Multi-Touch Collaboration Wall
Encyclopedia
The Multi-Touch Collaboration Wall is a large (81 inch width x 48 inch height) monitor invented by Jeff Han that employs multi-touch
technology, and is marketed by Han's company,
Perceptive Pixel
. Han initially developed the technology for military applications. The wall has received most of its publicity because of its use by news network CNN
during its coverage of the 2008 US Presidential election. Usually operated by John King
, it is often referred to as CNN's "Magic Wall",, though it is now more commonly referred to by on-air personalities as the "Magic Map."
Walls have been sold not only to CNN but to the US Military, as well as other government agencies Han has not named. The wall appeared in a catalog for upscale department store, Neiman Marcus
.
.
Its primary use has been during CNN's coverage of the 2008 US Presidential Election. Its first use was during CNN's coverage of the 2008 Democratic
and Republican
Iowa caucuses in January of that year; CNN has used the wall during its coverage of every successive primary contest in the 2008 primary season. Bohrman originally wanted to delay use of the monitor until the general election, but decided that the technology was "too good to wait". Part of its appeal is its ability to make the numbers and data more accessible to its viewers, and to relay them visually, as many viewers lose interest in merely verbal explanations.
The software allows the user to access, manipulate and project data related to current poll results, and election results of the past and present. For instance, the user could bring up the total delegate counts for Senators Barack Obama
(D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the 2008 US Democratic primary race
. He could bring a map of the state that was then having a primary election, collect live vote tallies, or bring up pie charts for vote distribution in each county. He could project how voting in a particular county could affect who won the state. For the national presidential election, it can be used to display a map reflecting recent state-by-state poll results, which are also used to project electoral vote totals for each respective party. Current toss-up states can also be assigned Democratic or Republican status to create hypothetical election scenarios.
Particular attention has been paid to John King's proficiency with the wall, and is described as a "specialist" in using it. He is sometimes referred to as "the map guy," "the wall magician" or the "chairman of the board." Many news stories about the wall dedicate equal focus to King himself.
The "Magic Map" was parodied in the October 23, 2008 episode of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday, with Fred Armisen
using it to move states around where they don't belong and made Michigan bounce. John King commented later that he could perform that act as well. The "Map" was also parodied on the November 18, 2008 episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
, with a presumably omnipotent King using it to stalk, and eventually imprison, correspondent John Oliver
. And a Bud Light "drinkability" commercial spoofs the magic map technology.
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
technology, and is marketed by Han's company,
Perceptive Pixel
Perceptive Pixel
Perceptive Pixel, Inc. is a company specializing in research, development and production of multi-touch interfaces. The company was founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, who publicly demonstrated multi-touch hardware and software technology at the TED...
. Han initially developed the technology for military applications. The wall has received most of its publicity because of its use by news network CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
during its coverage of the 2008 US Presidential election. Usually operated by John King
John King (journalist)
John King is an American journalist and is the anchor of John King, USA which appears weeknights at 7pm/ET on CNN. He is also the former anchor of State of the Union with John King...
, it is often referred to as CNN's "Magic Wall",, though it is now more commonly referred to by on-air personalities as the "Magic Map."
Walls have been sold not only to CNN but to the US Military, as well as other government agencies Han has not named. The wall appeared in a catalog for upscale department store, Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
.
Use on CNN
The screen was purchased by CNN after David Bohrman, who is in charge of CNN's coverage of politics, "fell in love" with the device at a military intelligence show. Its programming is modified by CNN's Josh Braun for specific uses, and CNN recently purchased a second wall. Its interface and use is often compared with that of the Apple iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
.
Its primary use has been during CNN's coverage of the 2008 US Presidential Election. Its first use was during CNN's coverage of the 2008 Democratic
Iowa Democratic caucuses, 2008
The Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus occurred on January 3, 2008, and was the state caucuses of the Iowa Democratic Party. It was the first election for the Democrats of the 2008 presidential election. Also referred to as "the First in the Nation Caucus," it was the first election of the primary...
and Republican
Iowa Republican caucuses, 2008
The 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses took place on January 4, 2008. The Iowa Republican caucuses are an unofficial primary, with the delegates to the state convention selected proportionally via a straw poll...
Iowa caucuses in January of that year; CNN has used the wall during its coverage of every successive primary contest in the 2008 primary season. Bohrman originally wanted to delay use of the monitor until the general election, but decided that the technology was "too good to wait". Part of its appeal is its ability to make the numbers and data more accessible to its viewers, and to relay them visually, as many viewers lose interest in merely verbal explanations.
The software allows the user to access, manipulate and project data related to current poll results, and election results of the past and present. For instance, the user could bring up the total delegate counts for Senators Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the 2008 US Democratic primary race
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
. He could bring a map of the state that was then having a primary election, collect live vote tallies, or bring up pie charts for vote distribution in each county. He could project how voting in a particular county could affect who won the state. For the national presidential election, it can be used to display a map reflecting recent state-by-state poll results, which are also used to project electoral vote totals for each respective party. Current toss-up states can also be assigned Democratic or Republican status to create hypothetical election scenarios.
Particular attention has been paid to John King's proficiency with the wall, and is described as a "specialist" in using it. He is sometimes referred to as "the map guy," "the wall magician" or the "chairman of the board." Many news stories about the wall dedicate equal focus to King himself.
The "Magic Map" was parodied in the October 23, 2008 episode of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday, with Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
using it to move states around where they don't belong and made Michigan bounce. John King commented later that he could perform that act as well. The "Map" was also parodied on the November 18, 2008 episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
, with a presumably omnipotent King using it to stalk, and eventually imprison, correspondent John Oliver
John Oliver (comedian)
John Oliver is a British stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, for which he won an Emmy in 2009. He also plays a recurring character, Professor Ian Duncan, on the television series Community...
. And a Bud Light "drinkability" commercial spoofs the magic map technology.