Turning a MacBook into a touchscreen with $1 of hardware (2018)

Overall reaction to the hack

• Many commenters find the project “brilliant” and “super neat,” especially as a low-cost, clever computer-vision application.
• People appreciate the reuse of existing hardware (camera + mirror) instead of adding costly, failure-prone touch layers.
• Several are reminded of earlier DIY interaction hacks (e.g., Wii Remote whiteboards).

Technical limits of the camera-based approach

• Multiple comments question robustness under varied lighting: outdoor use, glare, backlighting, and shadows may break detection.
• Prior similar work reported problems with:
  • Highly variable lighting.
  • Darker skin tones being harder to detect with simple color filtering.
  • Spurious touches from reflections and shadows.
• Some suggest more robust techniques like background subtraction or IR/visible-light combinations.
• Concerns raised about using “skin color” filtering, which is both technically brittle and potentially exclusionary.

Touchscreen MacBooks: appeal vs. rejection

• A large subset explicitly does not want touchscreen MacBooks:
  • Worries about fingerprints and smudges.
  • Belief that vertical touch is ergonomically poor (“gorilla arm”).
  • Fear of compromised UI density and “touch target tax” if macOS is redesigned for touch.
  • Preference for Apple’s high-quality trackpads and keyboard shortcuts.
• Others strongly want touch:
  • Say every other device they own is touch, so non-touch laptops now feel “ancient.”
  • Find touch great for casual scrolling, tapping buttons, and occasional interactions, especially when not already on the mouse.
  • Some report that after brief exposure, they instinctively try to touch non-touch screens.

Form factor, ergonomics, and product strategy

• Debate over laptop touch ergonomics:
  • Critics stress fatigue from reaching over keyboard and accidental touches.
  • Supporters say it’s fine for occasional use and especially good when screens can fold flat or into “easel”/tablet-like modes.
• Some argue Apple avoided touch to protect iPad sales and maintain product separation.
• Steve Jobs’ historical anti-touchscreen-laptop and anti-stylus remarks are cited, with others noting Apple later embraced Pencil and iPad keyboard cases.

Input methods and macOS UX

• Extensive side discussion on macOS keyboard navigation and window management:
  • Some call it “flawless,” others “third class” and heavily reliant on pointer devices.
  • Several share shortcuts, hidden settings, and third-party tools (e.g., window tilers) to improve the experience.
• Consensus that good trackpads make touch less necessary, but opinions vary sharply on what “good” keyboard and window UX means.