FingerWorks Inc.

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT – READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USING PRODUCT .........3

FingerWorks Installation................................................................................... 5
System Requirements.......................................................... 5
Installation and Operation Guide Installing the TouchStream ST/LP on Your Computer ...... 5
Configuring the TouchStream for your OS ........................ 6
Installing the MultiTouch Utilities...................................... 6
for the Caring for your MultiTouch Surface .................................. 6
How Does MultiTouch Work?.................................................... 7
_______________________ Using MultiTouch - the Golden Rules ................................ 7
Using the Gesture Quick Guide .......................................... 8
Using the Animated Gesture Guide .................................... 8
Typing Guide .............................................................................. 9
Touch Typing.................................................................... 10
Modifier Chords (for Shifting, etc.).......................................... 12
Basic Modifier Chords...................................................... 12
Combining Modifier Chords with Clicking ...................... 13
Combining Modifier Chords with Gestures...................... 13
Enhanced Thumb & Zone Modifier Chords ..................... 14
Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP ..................................... 16
4-Corners Manual Configuration Sequence...................... 16
Table 1. Manual Configuration Settings ....................... 17
& Operating System (OS) Compatibility Options ................ 18
Mouse Emulation Options ................................................ 19
Typing Options ................................................................. 20
Alternative Key Layouts ................................................... 22
Optional Application Gesture Sets.................................... 22
Game Mode....................................................................... 24
Appendix A – Alternate Layouts .............................................. 25
(Programmer’s) QWERTY Key Layout ....................... 25
DVORAK Key Layout .................................................. 25
QWERAK Key Layout ................................................. 25
Appendix B – RightHand Gesture/HotKey Mapping ............... 26

Copyright ©2002 FingerWorks Inc. www.fingerworks.com

FingerWorks, TouchStream, and iGesture are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of FingerWorks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows,
Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is either a registered
trademark or trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. Certain other product names, brand names and company names may be
trademarks or designations of their respective owners.
FingerWorks Inc. Legal FingerWorks Inc. Legal

IMPORTANT – READ CAREFULLY BEFORE LIMITED WARRANTY

USING PRODUCT FingerWorks warrants the MultiTouch Product(s) and FingerWorks Software solely to the Purchaser
against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase. All
THIS IS A LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU (PURCHASER/YOU) AND
warranty claims must be requested of FingerWorks prior to the expiration of the applicable Warranty
FINGERWORKS, INC. (FINGERWORKS). BY USING THIS PRODUCT(S), YOU INDICATE
Period. Purchaser may not transfer this warranty. Purchaser’s sole remedy, and FingerWorks sole
YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NOT
liability for a covered warranty defect shall be for FingerWorks, at its sole discretion, to either
ACCEPT THESE TERMS, RETURN THE PACKAGE AND PRODUCT UNUSED TO
replace or repair the defective Product at no charge, or to refund the purchase price for the affected
FINGERWORKS, INC. FOR A FULL REFUND.
Product. Purchaser is solely responsible for all shipping and handling charges on returned products
under warranty. These warranties are void if the applicable product has been altered in any way or
FingerWorks, Inc. License Agreement for FingerWorks Software damaged by accident, misuse, or abuse, including but not limited to, the use of unauthorized third
1. License Grant. FingerWorks grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, perpetual license to party software or repairs, power surges, excessive heat or humidity. FingerWorks warranty
use the accompanying “FingerWorks Software” (including host drivers, host applications, obligations shall not be enlarged or diminished by FingerWorks provision of technical advice to
documentation, and firmware within the MultiTouch unit) on your computer(s) in conjunction with Purchaser.
MultiTouch Product(s). “MultiTouch Product(s)” refers to sensing surfaces and attached processing
hardware produced by FingerWorks including the iGesture Retro Keyboard, iGesture Pad, iGesture Disclaimer of Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES CONTAINED
NumPad, iGesture Mini, TouchStream ST, and TouchStream LP. The software may be installed on HEREIN, FINGERWORKS DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESS
more than one of your computers as long as it is only used with FingerWorks Products. OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
FingerWorks may from time to time provide upgrades to FingerWorks Software but is not required WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
to do so. FingerWorks is not responsible for any third party software that may be used or sold with NONINFRINGEMENT OR THEIR EQUIVALENTS UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY
MultiTouch Products. JURISDICTION. THE REMEDIES SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE THE SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES OF PURCHASER WITH RESPECT TO ANY DEFECTIVE
2. Confidentiality. You agree and acknowledge that the FingerWorks Software contains valuable PRODUCT.
trade secrets of FingerWorks. You may not disclose any FingerWorks proprietary or trade secret
information relating to the FingerWorks Software to any third party. You must treat the RMA PROCEDURE. If Purchaser discovers a defect in a Product durin g the applicable Warranty
FingerWorks Software with at least the same degree of confidentiality and care as you keep your Period, then Purchaser should contact FingerWorks for a Return Material Authorization (RMA)
own confidential information, but not less than reasonable care. All obligations of confidentiality number BEFORE shipping the Product, freight and insurance prepaid, to FingerWork’s designated
shall survive the termination of this Agreement. repair facility. Purchaser should have the part number; serial number, date of purchase, and the
suspected problem ready when contacting FingerWorks to obtain an RMA. FingerWorks does not
3. Intellectual Property. All copyright, patent, trade secret, trademark, confidential information accept responsibility or obligation to preserve any custom configurations in units returned to
and other intellectual and proprietary rights in the FingerWorks Software are and shall remain the FingerWorks. Purchaser is solely responsible for shipping and handling charges under this
exclusive property of FingerWorks. You shall not attempt to reverse engineer, disassemble, paragraph.
decompile, copy, modify, translate, reproduce, transfer or distribute the FingerWorks Software or
related documentation. You shall not tamper with, bypass or alter any security features of the Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL FINGERWORKS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
FingerWorks Software or attempt to do so. FingerWorks retains all rights not expressly granted SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT
under this license. PUCHASER MAY SUFFER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE PURCHASE USE OF
THE PRODUCT OR FROM USE WITH OTHER PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
4. License Rights. You hereby grant to FingerWorks an irrevocable, non-exclusive license LIMITATION, FOR THE LOSS OF USE OR LOSS OF DATA, FILES OR PROGRAMS STORED
under all intellectual property rights (including copyright) to use, copy, distribute, display, ON THE PRODUCT. FINGERWORKS MAXIMUM LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM BY
sublicense, perform and prepare derivative works based upon any feedback, including suggestions, PURCHASER ARISING OUT OF PURCHASER’S PURCHASE AND USE OF THIS PRODUCT
fixes, materials, error corrections, enhancements, and the like that you provide to FingerWorks. SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE APPLICABLE PRODUCT.

