Lord Mandelson visits MAS-assisted Visual Planet

During a visit to Visual Planet in July 2009 Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has praised the Cambridge based company saying that “The story of the business I have been touring today is amazing.”

Lord Mandelson was launching the Advanced Manufacturing Scheme and a £150 million nationwide package of measures aimed at helping businesses develop their manufacturing skills. The visit to Visual Planet was following the Government Funded Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) aided the development previously of the touch screen manufacturing site.

As the UK’s leading advisor in manufacturing, MAS received a further £4m in government funding as part of the Advanced Manufacturing scheme. Whilst talking with Lord Mandelson at Visual Planet’s manufacturing facility John Coubrough from MAS commented, “Our whole process is based on facilitation. We never come into a company and say ‘This is how it’s done’, or ‘This is how it isn’t done’. It’s more a case of, ‘These are the tools you can implement, and how they are applicable to your business and manufacturing processes’. For Visual Planet we pushed the employees with questions for the information, the knowledge is within the individuals. With their answers we had a foundation to work with, tweaked it, and then optimised any opportunities for improvement.”

The outcome of this project has been extremely positive and with Lord Mandelson’s promotion of driving future growth in manufacturing many other companies will benefit as well. Visual Planet Director Mike Cole reflects on the in-house contribution from John and the team. “The best bit is the real measurable results. We would strongly recommend using the MAS team if you are looking to improve your manufacturing processes. It’s not always easy to stand back and take an objective view of your own working practices when you are in the thick of it. The MAS team facilitated that activity in a very structured way and then literally provided hands on help”

Brilliant Product capable of up-scaling quite dramatically

Managing Director Vernon Spencer and Director Mike Cole presented the developments of Visual Planet’s manufacturing processes to Lord Mandelson during a tour of each key activity centre within the company. Whilst hugely impressed with the idea and the way the company has sought ways of selling the product the Business Secretary stopped to recognise the role manufacturing the product has had on the company’s development.

“One of the partners walking along the high street with his wife, spotting an idea, spotting how an innovation could produce a really unique customer service, takes the idea with his business partner, develops it, creates production, and here we have a brilliant product supplying outlets in 130 countries and is capable of up-scaling quite dramatically”

In discussion with Lord Mandelson, Mike Cole pinpoints Visual Planet’s awakening to the opportunity they were given. “In the 18 months of building a reseller base, we realised we needed to do very little travelling around the world. We found other companies who wanted to use our technology for their own display solutions. It was then that we saw the business opportunity just to focus on the manufacture and distribution of our touch technology”

Walking Examples of Government Goals

With the Advanced Manufacturing funding in mind and the enthusiasm to develop new skills Lord Mandelson stopped to speak to Production technician Adam Wallace who 9 months into his career at Visual Planet, and having owned his own car valeting company previously, was described as “A walking example of what the Government’s Skill training program wants to achieve for individuals, to go from car valeting to a manufacturing company, and up-skilling”.

Adam’s story echoes around the workshop at Visual Planet as both Mike Cole and Vernon Spencer have always wanted to advocate the development of the individuals’ skill set, and as Mike pointed out to Lord Mandelson, “everyone as far as possible does every job, therefore not being reliant on someone who’s off on holiday or off site”.

Government’s Support for Advanced Manufacturing

Having touched a Rear Projection ViP Interactive Foil touch screen as well as an LCD Through Glass touch display in the company’s Demo Room Lord Mandelson finished with interviews with reporters from various guises of the media. With a backdrop of Visual Planet’s Holographic Projection touch screen Mandelson stresses the importance of what Visual Planet and many other manufacturing companies are achieving. “We are one of the biggest manufacturing countries in the world employing more people in manufacturing than in financial services. Manufacturing is one of the country’s biggest exports and the government want to get behind that, and drive future growth.

“Here at Visual Planet we have an innovative product selling to over 130 countries worldwide. This is Britain’s future and the Government’s job is to invest in and provide support for Advanced Manufacturing amongst those and new companies who have discovered these new technologies, applied them to new ideas, created new products which are sold around the world and is going to be a principle source of our prosperity in the future.”

