The Engine of The New New Zealand

Taking Kiwi technology to the world

Fingertapps, a New Zealand-based company,run by brothers David and Russell Brebner, is leading the world in the development of multi-touch software.

In 2009 they won a contract with Dell to supply touch technology applications for all their hardware . From there they’ve gone into negotiations with huge global computer companies like INTEL, ACER, ASUS and SONY.

Today they are leading the world in Windows applications for touch and gesture technology, with their software installed on millions of devices around the world.

Russell and David Brebner

Fingertapps are forging the global path for touch-screen technology for Windows.

The Fingertapps story

Russell and David Brebner started their company in 1996. Today the company employs 22 staff (many of whom are Massey graduates).

It was invention of their touch technology in 2006, that sent the company skyrocketing.

“At that time the way people were interacting with computers was changing,” says Russell, “we wanted to get ahead of the game, to look for a more intuitive/appealing way of interacting.”

TVNZ tell the story here (note Fingertapps was previously known as Unlimited Realities)

The company made a move to developing NUI – Natural User Interface solutions. That’s about doing things not on the computer’s terms, but based on what people want, naturally: like when your gmail saves emails without you having to press save. Or that when you shout ‘go away’ at your computer, it turns itself off. Or something like that.

Then they got a contract with global computer company Dell, to provide the screen applications across all their devices. The deal was to propel Fingertapps onto the international stage.

The company started to shift its focus from pure programming, to design. Russell says that was a move to what people want, not just what they might need.

“If you design a car, you can have an amazing engine under the hood, but still need the dashboard to look great and the steering to feel smooth for people to want to buy it.”

When Windows 8 is released later this year, Fingertapps and their touch application are perfectly positioned to take on the world.

They’re already working with gesture technology: soon you’ll be able to point at a document to select it. Or wave at your screen to send it to sleep…

Watch (or touch, or gesticulate at…?!) this space!

The Kiwi advantage?

“Our remoteness is potentially an issue, but only really if you let it be.”

“It’s about getting on the front foot and being responsive to the consumer, so that they don’t feel that they are being disadvantaged by us being in another country. For instance we work hours that work in better with our key clients time zone. We get on a plane as much as possible to meet and talk to our clients. The impetus is really on us to make it work.”

How you can do it too...

Do you love computers? Find it fun working out how programmes work? Or do you have ideas for computer programmes but are not quite sure how to go about creating them?

Want to follow in the Brebner’s footsteps and create your own world-leading computing-related business?

Computer science deals with the theoretical foundations of information, computation, and with practical techniques for their implementation and application. Really that’s about coming up with great, practical ideas for ways of computers doing things better.

Worldwide, there is a shortage of suitably qualified people to work in these areas, and this is expected to continue.

The degree that Russell and David studied is now part of Massey’s Bachelor of Engineering (Hons).

Why Massey?

Fingertapps take on Massey graduates regularly, at least one every year for the past 12 years, and say the university creates amazing talent. It’s a great place to start, and there are lots of options for study.

Find out more about studying engineering at Massey here.