5. Termination. Your responsibilities under this license will terminate only upon destruction or Severability. In the event of invalidity of any provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that
return to FingerWorks of all proprietary documentation (as referenced in paragraphs 2 and 3 above), such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Agreement.
FingerWorks Software, and MultiTouch Products. Export. You agree to not export or re-export the Products without the appropriate United States or
foreign government licenses.
Product return policy. Taxes. You agree to be responsible for payment of any taxes, other than FingerWorks income taxes,
If purchased directly from FingerWorks, purchaser may return FingerWorks Software and iGesture resulting from this Agreement.
Products for any reason within thirty (30) days from the date of purchase for a refund of purchase Patents. MultiTouch Products and FingerWorks Software are protected by U.S. Patent 6,323,846
price less 10% restocking fee provided that the Products are in perfect working condition and and numerous patents pending in the U.S. and foreign countries.
unmarred. Return of TouchStream products incurs a 15% restocking fee. Restocking fees may be Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, shall govern this
waived upon exchange for another FingerWorks product. Purchaser is solely responsible for all Agreement. The United Nations convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is
shipping and handling charges on returned products and exchanges. specifically disclaimed.

3 4
FingerWorks Inc. Installation FingerWorks Inc. Installation

hardware to be added. To verify driver installation, expand the USB

bus in the Apple System Profiler. A TouchStream should be listed.
??Mac OS 9 should also not require anything. However, you may have to
plug and unplug the MultiTouch device a few times before OS 9 picks
Installation up all the interfaces. After plugging in the USB connector, wait 30
seconds or so before unplugging it.

??Linux: Recent distributions like RedHat 7.0 and Mandrake 8.0 should
System Requirements auto-detect both keyboard and mouse functionality of your unit. USB
One free USB port on your computer or a free USB port on a hub that has an support and auto configuration has continued to improve in the 2.4.x
external (wall) power supply (WARNING: USB hubs that do not have external kernel series, so success is most likely with the latest kernels.
power cannot support MultiTouch products!). Also, an operating system that Instructions for manual installation of the required USB kernel modules
includes standard USB keyboard/mouse drivers such as: (usbcore, hid, usbmouse, usbkbd) and modifying X11’s XF86Config
file to use /dev/input/mice as the pointer can be found at:
??Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP or ME http://www.linux-usb.org
??Windows NT (with ‘Legacy USB’ BIOS option or BSquare third-party See especially the USB User’s Guide page on Human Interface
driver only!) Devices: http://www.linux-usb.org/USB-guide/x194.html
??Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X, BeOS, or OS/2
??Linux Kernel 2.4.3 or higher, or with the USB backport to the 2.2.x Configuring the TouchStream for your OS
kernel series.
All systems ship configured so that the gestures emit Windows-style hotkeys
Installing the TouchStream ST/LP on Your Computer and allow 2-Button wheel-mouse emulation. To enable Mac-style hotkeys for
use with MacOS, or Linux-style hotkeys or 3-Button wheel-mouse emulation,
??Windows XP should not require anything. Just plug the USB you will need to either use the manual configuration gestures discussed in the
connector into the back of the computer and wait a second or two for Configuration chapter, or install the MultiTouch Utilities and use the Feature
the new hardware to be added. Selector control panel.
??Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME:
Plug the USB connector into the back of the computer. Depending on Installing the MultiTouch Utilities
what USB devices you’ve installed in the past, Windows may prompt Installation of the MultiTouch Utilities (available for Mac OS X, Linux,
you to approve installation of several USB drivers. All of the drivers Windows 2000 and Windows XP) is optional. They allow you to upgrade to the
can be obtained from your Windows CD, the Windows driver archive latest MultiTouch Firmware, run diagnostics on the sensing surface, and enable
on your hard drive, or from Windows update over the Internet. additional settings with a Feature Selector control panel (e.g.
Windows (98 especially) may prompt you to install a USB Composite Linux/Adobe/Adobe hotkey mode, game mode, button swapping, and palm
Interface Driver and ask you to reboot. Windows will then prompt you slides for flipping OS modes). The latest version of the utilities can always be
to install two Human Interface Device (HID) drivers, one for USB found at http://www.fingerworks.com/downloads.html Or if your Internet is
Keyboard emulation and one for USB Mouse emulation. slow, you can install an (older?) copy from your FingerWorks CD.
Your unit should begin functioning after these HID driver installs
without another reboot. If you plug your unit into a different USB root Caring for your MultiTouch Surface
or hub port in the future, Windows may prompt you to install the HID We recommend cleaning your surface with Lysol Disinfectant spray bottle or
Drivers again, but this time Windows should find them on the hard other non-abrasive household cleaner whenever it becomes grimy. Lysol in
drive (CD not needed again). If you suspect trouble, check that all particular seems to leave the surface nice and slippery. NOTE: Unless you
drivers listed above show up in the Device Manager, as discussed at unplug while cleaning, spurious input (e.g. mouse clicks or gestures) could be
http://www.fingerworks.com/troubleshooting.html generated while any liquid remains on the surface.
??Mac OS X should not require anything. Just plug in the USB connector
into the back of the computer and wait a second or two for the new

