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3M goes touchy-feely!
EMEA Sales Manager Jon Temple explains why you should visit their stand…
The addition of haptic techniques to touch screens giving them tactile cues to “feel the game”, adds a new dimension for players, complementing and enhancing the exciting multimedia audio and visual experience that they are already offered. Industry leader 3M is using G2E 2007 as a platform to demonstrate its MicroTouch Capacitive TouchSense technology, and at the same time is offering the industry wider options in terms of the optical characteristics and size of the touch displays they use.
Tactile feedback – next great thing
Touch technology has revolutionised the casino industry, offering a highly flexible user interface that is tough and low maintenance. The MicroTouch Capacitive TouchSense System, heralded by many industry leaders as the “next great thing” for casino slot gaming, literally adds a new dimension to this popular technology and draws players much more closely into the game as they play.
Tactile feedback gives gaming machines the ability to convey touch sensations from simple clicks and variations in resistance to simulating the behaviour of a mechanical switch or even dynamic pulses or vibrations. These can be co-ordinated with events on screen, as well as graphical and audio effects, to provide a compelling and immersive player experience. Games can not only incorporate more subtle features and demand more skill, but can also become more satisfying to older players who have grown up with levers and buttons that are often perceived by the player as sensitive to technique.
Advances in Optics
At the same time, touch screen optics are not standing still. Ambient lighting levels in casinos are carefully controlled to enhance the visitor experience, and it is crucial that touch screen solutions for this environment offer a range of capabilities to provide an impactful, glare and reflection free presentation to the player. Responding to the industry’s need for wider options to meet their lighting and display requirements, 3M Touch Systems is introducing MicroTouch ClearTek II touch screens with three distinct surface finishes. Now, MicroTouch ClearTek II touch screens offer game manufacturers an opportunity to provide their customers with casino games that adapt to their particular gaming environments.
Widescreen offers new options
The possibilities that larger wide-screen displays offer in terms of an exciting on-screen experience are not lost on the gaming industry. 3M Touch Systems now offers wide aspect ratio touch screens in popular gaming display sizes ranging from 7” to 32”. Indeed, the unique capacitive technology manufacturing process and flexible supply chain applied by 3M allows it to provide the size touch screens you want, when you want them.
A new era
We are looking at an era of multi-sensory gaming that holds appeal for all demographic groups, from seasoned players to youngsters who have grown up with the delights and opportunities accompanying pervasive technology. It is certain to dramatically increase market expectations. Even more exciting, it will ultimately encompass all gaming and entertainment experiences. The possibilities for game developers are endless –3M Touch Systems is working with leading game manufacturers to bring new multi-sensory games to casino floors in 2008.