Visual Planet’s Key Achievements using MAS:

• Reduced cycle time by 10%
• Reduced failures by 8%
• 20% productivity improvement
• Implemented visual communication
• Established operational KPI’s to improve performance

For more information about Visual Planet and the ViP Interactive Foil touch screen technology please visit www.visualplanet.biz

All images and content Copyright Visual Planet 2009

Coca Cola Japan – Eco Products 2008 exhibition with the ViP Interactive Foil

Coca Cola Japan attends the Eco Products 2008 Tokyo exhibition with the ViP Interactive Foil

In December 2008 Coca Cola Japan attended the Eco Products 2008 exhibition in Tokyo with their innovative interactive booth experience. Their main aim was to present pictorial evidence of their future factories, introducing the stages of Production, Sale and Distribution, Collection/Recycling, and CSR along the product life cycle of Coca Cola’s products. To achieve such creativity and innovation LCD Screens integrated with touch interactive foils were used creating attractive and inviting touch displays.

Ease of Application to Glass

DENTSU and DENTSU TEC considered the concept of visitors being able to enjoy the exhibition experience whilst learning a great deal about how Coca Cola focus on their environmental and recycling responsibilities. By simply applying the interactive foil to a sheet of glass the experience became a virtual tour of the new Coca Cola production plant.

When guests entered the entrance they passed three displays, the first of three had the production line as the main focal point. The second display presented information about the process of the company’s sale and distribution with the third display dedicated to the process of collecting and recycling used PET bottles and how Coca Cola act responsibly towards reducing CO2 emissions. Furthermore, a fourth display was installed providing an interactive museum of Coca Cola’s corporate social responsibility.

The installed displays were four LCD Screens, three of which were 65” and one 52” display each presenting an Adobe Flash Player output. To highlight the strong focus on recycling not only did the exhibition promote protection of the environment, but it did so in an environmentally friendly manner even adopting recyclable materials to construct the booth itself therefore promoting environmental issues both in the virtual interactive world and in the realistic surroundings of the exhibition.

Large images of the production facility were presented on the screen encouraging the user to touch specific key points. Once touched, further information was displayed to the guest. Mr. Uehara of Dentsu Tech stated that a main benefit of touch interactive screen is that, “The guests can choose their own theme and obtain specific information based on their touch activity, rarely seen at any other conventional exhibition stand”.

Dentsu Tech’s concept obviously mirrors the enjoyable and pleasurable experiences that customers associate with Coca Cola’s product range.

Intuitive Touch

The ViP Interactive Foil is a thin, flexible plastic laminate, easy to apply directly to glass surfaces. Visual Planet’s innovative product was ideal for the type of project due to its re-usability and cost efficiency, meeting all expectancies to provide valuable information without printing multiple paper brochures and manufacturing needless information stands.

For Coca Cola’s exhibition the Interactive Foil was laminated onto sheets of glass then integrated within the LCD Screens. Attached to the foil is an electronic control board, either USB or Serial connector versions, which is connected to the PC. Projected Capacitance Touch technology provides the through glass touch capabilities with the foil’s micro thin array of sensing wires embedded within the material. This unique and innovative touch technology allows the guests’ touch to perform traditional mouse functions. Such installations require no previous expertise or professional knowledge and are not limited to LCD format. The flexibility of the interactive foil opens up the possibility of touch interactive projections displays, and the sense of touching floating images, as expressed by Tom Cruise in the film Minority Report

“The Interactive Foil widens the possibility of expressing information to varied audiences furthering the ability to satisfy the needs of the exhibition booth. From children to adults, linking music, sound effects, web and animation” said Mr. Fukushi of Dentsu Tech.

Mr. Yano from Dentsu Tech who was responsible for the content provides further comment. “The displays were produced from the perspective of younger audiences resulting in the entire screen being within reach, and all information within sight, of the children attending the booth.

The interactive foil can support screens up to 116” in size (16:9 display format) and 96” (4:3 display format) enhancing shop window promotions and providing potential customers with as much information and encouragement as possible. Once used, the foils can readily be converted to meet other exhibition requirements at other locations, once again highlighting the cost efficiency of the product and increasing the durability of such a unique and creative communications tool.