5 6
FingerWorks Inc. How MultiTouch Works FingerWorks Inc. How MultiTouch Works

Some of the gestures allow you to drop the non-involved fingers after initially touching
the surface with the correct (involved) fingers. Practicing this helps to reduce hand
fatigue. Note that you do not have to drop the non-involved fingers but you may find that
it is more comfortable if you do. You can also lift all but one finger without interrupting
the operation you started using more fingers. Here's an example of pointing using all five
How Does MultiTouch Work? fingers.
1. Touch any two adjacent fingers on the MultiTouch surface.
2. Begin moving fingers in desired direction.
Your MultiTouch unit consists of two main components: a Hand Imaging Surface (the 3. Drop remaining fingers and thumb onto surface and continue movement.
touch surface) and a Gesture Processor. The MultiTouch Gesture Processor watches the
touch surface all the time. It's always looking to see which fingers are touching and what Rule 2: Keep the fingers slightly spread - keep them relaxed not tightly bunched. It's
they are doing. The Gesture Processor ignores touching and movement that are not valid not easy to do, but it is possible to fool the Gesture Processor into thinking that one finger
gestures or valid typing, so this allows you to rest your hand on the surface without is touching the surface when in fact two are. This can occur if you have small fingers and
causing spurious input. you squeeze them so tightly together that they look like one large finger. Obviously, it
isn't your intent to fool your system so relax your fingers and keep them slightly
Interacting with MultiTouch is a form of communication. You generate gestures and the separated for all operations.
Gesture Processor reads them and tries to interpret the meaning of your gestures. You can
easily confuse the Gesture Processor if you don't communicate clearly - just like you can Rule 3: Maintain contact with the surface during movement. If all your fingers come
confuse a careful listener if you garble your speech. The MultiTouch unit will serve you off the surface during a gesture operation the Gesture Processor will interpret that as a
well if you communicate with it clearly. There are five rules that must be followed to signal from you that the operation in progress has concluded. Relax and let the weight of
ensure clear communication with your MultiTouch device. These are described on the your hand keep your fingers on the surface as they slide across it.
following section
Rule 4: Keep the thumb apart from the other fingers. The Gesture Processor might
Using MultiTouch - the Golden Rules think that the thumb is just another finger if it "sees" it in a position where it should not
be. For example, if you put your thumb right next to your index and middle fingers it may
look to the MultiTouch software like you have touched down three fingers instead of two
1. Touch the surface with the correct number of fingertips (Note that this
fingers and a thumb. Avoid confusing your MultiTouch unit by keeping the thumb
applies to only the initial contact; after the initial contact has been made the
comfortably away from the other fingers.
remaining fingers may touch down on the surface)
2. Keep the fingers slightly spread - keep them relaxed not tightly bunched Rule 5: Finger taps should be light and crisp. Hitting the surface hard with you
3. Maintain contact with the surface during movement - relax and let gravity fingertips is not good for your fingers. For typing, the Gesture Processor pretty much
do its job ignores how hard you hit the surface and really only cares how long your finger tip stays
4. Keep the thumb separated from the other fingers on the key you are trying to type. If you stay too long the Gesture Processor will assume
5. Finger taps should be light and crisp - don't bang the keys, save your fingers you are resting your finger and the key will not be entered. For reliable operation make
sure your key taps and mouse clicks are light and reasonably quick.
Additional information and guidance on each of these rules is given below.
Using the Gesture Quick Guide
Rule 1: Touch the surface with the correct number of fingertips. Clear Two Gesture Quick Guides that show static images of most of the active gestures for
communication involves touching the surface with the correct fingertips for the desired your TouchStream ST/LP should be included in the shipping box. Additional copies of
gesture. This is required because the system distinguishes gestures by the particular set of the Gesture Quick Guides can be downloaded from our website under Customer
fingers that initially contact and move together across the surface. For example, the Support/Downloads. While you are learning the gestures you may find it helpful to keep
mouse operations of point, drag, and scroll are launched by initial contact of adjacent a copy of the Quick Guides near your computer.
fingers: two finger tips initially touching means pointing, three mean drag, and four mean
scroll. On iGesture products, pointing can also be initiated with five fingers if desired, Using the Animated Gesture Guide
but clicking must still be done with two. A CD containing the animated Gesture Guide should be included in the shipping box. If
the CD is missing you can run the guide from our web site. The guide runs on your
Internet browser and provides animated videos of each gesture operation. We highly
recommend that you take the time to run through the guide at least once so that you see
the proper way to execute each gesture.

