Visual Planet
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| Visual Planet Ltd | |
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| Type | Ltd |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Key people | Vernon Spencer, MD and Founder Mike Cole, Co-Owner |
| Products | Touch Screen Foils (ViP InteractiveFoils) Thru-window Touch Applications Interactive Rear Projection Screens Digital Signage Corporate Communication Solutions |
| Website | www.visualplanet.biz |
Visual Planet Ltd specialises in the manufacture and global distribution of Projected Capacitance Interactive Touch Screen foils, which are designed to be used in a wide variety of Touch Screen applications from through-window touch to direct integration into LCD Screens. From its headquarters in Cambridge, England, the company distributes products to an international network of resellers allowing Visual Planet to have a prominent position in the touch screen market.
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[edit] History
In 2001 the company was founded after noticing the potential to allow customer access to information after high street closing hours. Main activities included sourcing and developing components and technologies for through window interactive solutions. Dominant activities presently include the manufacture of Projected Capacitance Touch Screen Foils and distribution to a now established group of global resellers. In 2006 the company moved headquarters to Cambridge, UK[1]. Between 2006 and 2007 Visual Planet's turnover had doubled and the company now has over 100 dealers in major markets around the world who are prominent in the Digital Signage and Touch Screen markets. The company’s main focus has progressed from a service-orientated company to that of a Touch Screen Foil manufacturer and global distributor.
[edit] Products
[edit] ViP Interactive Foil
Visual Planet's Projected Capacitance Interactive Touch Screen Foil known globally as the “ViP Interactive Foil” can be applied to and work through any non-metallic surface and create a fully functional touch screen. The foils can be built into glass partitions, doors, furniture, external windows[2], and street signage.
[edit] Projected Capacitance
Projected Capacitance is used to allow interactivity through any non-metallic surface and involves the relationship between a conductive pad and a third object. In Touch Screen applications, the third object can be a human finger. Capacitance forms between the user's fingers and the wires in the conductive pad. The ViP Interactive Foil is made up of a clear laminated plastic foil with an XY array of sensing wires. These wires are connected to a controller. Once a touch is made, the change in capacitance is detected and the X and Y coordinates are calculated. Sizes of the foil vary from 30 - 116"[3], in either 4:3 or 16:9 format. The company's customers can choose the position of the electronic components. When applied to glass, the ViP Touch Screen Foil can be programmed for different thickness of glass and also used with gloved hands.
[edit] Thru-Window Touch
The Touch Screen Foil can be applied directly to a window or a glass sheet. A rear projection screen or LCD can then be mounted behind the Touch Screen Foil to create a through-window/glass touch experience[4]. The Touch Screen Foil can be permanently mounted or mounted with the intention of later removal. With the Touch Screen Foil being applied one side of the glass, and the user being the other side, the controller and electronics are completely safe from vandalism and weather conditions. The electronics can be programmed for different thicknesses of glass up to 25mm thick.
[edit] Interactive Projection and LCD Screens
The Touch Screen Foil can be applied to holographic and high contrast diffusion[5] screens to provide large dynamic information displays. To turn any standard LCD from a passive display into an interactive touch screen simply apply the Touch Screen Foil on to a glass or acrylic sheet, it can then be used as a Touch screen overlay or integrated directly into a LCD.
[edit] The Gadget Show
[edit] Future Technology
On 17th December, 2007, the ViP Interactive Foil appeared on British Television via 5's, The Gadget Show. The show's presenter, Jon Bentley visited Visual Planet and with his crew, filmed various stages of the production process. During the eighth and final episode of series 7, the ViP InteractiveFoil featured alongside companies such as Microsoft and BT in the "Future Tech"[6] section showing how R&D departments are contributing to the future technology of gadgets. This particular Winter Special episode also reviewed products such as Watches, Personal Media Players, and Batteries. This was Visual Planet's first appearance on television.
[edit] Awards
The company has won a variety of awards including the British Computer Society (BCS)[7], award for its innovative technology. When received in 2006, Visual Planet's ViP InteractiveFoil had been sold through a network of 60 added value resellers across the world. In 2003 Visual Planet won awards at the Nabarro Nathanson Technology Industry Awards in two of the eight categories. These were "Most Innovative Project", and "Most Innovative use of Technology in a Project". Further to this, 2003 saw Visual Planet claim the "Personalised Information Product Award" at the Information Management Awards for the most exciting and innovative new product that enables the delivery or personalised information in a business or home environment.
[edit] "Because it's a Visual World"
"Because it's a Visual World" is the current slogan for Visual Planet with reference to the visual solutions that the company and the Touch Screen Foils offer, on a global scale. The phrase features on the company logo, other literature such as letterheads, brochure inserts, and on the company website. There is also reference to Visual Planet's connection with partners both on a worldwide basis, and those who address the Retail, Corporate, Entertainment, Education, and Local Authority industries. The technology provides solutions already widely used in shops, offices, libraries, and public spaces worldwide[8].
[edit] References
- ^ East of England Business Awards The New Facility - businessweekly.co.uk
- ^ Interactive Store Window Centrepiece at In-Store - 3m.co.uk
- ^ Weathermen in Touch Ultra-large Screen Sizes - cambridgenetwork.co.uk
- ^ Lewisham Library & Information Service World First for Library - cambridgenetwork.co.uk
- ^ British Council Innovate to Communicate - cambridgenetwork.co.uk
- ^ The Gadget Show Future Tech - gadgetshow.five.tv
- ^ BCS Innovation Award Instant Interactivity - bcs.org
- ^ Workplace Revolution Intranet Broadcasting - businessweekly.co.uk
