Electronics

Gizmag visits the new Flux Innovation Lounge in London

Gizmag visits the new Flux Innovation Lounge in London
The MultiTaction iWall offers unlimited multi-touch interactivity, and is just one of the technologies on display
The MultiTaction iWall offers unlimited multi-touch interactivity, and is just one of the technologies on display
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Engage has launched the Flux Innovation Lounge in London
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Engage has launched the Flux Innovation Lounge in London
The Innovation Lounge showcases some of the newest technologies
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The Innovation Lounge showcases some of the newest technologies
MultiTaction's multi-touch displays are used in a number of the exhibits
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MultiTaction's multi-touch displays are used in a number of the exhibits
Here a MultiTaction display is shown being used as an interactive table
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Here a MultiTaction display is shown being used as an interactive table
The MultiTaction screens are also used for wall-mounted displays
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The MultiTaction screens are also used for wall-mounted displays
Space3D's holographic signage is also on display
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Space3D's holographic signage is also on display
The cabinets show vivid animated holograms
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The cabinets show vivid animated holograms
7th Sense's Totem Paul is a plain sculpture onto which content is projected
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7th Sense's Totem Paul is a plain sculpture onto which content is projected
The contours of the sculpture are mapped with projection software
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The contours of the sculpture are mapped with projection software
Intricate light displays can be projected onto the sculpture
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Intricate light displays can be projected onto the sculpture
The projections take into account the sculpture's contours
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The projections take into account the sculpture's contours
A number of projectors are synced to create the light display
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A number of projectors are synced to create the light display
A display cabinet with a transparent screen, much like the ones that we saw in use at the new SportChek flagship store
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A display cabinet with a transparent screen, much like the ones that we saw in use at the new SportChek flagship store
Video can be presented in front of the product
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Video can be presented in front of the product
An Engage team member demonstrates an augmented reality dressing room
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An Engage team member demonstrates an augmented reality dressing room
The MultiTaction iWall offers unlimited multi-touch interactivity, and is just one of the technologies on display
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The MultiTaction iWall offers unlimited multi-touch interactivity, and is just one of the technologies on display
The wall comprises 12 MultiTaction 55-inch displays
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The wall comprises 12 MultiTaction 55-inch displays
The iWall is used in immersive business environments
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The iWall is used in immersive business environments
Infra-red pens can be used to write on the iWall
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Infra-red pens can be used to write on the iWall
A Double Robotics telepresence robot poses for a photo
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A Double Robotics telepresence robot poses for a photo
Users can attend events remotely using the telepresence robots
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Users can attend events remotely using the telepresence robots
A Makerbot 3D printer in action
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A Makerbot 3D printer in action
Onlookers watch as a 3D-printed object is produced
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Onlookers watch as a 3D-printed object is produced
3D objects take a matter of minutes to be produced
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3D objects take a matter of minutes to be produced
MultiTaction's screens are used to present a visual representation of Bloomberg's news feeds
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MultiTaction's screens are used to present a visual representation of Bloomberg's news feeds
An augmented-reality furniture app scans the room
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An augmented-reality furniture app scans the room
Furniture can be overlayed into the room to see how it looks
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Furniture can be overlayed into the room to see how it looks
Users can zoom, pan and walk around the furniture
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Users can zoom, pan and walk around the furniture
Different furniture options an be applied using the app
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Different furniture options an be applied using the app
An Oculus Rift runs a virtual reality diving simulation
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An Oculus Rift runs a virtual reality diving simulation
Users wear a headset and headphones
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Users wear a headset and headphones
Motion sensors track where the user is looking, and the images displayed react accordingly
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Motion sensors track where the user is looking, and the images displayed react accordingly
View gallery - 32 images

UK-based "tech alchemist" firm Engage yesterday launched its Flux Innovation Lounge. The Lounge is a place to see some of today’s advanced technology put into practical use – and a place for Engage to show off some of its work. Visitors can expect 18-foot (5.5-m) touchscreens, holographic cabinets and immersive environments.

Engage designs and produces experiential technology concepts for its clients, with a view to driving brand engagement. It has worked with a multitude of high-profile organizations, such as Bloomberg, Sky, Ferrari, Nike and Visa to name but a handful. The firm uses a mixture of technologies and works with partners to meet the briefs that it receives. Yesterday’s event showcased some of the work that the company has produced.

Here a MultiTaction display is shown being used as an interactive table
Here a MultiTaction display is shown being used as an interactive table

Most prevalent amongst the technology on show were MultiTaction's (formerly MultiTouch) 55-inch ultra-thin bezel displays. The screens are Full HD and offer fast response multi-touch functionality. They can be stacked, used flat as interactive table-tops, and joined together to create super-sized displays.

Indeed, the most dramatic exhibit on display was MultiTaction's iWall – a 5 x 2.5 m (16.4 x 18 ft) interactive wall made up of 12 of the MultiTaction displays. Engage previously used the iWall as part a project to create an immersive business workspace. It provides users with the capability for unlimited simultaneous touch, infra-red pen input and object recognition.

The wall comprises 12 MultiTaction 55-inch displays
The wall comprises 12 MultiTaction 55-inch displays

The MultiTaction displays were also demonstrated running a visual interpretation of Bloomberg's news feeds, that was designed for the foyer at the news outlet's New York offices. The content itself is a juicy piece of design, full of color, which is complemented by gestural touch controls that have been built into the interactive version.

Other highlights at the Innovation Lounge include Space3D's holographic signage, which although not new technology, still impresses with its vivid animated holograms, and 7th Sense's Totem Paul sculpture – a small-scale example of its 3D projection mapping capabilities. An Oculus Rift is on display running a virtual reality scuba diving simulation, and visitors can also see a Double Robotics telepresence robot in the flesh.

Tours of the Flux Innovation Lounge can be arranged by contacting Engage.

The video below is Engage's showreel, which shows a number of the technologies that are on display at the Innovation Lounge. You can also see some more of them in our photo gallery.

Source: Engage

View gallery - 32 images
1 comment
1 comment
Daishi
I think my favorite thing about it is "Users can attend events remotely using the telepresence robots"
Telepresence is amazing and I can't wait for it to start to take off. I think this was one of the uses Facebook had in mind for Oculus Rift when they paid 2B for it.
I think an Oculus Rift would be a great way to visit something like this remotely. Think about the application of good telepresence with elderly or disabled who live mostly isolated lives.
You could take guided tours of museums and places around the world from an old folks home in real time. Sometimes I wish I lived in silicon valley instead of rural PA so I could help make stuff like that happen instead of just reading about it :(