Zytronic and Tangible Display pioneer object recognition on large format touch tables

Zytronic, a leader in custom designed, high performance Projected Capacitive Technology (PCT™ and MPCT™) touch sensors today announced that, in collaboration with Tangible Display, it is able to offer object recognition capability on its MPCT™ multi-touch glass (ZyBrid®) and foil (ZyFilm®) sensor products up to 85” in diagonal.

When deployed in touch tables, object recognition provides a compelling new way of engaging the user with the touch screen and the interactive content. The function is particularly well suited to retail applications, museums and galleries.  The Zytronic and Tangible Display solution is based on the attachment of physical markers to the objects to be tracked and does not require modification of the touch sensor or multi-touch controller.  Tangible Display’s proprietary object recognition user interface (UI) software, ObjectViz, works in concert with proprietary Zytronic firmware that can be quickly installed onto a standard ZXY200 or 300, 40-point multitouch controller.

According to Jimmy Ricaut, CEO and Founder of Tangible Display, “This Zytronic and Tangible Display collaboration makes it even easier for our clients to deploy object recognition technology and greatly expands the potential market for this technology. The performance accuracy of the Zytronic MPCT sensors meant that we were able to integrate our object recognition solution smoothly. Together, we worked on improving the noise rejection of the solution, allowing outstanding sensing accuracy to be achieved on very large screens.”

Ian Crosby, Sales and Marketing Director of Zytronic, added, “Now, users can create their own interactive objects for use with our multi-touch screens, creating a more engaging, immersive experience.” Customers in a car showroom for example, can handle models of different cars, then place them on the table to access further information about that model such as specification, options and prices.  Museums can also use the touch screens and software to create engaging visitor experiences, where videos and other content can be initiated when a model of the artefact under discussion is placed on the table.

A key advantage of the combined Zytronic and Tangible Display solution is that although the sensor will continue to respond to multiple touches, any objects placed on the screen which do not have the requisite “tags” on their base are disregarded. Therefore a cup, pen or a bag left on the table or a sleeve making contact with the glass will be ignored. As part of the guided setup process the Tangible software is taught to recognise only a specific pattern of tags attached to an object, and respond accordingly. Furthermore, a full report of user interactions can be saved for later review and analysis.