Visual Planet

Historyone side of the glass, and the user being the other
In 2001 the company was founded after noticing theside, the controller and electronics are completely safe
potential to allow customer access to information afterfrom vandalism and weather conditions. The
high street closing hours. Main activities includedelectronics can be programmed for different
sourcing and developing components and technologiesthicknesses of glass up to 25mm thick.
for through window interactive solutions. DominantInteractive Projection and LCD Screens
activities presently include the manufacture ofThe Touch Screen Foil can be applied to holographic
Projected Capacitance Touch Screen Foils andand high contrast diffusion screens to provide large
distribution to a now established group of globaldynamic information displays. To turn any standard
resellers. In 2006 the company moved headquarters toLCD from a passive display into an interactive touch
Cambridge, UK. Between 2006 and 2007 Visualscreen simply apply the Touch Screen Foil on to a
Planet's turnover had doubled and the company nowglass or acrylic sheet, it can then be used as a Touch
has over 100 dealers in major markets around thescreen overlay or integrated directly into a LCD.
world who are prominent in the Digital Signage andThe Gadget Show
Touch Screen markets. The company main focus hasFuture Technology
progressed from a service-orientated company to thatOn 17th December, 2007, the ViP Interactive Foil
of a Touch Screen Foil manufacturer and globalappeared on British Television via 5's, The Gadget
distributor.Show. The show's presenter, Jon Bentley visited Visual
2008 saw a 60% growth in sales driven by anPlanet and with his crew, filmed various stages of the
increase in the deployment of the ViP Interactive Foilproduction process. During the eighth and final episode
within all market sectors, business, retail, exhibitions, highof series 7, the ViP InteractiveFoil featured alongside
public footfall areas and Digital out of Home advertising.companies such as Microsoft and BT in the "Future
In 2009 Visual Planet expects another year of growthTech" section showing how R&D departments
as the market for touch and interactive solutionsare contributing to the future technology of gadgets.
expands.This particular Winter Special episode also reviewed
Productsproducts such as Watches, Personal Media Players,
ViP Interactive Foiland Batteries. This was Visual Planet's first
Visual Planet's ViP Touch Screen Foilappearance on television.
Visual Planet's Projected Capacitance InteractiveLord Peter Mandelson
Touch Screen Foil known globally as the iP InteractiveAdvanced Manufacturing
Foil can be applied to and work through anyLord Peter Mandelson visited Visual Planet Cambridge
non-metallic surface and create a fully functional touchbase on 25th July, 2009 launching the Advanced
screen. The foils can be built into glass partitions, doors,Manufacturing scheme aimed to offer support to firms
furniture, external windows, and street signage.trying to make new strides in design, aerospace,
Projected Capacitanceelectronics and other emerging fields. The launch was
Projected Capacitance is used to allow interactivitymainly aimed at a 150 million nationwide package of
through any non-metallic surface and involves themeasures aimed at helping businesses develop
relationship between a conductive pad and a thirdmanufacturing skills.
object. In Touch Screen applications, the third objectAwards
can be a human finger. Capacitance forms betweenThe company has won a variety of awards including
the user's fingers and the wires in the conductive pad.the British Computer Society (BCS), award for its
The ViP Interactive Foil is made up of a clearinnovative technology. When received in 2006, Visual
laminated plastic foil with an XY array of sensingPlanet's ViP InteractiveFoil had been sold through a
wires. These wires are connected to a controller.network of 60 added value resellers across the world.
Once a touch is made, the change in capacitance isIn 2003 Visual Planet won awards at the Nabarro
detected and the X and Y coordinates are calculated.Nathanson Technology Industry Awards in two of the
Sizes of the foil vary from 30 - 167", maximum sizingeight categories. These were "Most Innovative
dependant on 4:3, 16:9 or 21:9 display formats. TheProject", and "Most Innovative use of Technology in a
company's customers can choose the position of theProject". Further to this, 2003 saw Visual Planet claim
electronic components. When applied to glass, the ViPthe "Personalised Information Product Award" at the
Touch Screen Foil can be programmed for differentInformation Management Awards for the most exciting
thickness of glass and also used with gloved hands.and innovative new product that enables the delivery
Dual Touchor personalised information in a business or home
Visual Planet's wma8 software provides Dual Touchenvironment.
Mouse Pointer options for use with the ViP Interactive"Because it's a Visual World"
Foil which is suitable for standard mouse emulation"Because it's a Visual World" is the current slogan for
within Windows 7 Operating Systems. Zoom andVisual Planet with reference to the visual solutions that
Pinch operates when the user touches the interactivethe company and the Touch Screen Foils offer, on a
screen with two fingers thus utilizing the function of theglobal scale. The phrase features on the company
centre mouse roller for Windows XP, Vista and 7.logo, other literature such as letterheads, brochure
Zoom and Rotate operates when the user places twoinserts, and on the company website. There is also
fingers on the screen, keeping one finger in a fixedreference to Visual Planet's connection with partners
position while the zooming and rotating is performedboth on a worldwide basis, and those who address
with the other finger.the Retail, Corporate, Entertainment, Education, and
Electronic Control BoardsLocal Authority industries. The technology provides
From 2009 onwards the ViP Interactive Foil is availablesolutions already widely used in shops, offices, libraries,
with a choice of three electronic control boards. Theseand public spaces worldwide.
are Serial, USB, or USB Removable. The Serial andReferences
USB boards are fixed to the ViP Interactive Foil's^ East of England Business Awards The New Facility
active touch area. The USB Removable can be- businessweekly.co.uk
detached from the ViP Interactive Foil and secured into^ Interactive Store Window Centrepiece at In-Store -
position once the touch screen is fully installed. All3m.co.uk
boards are compatible with the full range of ViP^ Weathermen in Touch Ultra-large Screen Sizes -
Interactive Foils up to 116" with a board developed incambridgenetwork.co.uk
2010 dedicated for sizes up to 167". The Serial version^ Digital Signage News & Information Big Just Got
of the electronic control board is also available withBigger - ^ Lewisham Library & Information Service
Mac Computers.World First for Library - cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Thru-Window Touch^ British Council Innovate to Communicate -
The Touch Screen Foil can be applied directly to acambridgenetwork.co.uk
window or a glass sheet. A rear projection screen or^ The Gadget Show Future Tech - gadgetshow.five.tv
LCD can then be mounted behind the Touch Screen^ Lord Mandelson visits Visual Planet Mandelson's
Foil to create a through-window/glass touchpraise for city - cambridge-news.co.uk
experience. The Touch Screen Foil can be^ BCS Innovation Award Instant Interactivity - bcs.org
permanently mounted or mounted with the intention of^ Workplace Revolution Intranet Broadcasting -
later removal. With the Touch Screen Foil being appliedbusinessweekly.co.