7 8
FingerWorks Inc. Typing on your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Typing on your TouchStream ST/LP

Touch Typing

The first day you get your TouchStream ST/LP, you may doubt that touch
Typing Guide typing on a surface is even possible! However, your brain just needs time to
adjust to the different feel and technique. By following the suggestions below,
most touch typists reach moderate speeds of 30-40 wpm within a few days. Full
HEALTH WARNING: If you experience symptoms such as persistent or proficiency takes 3-4 weeks of practice, resulting in speeds of 50-60 wpm for
recurring discomfort, pain, throbbing, aching, tingling, numbness, burning average typists and 60-70 wpm for accomplished typists, esp. with Dvorak.
sensations or stiffness in your hands, arms, shoulders, neck, or other parts of
your body when using a computer, DO NOT IGNORE THESE WARNING Your TouchStream ST/LP supports several different styles of touch typing that
SIGNS! PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR PHYSICAL THERAPIST. differ by whether the fingers and palms rest intermittently or continuously. You
Ask them for guidance BEFORE trying any new input devices! Remember that may learn to switch subconsciously between styles depending on the intensity of
pain is likely to increase during the first few days of trying a new device because your typing task:
your body tends to tense up as it is learning new motions and postures. You may
also be more susceptible to further injury during this learning period. For this ?? Touch typing- For most of us:
reason, your doctor will probably tell you to restrict use of new devices to short We highly recommend that you follow these steps when you are just
periods of a few minutes a day for the first few days or weeks while your body starting out. We've found through experience that most people reach a
adjusts. satisfactory level of accuracy and speed in the shortest training time by
following these five steps.
General Typing:
Tap each key's symbol lightly but crisply with one finger at a time. Do NOT 1. Curl your fingers so there is roughly a 90-degree bend at the knuckles.
Now rest the fingertips of each hand on their corresponding home row
bang on the keys. Try using the minimum force possible. Relax between words
by resting all ten fingers on surface and resting palms on gel pads. keys using the raised dot at the center of each home row key as a guide.
Next drop your palms on the gel pads. Your fingers below the knuckles
should now be roughly perpendicular to the surface with the left hand
Hand Resting:
fingertips resting on ASDF & Backspace while the right hand fingertips
To rest a hand without activating keys, drop ALL FIVE fingers rest on Space & JKL;
SIMULTANEOUSLY anywhere on the surface. Palms are ignored so they can 2. Now lift your fingers off the surface but leave your palms resting
rest either on the gel pads or anywhere on the touch surface. lightly. Reach for and lightly touch the desired symbols one at a time.
You don't have to hit the exact center of each key--just try to use the
Hunt & Peck Typing: proper reach between keys.
Tap each key's symbol lightly but crisply with one finger at a time, taking care 3. For keys distant from home row, reach with a whole arm motion,
not to accidentally tap unintended keys. (It may be easiest to float your hands keeping your wrist straight while your palms slide across the pads.
above the surface while typing, but rest them during pauses). Then try to exactly reverse this arm motion so your hands "spring"
back to home row, and your palms slide back to center on their pads.
Typematic: This is healthier than leaving palms firmly planted and reaching solely
To activate 'typematic' or auto-repeat, lift all fingers of a hand off the surface, via large finger/wrist stretches! Frequent finger stretching and wrist
then touch and hold one finger on the desired symbol. Once that key starts bending during typing may contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
repeating, you can drop the other fingers back onto the surface. To stop 4. Be careful not to let stray fingers accidentally tap keys.
typematic, lift any finger off the surface. 5. When pausing between words or sentences, drop your fingers back to
the surface and use the raised dots to realign them with home row. You
can also rest the full weight of your arms on the palm rests during
pauses.

9 10
FingerWorks Inc. Typing on your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Modifier Chords

?? Touch Typing- For the swiftest:

Resting your palms reduces hand drift and arm fatigue, but fully floating
them above the pads allows faster typing by increasing freedom of Modifier Chords (for Shifting, etc.)
movement. After some practice you may be able to type long sequences of
words at high speed without significant hand drift. From time to time you
may find it necessary to realign your fingers with the home row keys to
compensate for excessive hand drift. Reaching for Shift or other modifier keys can be even more awkward on a touch
surface than on a normal keyboard. Therefore, FingerWorks invented a much
?? Touch typing- For those in serious pain: more comfortable, zero-reach alternative called Modifier Chords that you'll
definitely want to learn!
For people with serious, long-standing repetitive strain injuries, every little
typing motion, or just briefly suspending the hands above the surface can be
painful. The TouchStream ST supports a minimal effort, but slow, typing Basic Modifier Chords
method for such people:
o From the ten-fingers resting position, lift one finger at a time, drop Available only on our TouchStream line, the basic chords can be held anywhere
and leave the finger on desired key, and repeat for each letter. This on the surface so long as the fingertips stay in a horizontal line. Compared to the
way the hands are always fully supported by the surface, and Enhanced chords, these basic chords make it easier for novices to activate Shift,
motion is minimized. but harder to activate Ctrl/Cmd. For Alt, AltGr and Win/Meta chords, see
Enhanced Modifier Chords.
Since only one finger moves at a time, speeds are limited to 10-20wpm.
This method works best on the DVORAK or QWERAK key layouts, where
the most frequently typed keys are on home row, so you're just lifting and
dropping in place most of the time. On conventional QWERTY layouts, it
can feel a bit like 'twister' for the fingers, as half the fingers tend to end up
resting on upper row keys and must slide back towards home row to
proceed.

?? Touch typing- Minimizing stress:

Take advantage of our Zero-Force keys to reduce harmful stress. Always
use the lightest touch when typing. Banging on the keys is unnecessary and
is not good for your joints and tendons.
For faraway keys, lifting your palms and reaching with your arm while
keeping the wrist as straight as possible helps avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Here’s how to use them:

Relax and rest frequently! 1. When ready to capitalize a letter, just drop and hold 4 fingertips from one
hand (excluding the thumb) on home row. This is the Shift chord.
2. Type the letter to be capitalized with the opposite hand.
?? OR: Lift one of the 4 fingertips from the Shift chord and use it to
tap the letter (while the others stay on surface).
3. Lift all 4 of the fingertips off home row. This turns off Shift.

