Touchfoil offers while-you-wait interactivity

Interactivity can provide content-rich information that is accessible to everyone - whether sharing the latest travel and weather information, or useful details about the local area. Up to date, relevant, interactive digital displays guarantee the delivery of a range of services tailored to people on the move.

Live timetabling eliminates the need to produce costly, printed collateral that can quickly become obsolete. Passengers can instantly personalise their experience as they are able to instantly manipulate the screen to provide relevant, real time content and the burden on multi-lingual staff is also reduced as users can switch between languages.

Larger screens can open up compelling ROI opportunities: a touch-enabled screen can display product or promotional messages, providing an advertising medium in a highly public location - quickly attracting attention from passers-by when deployed creatively. For example, clever positioning within a bus shelter, taking advantage of high footfall combined with a likely period of waiting time, allows the interactive elements to be used to provide a distracting activity and source of entertainment, whilst simultaneously driving brand engagement and maximising the advertising potential to the public, in an otherwise underutilised location.

Visualplanet’s Single User touchfoil is a clear flexible film touch sensor, which is applied to glass to add touch capabilities. Visualplanet says its touchfoil is the touch sensor of choice in unattended interactive public facing applications located within potentially challenging operating environments for self service applications, such as wayfinding, ticketing and timetabling.

Simple to retro-fit, the touchfoil works through glass up to 20mm thick, which means that an existing install base can be upgraded to include touch capability with the minimum of investment. Positioned on the back of the glass, the touch sensor is protected within the panel - robust, reliable and able to withstand heavy daily usage. Flush against the glass with zero bezel, the touchfoil doesn’t interfere with the process of IP rating the enclosure to be immune to ingress from water and dust - making it easy to maintain and keep clean.

The touch sensor can even be used whilst the user is wearing gloves, thus making it suitable for deployment in extreme environments. When combined with the right application, the high performing, interactive touchfoil can enhance customers’ experience across multiple market sectors whilst also generating a tangible return on investment.

Dan Spencer, Product Manager, Visualplanet, commented; “Our Single User touchfoil development has focused on vital performance characteristics within the mass transportation sector: the ability to work consistently through thick glass, low maintenance and reliability in the field. Small format touch sensors have become an integral part of our day to day lives, so consumers demand a natural touch experience on a large format screen that replicates the experience with which they have become so familiar. Furthermore, design plays an increasingly important role in our customers’ product development process; our behind-glass sensor offers a superior design aesthetic as well as heightened security and reliability, combining progressive design and glass selection with optimised performance.”