technology update
software developers conceive new ways to exploit the poten- tial of this sophisticated 20-plus finger interactivity, unavailable to them until now. Some practi- cal examples include computer aided design, digital signage, computer gaming, security monitoring systems, education, training and telepresence,” said Francesco Fasoglio, 3M Touch System’s European business
manager.
For many AV applications the 22-inch screen size will be a limitation, but DisplayLite hopes to be able to offer a 40” large format display support- ing 20 simultaneous touches towards the end of 2010. In the absence of universal standards governing the way that users interact with content in a multitouch environment,
the technology is some way short of the utopian ideal of a para- digm shift in the man-machine interface. Even with the much heralded Windows 7 compat- ibility multitouch doesn’t have a common language across all devices.
On the other hand, it does take touch to the next level, particularly within custom, standalone applications. At
Screen Media Expo, Microsoft and Intel demonstrated a mul- titouch wayfinding application that allowed multiple users to use the solution simultaneously – an immediate and practical benefit.
But the best is yet to come from multitouch, with devel- opers working on applications that exploit its full potential in markets as diverse as teaching,
training, digital signage, point of sale applications and gaming. The key point about multitouch is that it doesn’t just enable two users to do the same that only one could do previously – it opens up genuinely new appli- cations.
Simon Perry of DisplayLite believes that: “The greatest opportunity for multi-user, multitouch is in professional
gaming, command and control, training and education,” but he adds, “All of these applications require more than one user per- forming simultaneous inputs on a touchscreen.”
Multitouch applications: retail and exhibitions
Multitouch capability in kiosks and displays has advantages in wayfind- ing, information provision and transaction processing in the mall, on the shop floor or in the context of a showroom or an exhibition stand.
Delphi Productions, for example, created a multi- touch display for Medtronic at the HRS (Heart Rhythm Society) Conference in Boston, using GestureTek technology. Four GestureTek multitouch tables were dis- persed across Medtronic’s stand, along with a 16’ x 5’ vertical multitouch screen As many as 16 users were able to interact with the wall display simultaneously. Custom content was devel- oped by Elastic Creative to engage visitors in the large vertical screen, and then route them through to the smaller multitouch tables to receive more detailed information. Multitouch interaction allowed users to access in-depth studies of disease studies, references and information about how specific Medtronic products treat particular diseases.
CONNECT
THE
ICC London ExCeL 15 – 17 June 2010
To register visit
www.cedia-expo.com
CEDIA’s new Home Technology Event is the only dedicated product and training show for designers, installers, integrators and speci ers of electronic systems in the home. Organised by CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) the Home Technology
08-10 AVN 06.10 Technology
update.indd 10
08-10 AVN 06.10 Technology
update.indd 10
FUTURE
WITH
Event is the perfect place to see the very latest smart home innovations. You can also take advantage of the biggest, best and most diverse education and conference programme the industry has to offer.
Connect with your future at the Home Technology Event.
Multitouch applications: gaming and entertainment
Gaming applications of multitouch not only support multiple players, but also demand new skills to make the game more immersive. At the high-end, GestureTek recently completed two large format installations for a major theme park that takes multitouch and 3D track- ing to new levels. The first installation, located in the waiting area before the ride, uses nearly two dozen 3D cameras to enable guests to interact in free space in a virtual world.. In the second installation, guests enjoy a collaborative mul- titouch experience, where they can control the content of the screens around them as they simultaneously col- lect energy from ‘stardust clouds’ to re-energise the sun.
27/05/2010 13:46:38
27/05/2010 13:46:38
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16