Buying remaining devices from University of Delaware?

[TorbenGB]

I've received a message from the University of Delaware with an offer to buy the FingerWorks devices that were left over in Elias' and Westerman's old lab spaces. It's a very interesting offer and I will post details later -- but I wanted to get the word out to get your attention.

UPDATE: Here is the full mail I received from the University of Delaware:

I work at the University of Delaware, in the department where John Elias and Wayne Westerman first created Fingerworks. We've been clearing out lab space and I was put in charge of selling the Fingerworks devices that were leftover. I was told to find a community that enjoys this technology and post an ad for them. Your site appears to be the best one out there for this, but I can't seem to register anywhere.

The devices I'm getting rid of are as follows:

• 13 Fingerworks Touchstream keyboards, the solid kind. Many of them don't have the rest-pads, and only 2 are recognized when plugged into my laptop. The others could be cannibalized for parts. Some have diagnostics taped to them to help with figuring out what can be used.
• 2 of the collapsible keyboards, neither of which is recognized by my laptop, with one that has diagnostic data.
• 1 Fingerworks Mini (to be used for parts)
• 1 iGesture (not working)
• 4 Retro Keyboard by Fingerworks green boards/ various stages of production

I'd be willing to sell all of this for $200, plus shipping. Keyboards in good condition go for about $300 to $400 on ebay right now. This is a lot of product for less. I'm sure your community would have some use for them.

Michelle Pettinella
CVORG Research Group
Electrical & Computer Engineering
University of Delaware
mep (insert mail character here) udel.edu

The community hasn't made a decision to buy this lot yet, and I'm growing afraid that the parts might be thrown away if we don't move soon. Michelle sent me these photos today -- see attached ZIP file:

These are pictures of the Fingerworks equipment we have in the lab. We have multiples of the solid keyboards. The pictures taken are the ones that are recognized when plugged in. There are also stacks of some of the unsoldered boards, like the Retro.

Also included is the original demo of the touch-wheel that Elias and Westerman made personally and used to pitch their idea to Apple. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide!

[ivanw]

Thanks Torben,

I hope some of those unlucky members with a dead device will have an opportunity to get a live one.

[ken gray]

WHOA!!!!!
. .

[petercooperjr]

That is pretty neat. I've noticed that the eBay prices have been dropping quite a bit from their peak. I had somewhat been wondering if there's just a lot less demand or whether more devices had been showing up in places or what. Perhaps both. I'd love to see these details.

[nomaded]

My guess is that the number of still working devices are going down at a steady rate. Also, the number of people willing to spend the amount of time to figure out how to get one of the devices to work (assuming they're in good condition) is going down - every day the percentage of computers that can run the Multitouch Utilities is going down.

[drew]

very cool it would be interesting to see if there is repair or assembly equipment there too!

[TorbenGB]

I've added an update to my initial post -- see above!
Full email and photos included.

I hope we can find a solution for the community to benefit from this offer, but I don't know how much time we still have.

[ebenhaber]

I will go ahead and buy them if no one else can organize it. Shall I contact them? Once I get the stuff, I can figure out how to fairly distribute it...

Regards,

-Eben Haber

[TorbenGB]

Thank you Eben, but Minox beat you to it I did not decide this; he was simply first.

Like you, he offered to accept the lot and salvage as much as possible, as well as taking care of the remains for the future. He's also got the skills and equipment to do repairs, so I am sure that it will be good for the community.

I will let him handle the "what&how" details himself. After all, I'm "just" the webmaster -- I'm not "in charge" of our community.

[Meesters]

Wow, I just have taken a look at the pictures it shows quite a few things I do not regocnize. This looks very interesting. And what are these collapsible keyboards being mentioned?

[TorbenGB]

Hello Minox, I'm just curious what the current situation is. Have you had a chance to evaluate the equipment?