11 12
FingerWorks Inc. Modifier Chords FingerWorks Inc. Modifier Chords

The timing is really the same as regular Shift keys. You're just holding 4 Enhanced Thumb & Zone Modifier Chords
fingertips down instead of reaching with your pinky. Modifier chords are also
just as flexible as modifier keys: NOTE: If these enhanced chords are enabled, Shift can only be activated by
dropping 4 fingertips on home row, not anywhere on the surface.
o The 4 fingertips don't actually have to drop on home row. Just drop
them in a row fairly close together anywhere on the surface. Available only on the two-handed TouchStream ST/LP, this Enhanced chord set
o To type whole words uppercase with a single Shift chord, just make provides 5 modifier chords for each hand: Shift, Ctrl, Win/Cmd/Meta, Left Alt,
sure at least 1 of the 4 fingertips remains on the surface as you type and Right Alt (AltGr).
desired letters. (Lift one or two of the 4 fingertips at a time to reach for
keys, and leave them down as they drop on target keys). Right Alt (AltGr) is provided for both hands because it allows one to type
o Be careful not to roll the 4 fingertips as the Shift chord begins or you accented characters on European Key Layouts and to access the programmers'
will get scrolling instead. punctuation pad, a behavior different than Left Alt, which can always be used as
o When you want to rest a hand, make sure to drop all 5 fingers a menu shortcut.
(including thumb) simultaneously. Resting just 4 fingers may be
interpreted as a Shift chord. Three of the 5 chords are Zone chords, which use four fingertips above, below,
o Regular modifier keys are still needed for multi-modifier hotkeys like or on the Home Row keys of either hand:
Ctrl-Alt-Delete. Make sure the fingers come down on the Ctrl and Alt
keys one at a time--if they strike simultaneously they could be Ctrl (US)
misinterpreted as a two-finger click. Above
Cmd (US Mac)
Home Row
AltGr (International)
Combining Modifier Chords with Clicking
Home Row Shift
Shift-click can be done with modifier chords by holding the Shift chord with one
hand and tapping 2 fingertips with the other hand. OR: Shift-click within one
hand by dropping 4 fingertips, then lifting and tapping 2 of the 4 simultaneously. Below Left Alt (US)
Home Row Shift AltGr (International)
Combining Modifier Chords with Gestures
For all but the Shift chord, which is always activated by 4 fingertips on home
Modifier chords also work with gestures. Say you want to do a Shift+Ctrl+V
row, the chord/modifier mappings differ depending on whether the key layout is
(Paste Special). On a normal keyboard you would hit three keys with the same
US or International (which need AltGr and Shift+AltGr for accent symbols), and
hand. But with MultiTouch Technology you simply hold the 4-finger Shift chord
whether Mac mode is enabled, since Macs use Cmd instead of Ctrl as their
with your left hand while your right hand performs the Paste gesture:
primary hotkey modifier. In International mode, the Win/Meta modifier may be
available as a fourth zone below ZXCV.

Other modifier/gesture combinations that work in many programmers’ editors:

?? Shift+Cut for Append Cut
?? Shift+Copy for Append Copy
?? Shift+Save for Save As…
?? Shift+Find for find word at cursor.
?? Any other commands with a Shift+Ctrl+letter hotkey sequence!

13 14
FingerWorks Inc. Modifier Chords FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP

The two additional chords below are performed by holding the thumb + 3
fingertips, with the hand either relaxed or spread, anywhere on the surface.

AltGr (US)
Ctrl (International)
Cmd (International Mac)
(either hand)
Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP
Win (US Windows)
Meta (US Linux/Emacs) Your TouchStream ST/LP has a variety of customization options that affect operating
Ctrl (US Mac) system (OS) compatibility, mouse emulation, typing behavior, advanced gesture sets, and
(either hand) LeftAlt (International) game mode. The most important of these is the OS mode setting, which ensures that each
command gesture generates the hotkey sequences expected by your OS. If you don’t set
the OS mode to match your operating system, the gestures may not work properly.
While not strictly modifier chords, these tap chords are also enabled when
Enhanced modifier chords are turned on: Most settings can be changed from any computer with the 4-corners Manual
Configuration Sequence described below, and will be remembered if the unit is moved to
another computer. These same settings, plus a few others like mouse button swapping,
Enter/Esc-Tap 3F of both hands:
can also be customized with the Feature Selector control panel included in the
Above home for Escape,
MultiTouch Utilities (available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Linux, and MacOS X).
On home row for Enter.
4-Corners Manual Configuration Sequence
CapsWord-Tap 4F of both hands above home
row. Turns CapsLock on while next word is typed, ?? Step A: Open a simple text editing program like Notepad.exe (any window or
off when Space or punctuation typed. entry field that accepts text input from the keyboard will do), and place the text
cursor on the page. You might want to make sure that keyboard input will be
displayed by typing a few characters.
Programmers’ Punctuation Pad ( then <shift> U)

?? Step B: Pick the setting you want from Table 1, remembering what key
The Programmers’ Pad is located under the right half of the ST and LP on US layouts only. enables/disables the desired setting.
Holding the AltGr chord with your left hand while pressing a right half key will produce the
symbol shown in the lower right corner of the key.
?? Step C: Using your thumb and index fingers from both hands, touch the four

corners of the MultiTouch surface and hold them there for a

second. The following message should appear in the text editing program:

/* Enter a Gesture Map: 1=Mac 2=Win 3=ThreeButton 4=Linux ...

