays the sample which can be accessed from the server over the internet.

The new device will definitely change the face of microscopy teaching as many students will now be able to watch the display together and examine the same sample. Not only this, the new microscope will also recognize multiple users at the same time. Teacher will also find it helpful to teach the students using the new multitouch microscope as they will be able to pass information to more than one student at one time.

Source: Physorg

Image courtesy: Gizmag