For more information about Visual Planet and the ViP Interactive Foil please Contact Us

Benefits of the ViP Interactive Foil – 2009

Just a quick reminder of the feature-benefits of the ViP Interactive Foil:

• Ability to work through any non-metallic material (material density considerations to be taken into account) which means the ViP Interactive Foil fits a wide range of applications that aren’t suitable with other touch screen technologies
• Works with gloved hands-ideal for outdoor applications
• Not effected by dust, dirt, or chewing gum
• Custom sizes delivered like standard products – means short lead times for new project designs
• Not effected by changes in lighting conditions
• Easy to fix to a wide range of materials (non-metallic)
• Easy to apply Rear Projection materials to the back of the touch foil
• Lightweight construction – ease of shipping – no broken glass!
• Can be easily sealed – ideal for IP rated rugged LCD designs
• Can be easily and fully integrated into a wide range of standard LCDs, kiosks, and totems
• Can be integrated into flush glass weather proof kiosks
• Can be integrated between glass combined with high quality holographic displays

Touch Screen Innovation from Visual Planet

Please contact us for further information about our 2009 product releases. We will be extremely interested in providing you with innovative and creative touch solutions with the display technology and expertise of our worldwide resellers.

Techie bits for 2009

Interactivity Specification

Product Part Number Specification

The part number of the ViP Interactive Foil has started to feature on the electronic control board alongside the Serial Number. We will be issuing our part numbering system in the near future. Additions to the legacy part numbers include the Wire Layout, Driver information, and the option of a Removable Controller.

Preparation for the USB release

• Be aware that new drivers are required for the new 09 foils. These will be on the auto install CD and full instructions will be provided
• Be aware of changes to the Quick Start and installation guides and Full User Guides
• Become familiar with the new driver requirements
• Become familiar with the new scan speed setup
• If you brand the software allow allocated time to rebrand the new auto install CD. If we upgrade the MA7 drivers in the future you will need to upgrade the auto install disc
• New drawings will be issued for all USB requirements and new size requests which you will need to approve

Launch of Visual Planet’s Auto-Install Software

Our new Auto-Install CD provides drivers for both Serial and USB versions of the ViP Interactive Foil. The latest version of the driver is MA7-87. Changes include:

• Right-click mouse function after 5-6 seconds of holding your finger to the screen
• Auto Run and Auto Installation functions
• Installation Videos
• Quick Start Installation Guides
• Branding Instructions

What is being delivered and why?

The number of MA7 Drivers has now increased due to the upgrading of the foil’s construction. The type of driver is dependant on whether you specify a side or a bottom tail position. To make this an easier transition we have developed an auto-install CD containing all the drivers and documentation you will require. The Quick Start guides have also been updated to provide information about how the auto run and auto install functions will work. Please follow these documents when first receiving the new versions of the ViP Interactive Foils.

Structure of the CD

The CD menu has 5 drivers. Primarily drivers 0, 2, and 3 will be the most commonly used. Drivers 4 and 5 are for special long narrow foils:

• “0″ for our legacy 08 system foils both 16:9 and 4:3 format
• “2″ for the new 09 system bottom tail foils both 16:9 and 4:3 format
• “3″ for the 09 system side tail both 16:9 and 4:3 format
• “4″ for the 09 system bottom tail long narrow foils 16:30 format above 30”
• “5″ for the 09 system side tail narrow foils 16:30 format above 30”

We have provided an Auto Install Guide which discusses the implications of the CD Layout and locations of the key files.

Can it be branded?

Yes the MA7 drivers within the auto install CD and the documentation can be customised as before.

The files in the Drivers’ folders must not have their names or locations changed otherwise the auto install process will not take place. You may of course add/modify/remove the files in the “ViP Documentation” folder. Full instructions will be provided. Please note, the legacy Branding Guide has now been updated to cater for the new changes required.

How does it work?

Select the correct driver as instructed in the documentation supplied with the foil. The correct driver will also be labelled on the foil’s electronic control board, the foil’s tail, and the foil’s part number. If there is no driver number identification on the foil or on the controller board then please use Driver 0, our legacy driver.

Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the driver’s installation, bringing up the familiar MA7 control programme. You will then follow the normal calibration and sensitivity setup. To confirm which driver you have installed select the “Help” tab in MA7 and click on “About”.

If you have rebranded this part of the driver then please maintain the driver number information. Please note that you must retain all reference to the foil’s driver number if the electronic control board cover is removed or if the packaging is discarded.

MAC Driver

As previously published, our ViP Interactive Foil can now be used with MAC Computers. ViP Interactive Foil resellers Tactyl Services have provided customers with the necessary drivers required for us with a MAC computer. Please visit our MAC News article for further information.