?? Step D: Press the appropriate setting key on the TouchStream within 30

seconds!

?? Step E: Verify your changes were successful by examining the status

completion message. For instance, if you pressed 4, you should see:

/* Enter a Gesture Map: 1=Mac 2=Win 3=ThreeButton 4=Linux ...

Linux/Adobe enabled */

15 16
FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP

Enables with Disables with

Table 1. Manual Configuration Settings
Ships
Setting
Enabled?
Enables with Disables with
then: then:
Ships
Setting Left Hand Application
Enabled?
Gesture Sets:
then: then: Text Formatting and No <Shift>F f
Restore All Settings Alignment
Home
to Factory Defaults: Photoshop View/Zoom No <Shift>Z z
Maya No <Shift>Y y
Operating System: Desktop/Tool Selection No <Shift>D d
Macintosh 1 N/A Programmer's
Windows Yes 2 N/A No <Shift>P p
Gestures
Linux/Adobe 4 N/A
Linux/Emacs 7 N/A Game Mode:
Unix/BeOS 5 N/A Master Game Mode No <Shift>G g
Switch
Horizontal Palm Slides No Insert Insert Pinky Button Yes . (toggles on) . (toggles off)
for switching OS mode Inverted PgDn Action No , (toggles on) , (toggles off)

Mouse Emulation: > Operating System (OS) Compatibility Options

Three-Button Linux only 3 3
Button Swaps No N/A N/A
All MultiTouch systems ship configured for Windows and 2-button wheel mouse
Left-Hand No <Shift>L l
emulation. If you are using Windows then you don't have to do anything. For other
Typing Features: operating systems, you will need to execute the Configuration Routine and
Punctuation Pad No <Shift>U u tap the number key corresponding to your selection from the list below:
Enhanced Modifier
Chords (Ctrl above No <Shift>C c
home row "US") 1) Mac mode --for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. Uses Cmd (also known as Open
Apple) as the hotkey modifier for most gestures, and 2-button wheel mouse
Enhanced Modifier No <Ctrl>C c
emulation by default.
Chords (AltGr above
2) Windows mode (Default) -- for Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP. Uses Ctrl as the
home row "Int.")
hotkey modifier for most gestures, and 2-button wheel mouse emulation by
International Key 102 No <Shift>I i
default.
Independent Numlock Yes, if NumLock NumLock 3) Pressing 3 toggles between Two & Three Button mouse emulation for all
Toggling Mac OS operating systems.
Variable-Speed Yes <Shift>T t 4) Linux/Adobe mode-- for Linux/Unix systems with modern window managers.
Typematic Uses Ctrl as the hotkey modifier for most gestures, 3-button wheel mouse
English Spelling Model Yes <Shift>E e emulation, and enhanced modifier chords. The hotkeys follow the KDE
BackSpace Yes <Shift>B b Window Manager standard (the same as Windows mode hotkeys for the most
AutoCorrect part). Also works well with Gnome window manager and Adobe apps.
5) Unix/BeOS mode -- for BeOS and older Unix systems. Uses Alt as the hotkey
Key Layouts: modifier for most gestures, and 3-button wheel mouse emulation.
Qwerty Yes Q 6) (Setting 6 is reserved for future OS support)
Dvorak <Shift>V x 7) Linux/Emacs mode (only available in firmware ver 1.12 and up) -- for GNU
Qwerak v Q Emacs hackers. Changes right hand Cut/Copy/Paste and Undo/Redo mappings
to match Emacs hotkeys. Also provides left hand gestures for common Emacs
command prefixes and escapes. Otherwise mimics Linux/Adobe mode.

17 18
FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP

Horizontal Palm Slides for switching OS mode . You can quickly switch between major
OS modes if you have enabled horizontal palm slides. Note that mode changes made Typing Options
with palm slides are not remembered after power-down. They work like this:
Programmers' Punctuation Pad (ships disabled). With the new punctuation pad,
programmers can type common punctuation symbols right around home row, with
?? On right half of TouchStream ST/LP:
minimal reach, when the left hand performs the AltGr (Right Alt) modifier chord. See the
Modifier Chords chapter for pictures of the AltGr chord and the programmers’ pad.
Mac mode <-- Slide palm heel --> Windows mode.
Enabling the punctuation pad also enables the Enhanced Thumb & Zone Modifier Chords
?? On left half of TouchStream ST/LP: for AltGr. Because International key layouts use AltGr to type accented and other special
characters, Europeans may need to leave the punctuation pad disabled.
Emacs mode <-- Slide palm heel --> Linux/Adobe mode
Enhanced Thumb & Zone Modifier Chords (ships disabled). Enables convenient Ctrl,
AltGr (Right Alt), Left Alt, Windows (Cmd/Meta) modifier chords as 4-fingertip holds
Key Disabling Palm Switches -- You can also set one hand's horizontal palm slides to
toggle all surface keys on/off instead of switch OS modes. However, this key toggling above/below home row and as compact or spread thumb+3-fingertip holds. The Shift
option is not accessible via any manual configuration sequence, so it must be turned on modifier chord remains accessible as a 4-fingertip hold on home row.
from the Feature Selector dialog.
You can select either "US" or "International" style mappings among the various modifier
chords. The "International" style provides Shift-AltGr instead of LeftAlt below home
row, AltGr above home row instead of on Compact Thumb+3-fingertips, and
Mouse Emulation Options Win/Ctrl(Mac) way below home row instead of on Spread Thumb+3-fingertips.

