Microsoft to Acquire Multi-Touch Pioneer Perceptive Pixel

Microsoft today announced that they intend to acquire Perceptive Pixel, a company founded by multi-touch pioneer Jeff Han and currently focused on large-screen touch displays such as those used by CNN and other television networks to allow anchors to present live, interactive data on set.

While Han was not involved in Apple's multi-touch efforts, his work has been looked to as some of the key early examples of multi-touch technology in action. 

"Founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, a renowned pioneer in multi-touch technology, PPI shipped its first multi-touch workstation and large wall solutions in early 2007. In 2008 its technology gained widespread recognition for transforming the way CNN and other broadcasters covered the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In 2009 the Smithsonian awarded the company the National Design Award in the inaugural category of Interaction Design. PPI’s patented technologies are used across a wide variety of industries such as government, defense, broadcast, energy exploration, engineering and higher education, and its expertise in both software and hardware will contribute to success in broad scenarios such as collaboration, meetings and presentations."

Microsoft is no stranger to the multi-touch market, having just launched its "Suface" tabletop multi-touch screens back in mid-2007. While that effort did not lead to amazing success, they have just relaunched the Surface brand for its forthcoming portable devices running Windows 8.