Touchscreen Editing with FCP X...

[Hrvoje Simic]

Of course it's cool.

Most commonly with new technologies there is a tendency of exploring its potential, often necessary, sometimes excessive, and the inner kid will always enjoy some fun along the way. On-screen multi touch itself is a huge magnet with the possibilities it enables, and draws folks to want to multi touch everything these days. After all, it's a new type of interface, new type of access to digital realm. As with all new "toys" at hand, the fascination will pass after some time, with realization when it actually works and when it doesn't.

Undoubtedly, this will be widely used in iPads when the hardware becomes sufficient, as well as in similar devices in the works, and it was obvious Apple had this planned when they announced simplified UI of FCPX. Hopefully, looking down and poking only on a glass surface is not the future Apple envisioned for everyone, though.

Regarding Moviola and KEM: interesting parallel to a linear workflow from a NLE perspective. Maybe bringing back some challenges to NLE helps in developing skills of new editors.

 

[Tim Morten]

Gee Whiz Factor: High
Actual Utility: Minimal

 

[Subhadip Sen]

Certainly an interesting demo. As with countless previous demos of touch over the years - touch just seems cumbersome for productivity usage. But this demo does show that natural user interface and gestures can certainly be useful for things like moving footage around. "Edit gloves" as David puts it, though your hands are enough. Kinect for Windows and the SDK is out there already, so this is perfectly possible even today. (on Windows based NLEs)