3-Button Mouse Emulation. All Multi-Touch units can emulate either a 3-button wheel Also enables two-handed chords for Enter, Escape and CapsWord. Tapping 3
mouse or a 2-button wheel mouse. Three-button emulation is automatically turned on fingertips from each hand simultaneously on home row gives Enter and above home
when you choose Linux/Adobe, Linux/Emacs, or Unix/BeOS modes, off for Windows row gives Escape; 4 fingertips from each hand on the key row above home row
(QWER UIOP) activates CapsWord. CapsWord turns on CapsLock for the current
and Mac modes, but these defaults can be overridden with then 3. word, but automatically turns it off as soon as you enter a Space or other
punctuation. Good for typing capitalized variable names.
Note: When 3-button emulation is enabled, the thumb & two-fingertip chord splits:
102nd International Key (ships enabled with International key layouts). An extra key
active within the rightmost portion of the Left Shift key. Needed for European layouts,
but can also be used as an alternate |\ key placement with US layouts.

Independent NumLock Toggling (ships disabled) Allows the NumLock key to turn
Left Click Middle Click Right Click on/off the embedded numberpad internally (without syncing with the operating system).
This is useful for Mac OS 9, which does not recognize the NumLock key properly. It's
also useful for laptop users who want to use the embedded numberpad on the
Button Swaps. With the Feature Selector dialog, you can swap the mouse buttons for
TouchStream without turning on the laptop's embedded numberpad.
compatibility with left-handed mice.

Left-Hand Mouse (ships right-handed). Lets lefties point, drag, and scroll on the left
surface half rather than the right. Actually, this swaps ALL gesture mappings between
left and right surface halves, so text pointing, selection and paging gestures moves to the
right surface. File, window, and browser gestures move along with pointing to the left
surface.

19 20
FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP

Alternative Key Layouts

Variable-Speed Typematic (ships enabled). With this feature enabled, held keys repeat QWERTY (Default) Layout (See Appendix A for images of this layout)
faster if you press harder or flatten your fingertip on the key. As you begin to lift off, the
key repeats slow down, so you are less likely to overshoot your intended number of QWERTY is the standard key layout most people are used to, and which your
repeats. TouchStream probably shipped with. It has been around over one hundred years
but is not particularly efficient because the most frequently typed characters are
scattered across all three rows of the layout. If you have switched to DVORAK
?? NOTE: With variable-speed typematic turned on, the MultiTouch unit, rather or QWERAK and need to restore the QWERTY layout, do the Configuration
than the operating system, decides how fast to repeat the key. The operating
system does not actually know that your finger is held on the key; the OS Gesture and press q. If you have accidentally enabled DVORAK, the 'Q' key
thinks the key is just getting tapped very quickly. This may cause compatibility will have moved to the QWERTY 'X' key's location, so you'll actually have to
problems with games and other applications that need to know exactly when press 'X'.
your finger actually touches and releases the key. If this happens, disable
variable-speed typematic. DVORAK Layout (See Appendix A for images of this layout)
DVORAK is a key layout designed to put the most frequently typed keys on
English Spelling Model (ships enabled). Aids accuracy when typing English or English- home row. If you already know how to touch-type on QWERTY, relearning
derived programming languages. with DVORAK will take about 3 frustrating weeks, but after that much less
finger movement will be necessary during typing.
?? NOTE: The English Spelling Model is not a spelling checker. It will not
prevent you from typing misspelled words, names, passwords, or strings not QWERAK Layout (See Appendix A for images of this layout)
found in the dictionary so long as you strike with an even rhythm near the QWERAK is a hybrid between QWERTY and DVORAK that puts the most-
center of each key. However, if your finger strikes in between keys, the English frequently typed keys on home row like DVORAK, but leaves about half of the
spelling model encourages the unit to choose the key that makes most sense as remaining keys in the same place as QWERTY.
a proper English spelling. This helps typing accuracy considerably. If your
primary language is English you probably don't want to disable this feature
since it automatically weakens as you begin typing in a foreign or programming
language, and comes back full-strength when you resume typing a few words Optional Application Gesture Sets
of conventional English. You should only disable the English spelling model if
you do most or all your typing in a foreign language.
Text Formatting and Alignment Gesture Set (ships disabled). A variety of left-
hand, thumb+2-fingertip gestures for text formatting and alignment within
BackSpace Auto-Correct (ships enabled). BackSpace Auto-Correct allows the
Microsoft Word and other word processors. These gestures produce generally
MultiTouch unit to backspace and replace the last few characters in the current word if its
guess as to what you are really trying to type suddenly improves. This can occur when useful hotkeys like Ctrl+A, Ctrl+I, and Ctrl+B that are not available from any
you type sloppily so that the unit cannot accurately decide which keys you meant until right hand gestures. See the ‘left-hand red’ gesture guide for details.
you have typed the entire word. BackSpace Auto-Correct improves typing accuracy
overall, but every once in awhile the word you intended could get erased and replaced Adobe/Photoshop Zooms (ships disabled). Left-hand five-finger and thumb+3-
with a different word. If this is a problem for you, disable Backspace Auto-Correct. fingertip gestures for zooming and view selection within Photoshop and other
Adobe applications like Acrobat. You will probably find the hotkeys included in
?? NOTE: Backspace Auto-Correct will not erase past the current word, will only the Text Formatting and Alignment gesture set useful for these Adobe apps too.
erase characters typed within the last second or so, and will only replace with
correct spellings. Maya (ships disabled). Left-hand spread and compact thumb+3-fingertip as well
?? NOTE: If you disable Backspace Auto-Correct, characters could occasionally as five-finger gestures for camera zoom, pan and orbit manipulation within Alias
be left on the screen from clicks or modifier chords that were initially
misinterpreted as typing. Wavefronts' Maya animation & modeling tool. These intuitive left hand rotation,
translation, and scaling motions map to Maya's conventional Alt + button 1
and/or button 3 drags to make the magic happen. The Maya 'hotbox' is
conveniently activated from the left hand by holding down the thumb+2-
fingertip chord (Text -Formatting gesture set must be enabled too). Maya mode

21 22
FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP FingerWorks Inc. Configuring your TouchStream ST/LP

also disables variable-speed typematic and tunes left-hand key-hold/right-hand

drag combinations for speedy operation of the Hotbox and Marking Menus.

