GestureTek’s gesture-recognition technology transforms a European mall’s digital signage screen into unique interactive entertainment

Multi-media technology powering Europe’s largest interactive retail signage system to be showcased at Amsterdam’s upcoming ISE show.

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, January 29, 2008 – GestureTek Inc. – inventor and world leader in gesture-controlled interactive entertainment and presentation systems –announced the launch of the company’s ScreenFX interactive multi-media display system in the new Charleston Mall in Dublin, Ireland.  The installation is one of Europe’s largest interactive retail signage systems.

GestureTek will showcase ScreenFX, and other innovations in multi-touch interactivity and immersive media, for the first time ever at a conference outside of North America at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show Jan 29th to 31st in Amsterdam. 

GestureTek partnered with Ireland’s TouchPoint Interactive Media and Strategem Integrated Communications on the Charleston Mall project.  ScreenFX was installed on a larger-than-life 103” Panasonic flat screen. Using a patented, camera-enabled body tracking technology, ScreenFX tracks passersby, and responds intelligently to their movement.  With every wave of their hand or point of their finger, shoppers control and interact with dazzling multi-media images and special effects – a far more exciting and entertaining proposition than a standard static retail signage system. 

Custom holiday-themed screen content was created that can be changed seasonally.  For example, on Halloween, shoppers might swat away a group of blood thirsty vampire bats, while during the holidays shoppers might brush away snow from an image of a winter wonderland.  Mall information, such as holiday hours or logos, can also be displayed in an interactive and visually-appealing manner.

Along with ScreenFX, GestureTek's GroundFX interactive floor display system was installed near the mall entrances.  GroundFX is an innovative visual display system that allows people to use hand and body motions to interact with images, games or advertisements projected directly onto the floor.  The GroundFX interactive system delivers an engaging and entertaining welcome mat at store entrances. 

“Imagine stepping into a computer-generated landscape and controlling the content simply by moving your hands or feet. It’s an effective way to enrich the retail experience for shoppers,” says Vincent John Vincent, President of GestureTek. “Multiple independent studies cite the higher levels of brand retention achieved with this type of unique interactive signage.”

Millions of visitors have experienced the 3000-plus GestureTek installations all over the world in retail locations, airports, museums, science centers, location-based entertainment facilities and other public spaces. GestureTek’s gesture-recognition technology allows people to control and interact with dynamic multi-media content; access information within interactive displays; and even immerse themselves in a 3-D virtual world – without ever having to wear, hold or touch anything special.

GestureTek’s patented video-gesture-control systems power a wide variety of solutions for point and control, responsive media, immersive experiences and surface computing.   The technology is often used as a centerpoint for exhibits, retail signage and interactive displays. 

“All GestureTek products meet different retail needs, yet all deliver a more memorable visitor experience, creates more engaging and entertaining interactive displays, and drive new and repeat visitor traffic,” says Vincent John Vincent, GestureTek’s President and Co-Founder.

GestureTek’s new and proven technologies for retail and public spaces:

AirTrack System A portable hand tracking unit to control any sized display from any distance using your finger as the interface. [More information]  [AirTrack Video]

Illuminate Multi-Touch™ Displays and Tables Magical floating computing surfaces with no visible screens or hardware, used to navigate traditional multi-media or deliver multi-touch interactivity.
[More information] [Illuminate Video]

ScreenXtreme™ An immersive signage solution that projects a user’s image onscreen and lets them manipulate multi-media content with hand and body movement. [More information] [ScreenXtreme Video]

GestureXtreme™ A thrilling immersive gaming experience where users see themselves onscreen, interacting with virtual characters and objects.  [More information] [GestureXtreme Video]

GestTrack™ ‘Minority-Report’ style interfaces for displays, signs and exhibits that converts hand gestures into direct mouse control. [More information] [GestTrack Video]

GestureFX™ An eye-catching visual display system that responds to body motion, projecting dynamic multi-media content onto floors, walls, tables, bars or counters.  [More information] [GestureFX Video]

About GestureTek Inc.
GestureTek is the pioneer, patent-holder and world leader in gesture-recognition technologies and computer vision for information, presentation and entertainment systems.  The company’s revolutionary video gesture control software lets users control interactive content, access information, manipulate special effects or immerse themselves in an interactive 3D virtual world - simply by moving their hands or body. In the past 20 years, GestureTek has delivered nearly 4000 interactive displays, kiosks, exhibits, games and other interactive solutions for museums, science centers, location-based entertainment facilities, retail stores, real estate presentation centers, corporate boardrooms and showrooms, television networks and game developers.  The technology is also used by advertisers and marketers to make their digital signs and advertisements interactive and immersive.  Healthcare organizations specializing in rehabilitation, sensory stimulation, activation and recreation also use GestureTek’s technology for virtual therapy. GestureTek has nearly 4,000 clients, including leading organizations and Fortune 500 companies such as CNN, NASA, BMW, Ford, Oracle, Intel, IBM, Federal Express, Autodesk, Panasonic and more.  Software and patent licensees include Microsoft, Sony, Hasbro and NTT DoCoMo. GestureTek is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with additional offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Asia. For more information see www.gesturetek.com or call (800) 315-1189.

For more information contact:
Patti Jordan, Director Marketing & Communication, GestureTek, 416-340-9290 x 274 patti.jordan@gesturetek.com
Jo Moore Marini, Account Executive, SS PR, 719-578-9044 jmoore@sspr.com