3M Unveils 20x and 40x Multi-Touch Screens

By Douglas Perry
published

Smartphone interface are lifting our expectations of convenient touch user input not just on phones and tablets, but possibly on larger types on computing devices as well.

3M recently demonstrated 24-inch and 27-inch multi-touch displays that support multi-user capability. The smaller version can detect up to 20 touches, while the larger display can sense up to 40 touches to enable multi-user input and on-screen collaboration.

According to 3M, the displays run at 1920x1080 pixel resolution, sport a 10 ms response time for "advanced multi-touch applications" and a 99 percent accuracy rating for touch positions.

The 27-inch model M2767PW retails for $2,000. Pricing for the 24-inch M2467PW has not been released.

Douglas Perry
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • EDVINASM
    Good for shops, airports etc. Useless for home unless you have a bunch of kids. I wouldn't like to see smudges and fingerprints all over my monitor every time I use PC. Plus most people like to sit away from PC and relax. I would welcome some tech at reasonable price that would make coffee table a touchscreen or even touch input. But then again, that would be more used by families.
    Reply
  • Bloob
    Finally a use for my toes...
    Reply
  • icemunk
    10ms isn't bad, much better than the 100ms on most touch-screen phones.. I can't wait to see them hitting the 1ms response times soon.
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  • back_by_demand
    BloobFinally a use for my toes...Good call, 20 touch points when people only have 10 fingers, what's the point?
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  • WyomingKnott
    Seems perfect for group finger-painting. Otherwise, ???
    Reply
  • brizzelsprout
    On screens that small the usefulness is lost. Put that tech in a 60+ inch table top display and you have a whole new work environment. No more iPads and laptops in the conference room, you just use the table.
    Reply
  • danjimaru
    I own a 21 inch 1080p albatron optical multitouch screen that has 5 touch points and costs around 300 dollars how does 3m justify a price difference of 1700.- for +15 touch points and more importantly who uses 20 fingers anyway?
    Reply
  • Camikazi
    danjimaruI own a 21 inch 1080p albatron optical multitouch screen that has 5 touch points and costs around 300 dollars how does 3m justify a price difference of 1700.- for +15 touch points and more importantly who uses 20 fingers anyway?Collaboration as in multiple people working on the large screens at once that is what this is for.
    Reply
  • Branden
    i just can't imagine a scenario that'd require 4 people to palce all 40 of their fingers simultaneously on a 27" screen...
    Reply
  • blackened144
    back_by_demandGood call, 20 touch points when people only have 10 fingers, what's the point?Take off your shoes, drop your fly, and improvise..
    Reply