Japanese company turns every surface into touch-sensitive, even stuffed animals

Japan Display Inc. recently demonstrated ZINNSIA technology, which can convert a variety of materials into capacitive touch surfaces. Accordingly, at CEATEC 2024 at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo, the company invited customers to experience interactive touch with materials such as wood, stone, plaster, fabric and even fur.

The company even applies touch technology to stuffed animals and houseplants, making them make certain noises when touched.

This isn’t the first time touch technology has been introduced to any surface, but previously they could use cameras (like the Xbox Kinect) to detect user interaction with the surface, which came with a number of drawbacks.

JDI's ZINNSIA technology uses capacitive sensors that can maintain accuracy and sensitivity, even when handling thick materials and even when the object has an irregular shape or surface.

Touch technology appears on the fur.

At the show, the company displayed a touch-sensitive fur surface connected to a laptop that, when touched, could cause the cat on the screen to react in different ways depending on the operation.

The JDI exhibit includes a series of touch-sensitive materials using the company's ZINNSIA technology. Six models are set up so that visitors to the exhibition can interact with any of them to turn the lights on and off or dim them to varying degrees.

ZINNSIA technology can even be adjusted so that the user does not need to directly touch the surface – which can be beneficial when using light and door controls in bathrooms or where surfaces are rough.

For the bonsai model that applies ZINNSIA, it can make a sound when the user touches the leaves. With JDI's technology currently appearing to be quite complete, the commercialization potential of ZINNSIA is very broad, especially for smart pets, smart home control...

CEATEC is one of the best digital innovation exhibitions in Japan and the theme for 2024 is to lead people “towards Society 5.0” by balancing economic development and solving social problems.

Quartz (Source: Tom's Hardware)

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