Today Ideum is releasing the MT55 Platform multitouch table. The second multitouch table in the MT series, The Platform redefines our product line with an elegant new design. The Platform houses an efficient integrated computer, reliable solid state components, and a bright 55-inch interactive LED LCD display inside an impossibly thin 3″ surface.

The MT55 Platform offers many of the same features as the MT55 Pro. The 55″ full HD display uses an optical multitouch system that supports 32 simultaneous touch points for collaborative interaction. The interactive surface of the MT55 Platform is protected by a sheet of crystal clear, 5mm tempered glass. We’re also introducing a new surface option for all of our multitouch tables: Sevasa HapticGlas®, produced exclusively for Ideum. Micro-etched HapticGlas® provides tactile feedback, reduces fingerprints, increases scratch resistance, and directs user focus.

Like every MT table, the MT55 Platform is accessible by design. The hardened aluminum frame of the Platform stands 31″ tall, matching ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. Connectivity comes standard with integrated Wireless N, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and hidden USB, and HDMI ports. It also includes blue LED under-lighting, integrated cooling, a modular base which can be bolted to the floor, and a full two-year warranty.

The MT55 Platform is currently available in the US and Canada. We expect to begin shipping the MT55 Platform internationally in the coming weeks. Please contact us with questions, or to learn when the Platform is coming to your region.

For more information about the MT55 Platform , please download the press release:

MT55-platform-pressrelease-7-18-11.pdf (108 KB)

This fall I will be teaching a course on exhibit development for the Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria. The course will be held in Vancouver at the Museum of Vancouver from September 26 -28. It is a blended course, so an online component proceeds the three days, starting on September 12th. You can learn more about, Emerging Exhibits: Exploring New Models of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and register on the UVIC Website. Here’s a short description of the course:

Computer-based interactive exhibits are undergoing a major transformation. The lone, single-user kiosk is beginning to be replaced by multitouch tables and walls, motion-sensing spaces, networked installations, and RFID-based exhibits. Advances in augmented reality, voice recognition, eye tracking, and other technologies promise even more radical change for exhibits in the near future.

Collectively these new technologies represent a fundamental advance in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). This course will look at a new generation of computer-based exhibits that are more physical, more intuitive, and have more social qualities than their predecessors.

For decades, museum and education professionals have understood that interesting and provocative exhibitions and exhibits can encourage dialogue and deepen the visitor experience. However, until recently, the vast majority of the computer-based exhibits have been information-heavy kiosks with limited interactivity, providing only solitary experiences for visitors. The new models for HCI provide us with opportunities to rethink how technology is used in museums and other public spaces. Computer technology is on the cusp of finally living up to its promise in the museum world, providing a platform for developing compelling and authentic experiences for the public.