CUBIT
CUBIT was a computer user interface system built for multi-touch devices, and its creators gave it a blunt mission. They wanted to demystify multitouch. That single phrase reveals the attitude behind the project. Touch-driven screens were treated as something secretive and expensive, and CUBIT pushed in the opposite direction. The system was designed by Stefan Hechenberger and Addie Wagenknecht for a group called Nortd Labs. It arrived as a direct competitor to Microsoft Surface, a far larger and better-known name in the same space. So how does a small lab challenge a giant? The answer lies in how CUBIT was made, how it was sold, and who it was really for.
Demystifying a technology starts with refusing to hide how it works. CUBIT pursued this through an open-source model that applied to both its software and its hardware. That choice set it apart from a closed commercial product. By opening the hardware as well as the code, the project invited people to see inside the system rather than simply use a sealed box. The stylization of the name, written as CUBIT in capitals, signaled a product with a clear identity. Standing against Microsoft Surface, CUBIT positioned itself as the transparent alternative in multi-touch.
As of the 2nd of May 2008, Nortd Labs began accepting orders for developer kits called the TouchKit. The arrangement carried an unusual condition. Kit buyers and users had to supply their own projector and camera. That requirement put real responsibility on the builder rather than the seller. The estimated cost for that supplied equipment ran between $1,080 and $1,580 USD. The figure shows that entry was not free, even for an open project. The TouchKit was a starting point for developers willing to assemble part of the experience themselves, which set the stage for how the finished system reached buyers.
By July 2008, the full CUBIT system was for sale, but only by commission. Buyers could not simply pick one off a shelf. Each unit was made to order. That model fit a product still close to its experimental roots. Demand outpaced quick delivery as well. Both the TouchKit and the CUBIT system were rumored to carry a two to three-month waiting list. That delay tells you something about scale. A commissioned product with months of lead time is a long way from the mass market its rival Microsoft Surface aimed to reach.
Common questions
What is CUBIT?
CUBIT is a computer user interface system for multi-touch devices. It was designed by Stefan Hechenberger and Addie Wagenknecht for Nortd Labs.
Who designed CUBIT?
CUBIT was designed by Stefan Hechenberger and Addie Wagenknecht. They created it for a group called Nortd Labs.
What was the goal of the CUBIT multi-touch system?
CUBIT was developed to demystify multitouch technology. It pursued this by using an open-source model for both its software and its hardware.
How much did the CUBIT TouchKit cost to set up?
TouchKit buyers had to supply their own projector and camera. That equipment was estimated to cost between $1,080 and $1,580 USD.
How could you buy the CUBIT system in 2008?
As of July 2008, the CUBIT system was for sale by commission only. Both the TouchKit and the CUBIT system were rumored to have a two to three-month waiting list.
What product did CUBIT compete with?
CUBIT was a direct competitor of Microsoft Surface. It positioned itself as an open-source alternative in the multi-touch space.