NextWindow Signs UK Reseller Agreement with Visual Planet to Expand Through-Glass Broad Screen Interactive Services

Bullet PR 
LONDON, 13 April 2004

Visual Planet, a UK company that specialises in dynamic interactive visual solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with NextWindow, a New Zealand-based designer of ground breaking optical imaging technology for touchscreens. The reseller agreement offers customers broad screen interactive displays that leverage the expertise of Visual Planet and NextWindow.

Visual Planet is bringing the immediacy of the internet to the audio visual market. Its technology ‘Digital Visual Messaging’ enables content such as video, broadcast and web information to be managed and distributed over the Internet. The material is then projected on to a large screen which could be part of a shop window, and a passer-by can manipulate the image simply by touching the glass.

NextWindow’s ground breaking advancements in optical imaging technology facilitate the production of large scale touchscreens for kiosks. The technology is unique in providing touch sensitivity to the entire surface including the surrounding panel area as well as the active display screen. As a result, almost any size glass surface can be touch-enabled.

According to Stephen Morrison, European Vice President of NextWindow, the decision to enter into an agreement with Visual Planet was driven by the synergy of the two innovative and forward looking companies. “We are delighted to have Visual Planet promoting our unique technology through their sales channels,” he said.

“NextWindow’s touch technology and Visual Planet’s broad screen interactive services provide a powerful combination that brings the power of multimedia technology to large screen interactive displays in shop windows, billboards and similar displays in public places. We envisage that this new alliance will provide significant benefits to both of our companies, as well as to our customers throughout the United Kingdom,” said Mr Morrison.

Vernon Spencer, Technical Director at Visual Planet, said the agreement with NextWindow further enhances Visual Planet’s current portfolio offerings. “Interactive displays that engage and involve potential customers and create sales opportunities are the way of the future. The retail environment is very diverse and the addition of NextWindow’s touchscreen technology to our range of offerings provides the opportunity to tailor the solution to meet the client the requirement.’ he said.


About NextWindow

NextWindow is one of the world’s leading specialists in delivering high quality touchscreen technology. Established in June 2000, NextWindow designs and develops optical imaging technologies in the fields of gesture and touch recognition. The company has offices in Auckland, New Zealand, and London, United Kingdom.

NextWindow’s ground breaking advancements in optical imaging technology facilitate the production of large scale interactive touchscreens. The technology is unique in providing touch sensitivity to the entire surface including the surrounding panel area as well as the active display screen. As a result, almost any size glass surface can be touch-enabled. The company provides integrated touch technology solutions to a number of industries including telecommunications, tourism and retail.


About Visual Planet

Visual Planet develops, designs and implements dynamic interactive broadscreen displays. It is based at St John’s Innovation Centre, Cambridge, UK.

Its technology - called ‘Broad Screen Interaction’ - extends the scope of proven techniques such as touch screens, streaming media, projection and holography, thus enabling large screen dynamic displays to be created in shop windows and reception areas.

Visual Planet has developed ‘Digital Visual Messaging’ to control and distribute content using the internet. This would allow, for example, promotional information to be sent to either an individual device such as a display in a hotel reception area, or alternatively to an international network of visually interactive devices such as screens in a chain of hotels worldwide. Information is projected onto specially formatted screens incorporating laser treated holographic film so there is no limit to the size of the screen.

Visual Planet has recently won awards in the ‘Most Innovative Use of Technology in a Project’ and ‘Most Innovative Product’ at the Technology Industry Awards 2003.

Visual Planet website: www.visualplanet.biz