GoKawiilRetro review revisits FingerWorks' 2005 iGesture multitouch trackpad
The FingerWorks iGesture Pad used embedded sensors and a hidden microprocessor to translate finger movements into mouse actions and shortcuts. Two-finger motion mimicked standard mouse control, a three-finger touch acted as a left click, and pinching or spreading the thumb and middle finger triggered copy and paste commands. The device also doubled as a functioning number pad.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The product is an early example of multitouch gesture input predating its widespread adoption in smartphones and trackpads, suggesting it may have influenced later interface designs. Revisiting it highlights how gesture-based computing concepts existed years before they became mainstream.
- Used hidden sensors and a microprocessor to interpret finger gestures
- Supported mouse emulation plus shortcuts like copy and paste via pinch gestures
- Also functioned as a standard number pad
Apple Magic Trackpad — The spiritual successor to the FingerWorks iGesture Pad, Apple's Magic Trackpad uses the same multi-touch gesture philosophy for copy, paste, and navigation shortcuts. It's a modern, widely available way to get that same gesture-driven productivity boost FingerWorks pioneered.
See Apple Magic Trackpad on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: uk.pcmag.com — About Our Expert, 2026-10-17
Published there as: “FingerWorks iGesture Pad (2005)”
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