Hi everyone!
First off, I want to thank you all for an excellent resource. I have been interested in multitouch technology for quite some time, however only recently have I been enticed by the MS Surface videos that are floating around and the successes of Bridger’s Multitouch. It is very encouraging to see others innovating and attempting some pretty excellent builds. I am a software developer by trade and I have a very strong Computer Science background (BS and MS), however I don’t know as much about hardware as I probably should and am a little tentative about the hardware aspects of these projects.
I think I’m going to start slowly and build a MTmini so I can play with the software aspects of these projects. I eventually want to build a FTIR LCD multitouch coffee table for my wife and I to enjoy, but I am struggling with the proper design for an adequate backlighting system that won’t interfere with the FTIR blob detection. I intend to start out on a budget, I have a few spare computers laying around so the biggest expense in my venture would be acquiring an LCD monitor of an adequate size to dismantle but I want to have a plan before I do so.
Anyway, this post has ventured away from an introduction and more into my hair-brained plans… thank you for the wonderful resource that you provide, and I hope that I can quickly become an asset to this community instead of a liability! 
Thanks!
