Interactive terminals are more widespread these days, but they are above all used better and better. See&Touch specialises in this. The company from Grâce-Hollogne has just joined TWIST. It will also soon join the Image Cluster buildings. We met up with their managing director, Eric Delvaux, an AWEX-certified design expert.

“In the beginning we were an integral part of Sherwood, with whom we still share offices today,” says Eric Delvaux. Then, some twelve years ago, Sherwood was part of a cluster named Prométhée with Babel Technologies (today Acapela Group), Immedia (today Defimedia), UCL and the faculties of the University of Namur, and this cluster was coached by IBM. The chief aim of the initiative was to brainstorm about the launch of new products. Parallel to this, a client working in sheet-metal trade asked them to make interactive terminals. These two events lead to the set-up of See&Touch SA, a company which creates interactive terminals, in 2002 . “And so Sherwood, Defimedia and Acapela are today part of our board of directors.”

The mission for See&Touch is to integrate technologies “into furniture”. Two possible scenarios exist. Either the client chooses from an existing product range. “We currently have 9, including SMARTY, the most widespread, which is currently on version 3.” Or the client has a very specific need or an idea he wants to build and See&Touch creates a suitable design. “A priori we don't deal with the software part. Our customers are a too heterogenuous group for that. We can't specialise in healthcare, education, industry, etc. at the same time. If a customer can't work out content with appropriate software, then we work with partners who will deliver that part.” Note that the actual manufacturing is also contracted out. “We focus on the design of the terminals and the technologies to make them work because we do not wish to spread ourselves too thin over domains which aren't part of our trade. Even if we already answered requests for screen dressing.”

The 'WOW Effect' product range

“In the past it happened that I told customers who came to see me, that they did not need interactive terminals.” It must be said that in the beginning, people, who were probably a little impressed, were asking for novelty but didn't necessarily know what to do with it. Today, the public is more used to it and the terminals are better used. However, the demand for novelty is still there.

“The WOW effect, that's what we exclaim when we see a technologie which makes us marvel.” And technologies, not only are they there, but they are also mastered: the multitouch technology, made popular by the iPhone interface but still not very widespread, is totally ready. Same for exterior LCD. Screens with a dimension of at least 54 inches exist, with 'backlight LED' technology, which should support (and even replace) traditional posters in the long run. “Previously the screens lost some of their brightness when outside. But now the 'backlight LED' technology makes it possible to up the luminosity and counter this problem.”

From interactive terminal to Digital Signage

Digital Signage draws more and more attention. If terminals and DS have some things in common, they still remain different subjects. “Well interactive terminals react according to the needs and wants of the user. The delivered information is rather personal,” explains Eric Delvaux. “DS means to diffuse information to everyone, without there necessarily being any interaction with the user.” However, both have a tendency to grow closer these days. “For example, for the Festival des Ardentes in Liège, we had multitouch terminals where people could see pictures of the VIP space by selecting them. This information was 'for everyone' while still linked to the user.” The founder of See& Touch also mentions the collaboration with Moovade (another TWIST member) who are developing a technology which makes it possible to interact with screens from mobile phones. “To the extent that it is possible, we try to combine all these resources (multitouch, mobile phone command, design) to deliver a product which meets our customers' demands in the best possible way.”

Customers and partners

Our customers are a diverse group. Schools, hotel chains, administrations, companies. “At the moment, we are in great demand of hospitals,” the founder of See&Touch continues. “Let's specify though that terminals do not replace human beings, since the terminals take over the less gratifying tasks of the reception staff, either by distributing labels or offering simple information. Actually, the terminals make it possible to make time for more useful work which can only be done by actual people.” See&Touch also works with retail partners, such as Systemat, Real Dolmen and Econocom.

The immediate future

The Liège-based company is working on many projects. “We will soon move into the Image Cluster.” An address change bringing them back to their historical partner, Defimedia (already on site but in building S) while enjoying larger premises. And Eric Delvaux himself has just been appointed 'Design Expert' for AWEX. “Actually, companies have the possibility to ask AWEX to intervene in order to obtain the help of a consultant, for the creation of export-bound product designs. The agency then steps in for 75% during the first month.”

Another association, and not the least: See&Touch is part of the UsiXML consortium (European ITEA project financed by the Walloon Region). “It's a project with the chief aim to develop economic activity around a technology. The idea is to set up a language which would, for example, make it possible to adapt the reading of an internet site according to the user and the material.” UsiXML will define, validate and standardise a User Interface Description Language.

Just as an example, if an application shows the time on a clock, it is read correctly on a classic computer screen, but it is harder to see on an iPhone. With this language, the way the time is shown will automatically change contingent to the 'device' used. This project currently involves 28 partners in 8 different countries. If this language, UsiXML, is adopted, it could have a significant impact.” An exciting project on which See&Touch works since September!

For more information, see www.see-and-touch.com