a system and method for detecting and tracking multiple objects on a touchpad or touchscreen , wherein the method provides a new data collection algorithm , wherein the method reduces a calculation burden on a processor performing detection and tracking algorithms , wherein multiple objects are treated as elements of a single object and not as separate objects , wherein the location of the objects are treated as end - points of a single object when two objects are detected , and treated as a perimeter or boundary when more than two objects are detected .