d20Pro on the NUIT40

And now what we really care about!  Touch Virtual Table Top software!  Unfortunately, we are still not multi-touch ready with d20Pro.  However, that is a GenCon 2012 goal.

And two quick videos

The NUIT40 MK-I has arrived in time for PAX-East!

Today I assembled the first prototype of the NUIT/TV 40-inch.  This is a multi-touch table kit I've been working on for a while.  This specific kit is taller than it needs to be to accommodate the screen and touch technology, however, this extra height lead to some pleasant and unexpected results!  I mean, I designed it that way, for realz!

This mystery feature is the ability to stash the power strip, ZBox HTPC (Zotac AD02 for this test) and all of the cables under the housing without blocking ventilation for any/all of the parts involved.  See the pics below. 

The "kitchen floor" shots show the ZBox and power strip sitting next to the device.  The ZBox is actually in it's VESA cradle, more space could be acquired by removing the cradle.  I've left it on to ensure that the device gets as much ventilation as possible.

The "dining room" shots show the NUIT40 with all of its guts stuffed back inside.  Mind you, in this build there are no mount points for the power strip or the ZBox.  But that is ease enough to do.  Still for a stationary build, or a build in which you might want to be able to pull out the CPU, this kit is complete.

There will certainly be more to show in the coming week as we enter PAX-East count down!

Board games and card games oh my!

So, we have a quick video to share from a friendly company that has been using our raw hardware and their software prowess to build out both board and card games!

The video really speaks for itself...

The NUIT40 is off to the fabricators

Below you'll find a sample of the drawings recently shipped off to the fabricators (MP Products LLC).  The project has moved from 6-sided enclosure to a 5-sided enclosure.  Why, you might ask?  Well, simply this;
A 5-sided enclosure like the one we're developing can accommodate a lot of different hardware.  Have your own LCD/LED TV? Awesome, if it fits our interior dimensions, this hood will fit it.  Want to build a DSI, DI, FTIR setup but want something pre-configured?  Well, the NUIT40 can do that too.  The interior is designed to accommodate pre-built or kit-built DSI/FTIR materials.

The real power here is going to be in the hoods ability to be whatever you need it to be for your project, from finished piece to DIY starter.

NUIT40 - The sides will not be transparent in the actual build.

There are two types of support bars; simple straight supports and  "H" bars.  Initially the "H" bar will sport a 300x300mm VESA mount, but alternate "H" configurations will be available shortly after launch.

Oh, and did I mention feet?  This a quick preview of a conceptualization of attaching feet.  We're still working on the final feet designs.  As always, input is welcome!

NUIT40 at Desk Height

NUIT40 as a Kiosk, Drafting Table, or Artist Easel? -- why sure!

I hope you enjoyed the preview.  I should have some pictures of the pre-release prototype available from our friends at MP Products, if all goes as planned, in the coming weeks.  And one more image...

Below you'll find some of the last-round designs for our multi-touch screen enclosures. We should have designs finalized by the end of next week! While later than I'd hoped this has afforded us the opportunity to experiment with several touch frame technologies. The final verdict is to use the X3 Series frames from ZaagTech. It was a hard choice between the ZaagTech product and the PQLabs product, but in the end the consistency of the ZaagTech products performance won out.

I'm working on a product comparison in my spare time right now. As soon as that is complete I'll post it to this blog and to the NUI Group forums.

Preview of the multitouch television enclosure.

The surface of the screen is water resistant.

The design accounts for adequate ventilation and space for cabling

We sell things!

Two major advancements in the category of selling multi-touch kit.  One, the Locus is now fully on-line with Geek Chic.  The full listing is available here.  I'm very excited about where this is going.  I should mention that the images on the site are of housings designed for the vision based systems which this blog has been highlighting, however, the base products are using the IR frame technologies which I've grown to love.

That being said, the second bit of news is that I've opened up my own Web store.  Some of you may already know that I started a company based around multi-touch and that I've had plans for a Web store for a bit.  Well, she's finally live (here)!

The store is fairly one dimensional at the moment.  The only product offering I've listed is for the multi-touch frames from ZaagTech which I'm using for my projects and for Locus construction.  I have plans to expand the store to include various cameras, lenses, mirrors, and other supplies for the DIY vision and frame based multi-touch-ers out there.  Additionally, we are working on a super secret project which should allow for those less mechanically inclined to enter the world of multi-touch.  And, because I'm no good at secrets, the super secret is a fully self contained multi-touch display line ranging from 40-inch 1080p 16:9 screens to 65-inch 1080p 16:9 screens.

I'm very excited about the direction all of this work is taking.

For those of you who read this, thanks for sticking around!