LCD Displays and the Future of Touch

The researchers at MIT's Media Lab have been working on a thin LCD display design that is touch and gesture friendly, much like your iPhone. Despite the fact they've already developed a large -scale gestural interface like the system that Tom Cruise's character uses in the movie Minority Report, the goal is to be able to incorporate the gestural display into a thin LCD device without wearing gloves or any type of tracking tags.


LCDs with built-in optical sensors are new to the market and Media Lab hasn't been able to procure any yet, so they are experimenting with a mocked up display in their lab to test their approach. The LCD display includes an array of optical sensors right behind it and serves as lens to display a black-and-white pattern that lets light through to the sensors. On Dec 19 at Siggraph Asia, the MIT team is presenting the first application of its work, a display that lets users manipulate on-screen images using hand gestures.


Customized LCD displays can be used in a multitude of other applications, too. Planar's use of an ultra-thin digital signage display provides premium performance by using LED backlighting. If your display specifications require more brightness and less wattage, Planar's in-house design and manufacturing capability enables performance advances in TFT display technology. Or, if you have some questions about selecting a custom LCD display, Planar offers some answers in its ebook and provides a guide to help navigate your display project requirements.


How would you use gesturing or touch for your display project?

Multi-touch Experimentation

We love IDEO's approach to solving design challenges. They've been applying some of their design thinking skills to prototyping a multi-touch system. They have even open sourced the project. You can get a backstage view of their home-brew multi-touch project on the IDEO Labs blog.

Anyone else experimenting with mult-touch? We're interested in hearing about the highs and lows of your experiences. Tell us more.

Industrial Projection Possibilities

Cnet had an interesting video about Obscura Digital and their work on projection technology to create immersive video experiences. Although the technology is primarily used for consumer and marketing applications, such as trade shows and events, there are some interesting industrial possibilities.

How would you want to have an immersive experience in an industrial environment? Think hot temperatures, vibrations and transportation equipment, rather than an event where they pass out cocktails and appetizers.

Note the multitouch demo at the end of the video.

Transparent Multi-touch

This isn't a result of our new transparent EL technology, but it is interesting. Microsoft Research has developed LucidTouch, a concept product with the touch screen on the back of the panel. Read more about the technology at NewScientistTech.