Improvements to the Foil construction

Visual Planet meet market requirement for thinner bezels on LCD panels

We have undertaken further improvements to our ViP Interactive Foil construction to reduce the minimum border widths therefore meeting the market requirement for thinner bezels on LCD panels.

• We have achieved minimum borders of just 8mm (distance from the foil cut edge to the start of the active area) which means enhanced performance when fully integrating the ViP Interactive Foil behind the bezel of LCD’s
• Previous versions of our foil had an offset active area. This has now been centralised as part of our development making integration into LCD & Rear Projection screens an easier process with the new system
• The new version has also been designed to accommodate our new USB controllers in the part numbering system so we will be using the new foil construction for all future USB deliveries
• We will not upgrade the existing standard foils unless you switch from Serial to the USB controller. All Serial designs will have legacy minimum borders and drawings

New USB Controller for ViP Interactive Foil up to 3 times faster

Visual Planet are pleased to announce the launch of our new issue 6 USB controller.

Key Feature-benefits:

• Up to three times faster response than our current controller providing a significant improvement in response to your touch
• Ideal for using drawing and mark-up packages on screen
• The controller is a standard HID device and conforms to the USB 2.0 interface that we require for the fast 18 millisecond scan speeds we can achieve with this controller
• A removable controller option for installations that require the controller to be removed during installation of the foil
• Software adjustable scan speeds for ease of adjusting the projected capacitance field sensitivity making it a simple setup for different thicknesses and material types
• Designed to provide an improved platform for our dual touch system to be launched later this year. (See the prototype in action here)
• Uses standard off he shelf A Male to Male Mini B USB cables for ease of supply if you require extended cable lengths. 1.5M cables supplied as standard. Other lengths available on request (up to 5M). See price list.
• Fully functional with our full range of foil sizes up to 116”

The USB board is currently not available with Linux Operating systems. However the MAC Driver for the new USB version is currently in development.

Visual Planet enters 2009 with new product releases

Visual Planet further advance their leading position in the large through glass touch screen market

2008 saw an excellent 60% growth in sales driven by a significant increase in the deployment of the ViP Interactive Touch Foil within all market sectors, business, retail, exhibition, high public footfall areas and Digital out of Home advertising. See our image and video galleries for examples of innovative touch solutions.

Our strength and worldwide reach comes from our innovative network of global resellers each focused on delivering a wide range of interactive solutions and extending the variety of products which now incorporate Visual Planet’s touch technology.

A few examples of Visual Planet’s 2008 achievements include:

• Extending the number of global ViP Interactive Foil resellers and system integrators successfully creating unique and innovative touch screen displays integrated with Visual Planet touch technology
• Increasing awareness of interactive Digital Out of Home advertising
• Recognition of ViP Interactive Foil as a leader in creating large through window touch solutions
• Visual Planet and partners being at the centre of innovative and creative touch technology

Now that 2009 is her Visual Planet is looking forward to another year of growth as the arket for touch and interactive solutions expands. This continuing support is now extended as we proudly announce our 2009 product launch.

Visual Planet's three versions of controller board

Range of ECBs

Flexible yet rugged ribbon cable connector

Visual Planet… Touch made easy

ViP Interactive Foil for MAC

Visual Planet’s partnership with Tactyl Services

The Serial board version of Visual Planet’s  ViP Interactive Foil can now be used with MAC computers highlighting the product’s flexibility to work in a variety of touch screen applications. ViP Interactive Foil resellers Tactyl Services have provided customers with the necessary drivers required to use the Serial board version of the foil with a MAC computer.

The drivers can be found with the following link:

Download MAC Driver here

Visual Planet are always working in partnership with their global resellers and system integrators aiming to enhance the experience customers have with our products and this is another step forward for the development of the ViP Interactive Foil. The delivery of interactive touch screen solutions is now reaching users of MAC computers.

Tactyl services are a company who, like Visual Planet, readily respond to the needs of the customer via Kiosk, Point-of-sale and game play screen technology. The company is an experienced European distributor of a range of display solutions for these markets, focusing a great deal of product development and responding to customer requirements.

For further information about the ViP Interactive Foil and Visual Planet please visit our website. We would like to hear from you to discuss any touch screen requirements that you may have for areas around you in retail, business, and any other public areas.