Game Mode
Desktop/Tool Selection (ships disabled). Left-hand five-finger and thumb+3-
fingertip gestures for Linux virtual desktop selection. Also enables left-hand Right Hand Game Mode is designed for first-person shooters and other games
five-finger gestures for Acrobat-style zooming, but otherwise cannot be enabled where the player must move the mouse pointer (aim) and click (fire)
at the same time as Adobe/Photoshop Zooms. NOTE: Since Windows usually simultaneously. It is not needed for all games (e.g. Solitaire).
ignores Win/Meta when applied to function keys, in Windows these gestures
essentially emulate the unmodified function keys F1-F12. Left Hand Game Mode is designed for games that require you to navigate by
holding down combinations of arrow keys or their equivalents (which is clumsy
To use with Linux's KDE window manager, choose the "KDE Default for 4 with our zero-force keys). This mode allows you to hold arrow keys by sliding
Modifiers (Meta/Alt/Ctrl/Shift)" key binding, which uses Meta+F1 thru in particular directions, somewhat like a joystick.
Meta+F9 for Switch Desktop on a 3x3 virtual desktop, and Alt+Meta+F1 thru
Alt+Meta+F9 for Move Window to Desktop. The Meta+F10, Meta+F11, & Before you can enter either hand's game mode for the first time, you must turn
Meta+F12 gestures are free for mapping to additional operations like Window on the Master Game Mode Switch, either with the Feature Selector, or
Raise/Lower, Window Maximize, and Window Resize.
then <Shift>G.
Some window managers (e.g. Sawmill) allow hotkeys for snapping the active
window to a particular corner or edge of the screen. Shift+Meta+F? (obtained Thereafter, whenever you want to switch to game mode for a hand, firmly touch
by combining one of the left-hand desktop selection gestures with a right-hand that hand's 'palm heels' on the center of the surface and slide them forward. The
Shift modifier chord) is available for this. normal gesture set for that hand will be disabled and replaced with the game
gestures shown on the 'Game Mode Quick Reference' card. The key action will
Programmers' Gestures (ships disabled). This is a catch-all category for: also change subtly. Keys will press more quickly but cannot be activated if more
than one finger from a hand is touching the surface.
?? Word completion (Visual SlickEdit) via translations of left-hand
thumb+middle-fingertip chord. To restore the normal gesture set and key action for a hand, firmly touch that
hand's palm heels on the center of the surface and pull them back toward you.
?? Ctrl-arrows, Ctrl-Shift-arrows, and Ctrl-PageUp/PageDn/Home/End
via spreading 2, 3, or 4 left-hand fingertips.
?? Shift-arrows and PageUp/PageDn/Home/End via spreading 3 or 4 Master Game Mode Switch (ships disabled). Once this switch is on, you can
right-hand fingertips (for compatibility with one-handed iGesture use up/down palm heel slides to enter/leave game mode at any time. It's
products). impossible to use game mode until this setting is on.
?? Middle-button-drag for Sensiva (www.sensiva.com) symbolic gestures
via 'pengrip' hand configuration (thumb touching, index straightened Pinky Game Button (ships enabled). Useful if the game maps the secondary
with tip touching, while middle, ring, and pinky curled under with mouse button to alternate weapon trigger or switch weapons. Lets the secondary
knuckles touching). (right) mouse button be activated by touching the pinky (in addition to the three
base pointing fingers).
NOTE: Emacs OS mode also enables all of the programmers' gestures above.
Inverted PgDn (Walk Key) Action (ships disabled). Useful as a 'downshift' from
Run to Walk. Activates and holds the PgDn key when the left middle finger lifts
off the surface (while the ring and index fingers remain touching, to control
walk direction via arrow ‘joystick’ emulation).

23 24
FingerWorks Inc. Appendix A FingerWorks Inc.

Appendix A – Alternate Layouts Appendix B – RightHand Gesture/HotKey

Mapping
(Programmer’s) QWERTY Key Layout

DVORAK Key Layout

QWERAK Key Layout

Copyright ©2002 FingerWorks Inc. www.fingerworks.com

FingerWorks, TouchStream, and iGesture are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of FingerWorks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows,
Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is either a registered
trademark or trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. Certain other product names, brand names and company names may be
25 trademarks or designations of their respective owners.
FingerWorks Inc. FingerWorks Inc.

Copyright ©2002 FingerWorks Inc. www.fingerworks.com Copyright ©2002 FingerWorks Inc. www.fingerworks.com
FingerWorks, TouchStream, and iGesture are either registered trademarks or trademarks FingerWorks, TouchStream, and iGesture are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of FingerWorks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, of FingerWorks, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows,
Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is either a registered Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is either a registered
trademark or trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and/or other trademark or trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. Certain other product names, brand names and company names may be countries. Certain other product names, brand names and company names may be
trademarks or designations of their respective owners. trademarks or designations of their respective owners.