GigaOm / IntoMobile
Tech startup BumpTop, which has developed a very interesting 3D, multitouch interface, has confirmed it’s been purchased by Google. Speculation is that Google will use the BumpTop technology in an Android-based tablet or phone.
The BumpTop multi-touch takes actions quite a bit further than point-to-click and pinch-to-zoom gestures. The interface allows for an interactive use of the desktop, including hanging items up, sweeping them into piles, and sorting in flip-book style. The interface “could provide a significant alternative to the look and feel of Apple’s iPad,” says GigaOm’s Mathew Ingram.
The software is available for a free download only through the end of the week, and the site says that no additional upgrades are planned. If you’re interested in designing for tablets, you may want to grab a copy now and start thinking about what an even deeper touch interface may mean for content providers.
>Google Buys BumpTop (ReadWriteWeb)
>Is Google working on an edgier tablet than Apple’s? (Editors Weblog)
