Displax multitouch film actually developed by Visual Planet, frowny faces all around

Ready for another dustup in multitouch land? Turns out that cool Displax multitouch film we saw a few days ago is actually called ViP Interactive Foil, and was developed in 2004 by a company called Visual Planet -- Displax was just showing it off to promote their new touch controller, but didn't tell anyone about the source of the film when that's where all the interest was. Naturally that's got Visual Planet in a bit of a tizzy, especially since it's developing a touch controller of its own for release down the line; the two companies have been partners in the past but there's no agreement now. Displax says it's looking at several suppliers for the film as it rolls towards that promised July ship date -- we'll see if any of this gets sorted out by then.

[rotarydialz Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:03PM]

It would be cool if she was playing tetris.

[Eugene Action Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:41PM]

@rotarydialz
... in a bakini

[Eugene Action Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:41PM]

@rotarydialz
... in a bikini

[Blackstar Posted Feb 9th 2010 2:09PM]

@rotarydialz

Looks more like she's trying to escape from inside a box.

[kobioshi Posted Feb 9th 2010 9:04PM]

@Eugene Action

Spellchecker dude!

[PATRICKmcnicholl Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:05PM]

Am i the only one who wants to see some new UI interactions and viewing technology other than multitouch and touch screens? yes Apple did great with the iPhone and it's paradigm shifts but can we see something new? Yes, this is cool but Where are the holograms and floating laser screens? And the windows with HUDs? And bionic eyes? Or have I watched way too much Star Wars...

[ircmaxell Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:24PM]

@PATRICKmcnicholl I agree, kinda. I don't mind the focus on multi-touch, IF it leads to new methods of interaction. The way Apple did multi-touch is cool and all, but it's most definitely not the only way to do it. It's not necessarily the best way either (I don't know of a better, but that doesn't mean a better one isn't possible)... I want to see creativity with the interface. So far, it appears that there's 2 or 3 "winning interface styles". Maybe that's all the market can support, but that doesn't mean new ones can't take over (Or at least look really cool)...

[rowd149 Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:10PM]

Touchscreen Sony vs Ninty?

[theswiss Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:15PM]

curved screen for my desk : fancy!!!!!

[CtrlBurn Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:20PM]

That picture reminds me of Nicotine & Gravy by Beck, for some reason.

[Ghen Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:22PM]

Fight fight fight!!

[steven koln Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:45PM]

this really amuses me !!! :) DISPLAX develops a fantastic piece of hardware and now that company is trying to get all the credits??????
I saw it allready working in ISE fair !!!! NICE JOB DISPLAX

[RD Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:26PM]

@steven koln the ViP Foil was definitely developed and manufactured by Visual Planet in the UK.

[touchytouchy Posted Feb 10th 2010 5:12AM]

@steven koln your outlook on what multitouch is must be way off the mark, I too saw the ISE demo from displax and it was not at all responsive. looked like a demo you should keep indoors until it's ready for a big show like ISE

[steven koln Posted Feb 11th 2010 8:00AM]

@touchytouchy I know what i saw. I saw a DISPLAX MULTITOUCH CONTROLLER PROTOTYPE on a film ... the film itself does not do the trick.... for a prototype they did a AWESOME job! It is not dual touch.... it detects more than 16 fingers.. and really, really amazing... it detects AIR BLOW movement with AIR gestures... that BLOW my mind away :) Can VIP match that????? for a film producer they should work with those guys and have the BEST MULTITOUCH EVER!

[LarryB Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:46PM]

Here at www.intellitouchdigital.com we have been using ViP Interactive Foil for over a year... they can due a dual touch... and the multi-touch driver is in beta right not... The controller is under development... It's a very cool product we have install it on glass up to an inch thick with an air-gap... call 866.881.0646 if intrested...

And while we don't have tetris on it we do have bejeweled... Which gets a lot of play

[xxaznmonk Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:12PM]

this looks pretty legit. too bad they used a film from 2004 o.o

hope it actually works.

unlike other things i've been seeing...

http://www.tvlesson.com/video/YG_Touch%20Screen%20TV.html

[m1lt0n Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:19PM]

That girl is spooky. You tought that too, admit it.

[markktec Posted Feb 9th 2010 7:04PM]

I don´t get this... displax made the controller... the other company seems to have made the foil.. shouldn´t they talk ? displax guys are all over the world being talked...amazing... never ever heard about that visualplanet company but my contacts told me they do not have ANY patent... seems like they are authorized to use the one from an old teacher from Nothingham, UK ... let´s see this movie just after the break !

[niconico Posted Feb 9th 2010 7:25PM]

@RD but just the foil yes... you might now know that Zytronic in UK is doing foils much better that visualplanet. See it´s stock market growth... should get in touch ! Zytronic is like an elefant and visualplanet like a ant... really different ! heard that visualplanet is going on very bad results since a partner left them back... even their foil is very hard to calibrate and difficult to stick. for our experience optical frames enabled us a much better result and permit even true dual touch...

[technotamed Posted Apr 13th 2010 4:49AM]

I have no idea where niconico has got his or her information from. Visualplanet is the only manufacturer of foils from 30" and above, both companies use the same technology, same wire, same method to detect a touch which is non-imaging projected capacitance.

No partner has left Visualplanet, a sales manager left the company for his own personal reasons. Visualplanet had a fantastic 2008 - 2009 and the results for the year just gone show an increase of sales of 14%.

Projected capacitance is ideal for multi-touch as you switch to imaging that turns the sensor in a low resolution camera. You can track multiple touch points using this system.

Visualplanet has true-two-touch and is working on multi-touch. Although no body has found a real use for multi-touch, it is a technology looking for an application. For most uses two independant touches would be enough, Windows 7 gesturing uses only two touches.

The touch foil is easy to apply and the drivers much easier to use than Zytronics.