Public touchscreens are being replaced by touchless systems

Touchless interactive with airpush gestures

Control interactive screens, kiosks and other public use displays with new ways without touch. In this post pandemic world many people prefer not to use touchscreens in public spaces for hygiene reasons. Instead of touch screens we offer new high-tech systems for  the human PC interface.

A key issue is offering systems which are intuitive and easy-to-use. They must not infringe upon uses and members of the public privacy especially when offering voice interaction.

Touchless Systems

Customer mobile device controls public displays

BrightLink delivers touchless interactivity for digital signage systems by enabling users to link to and control digital signs with their mobile phone. A QR code scan with a mobile linked on the premises wifi network gives users the ability to control the experience. There are two different ways you can implement engagement. 

Brightlink two way touchless control

One-way engagement makes a mobile the digital sign and the screen is optional. 

Two-way engagement turns your mobile into a remote control to safely engage with interactive signage displays. 

Two-way engagement features

Turns a mobile device into a remote control to actively control the playback of a display, kiosk or airline seat entertainment touchscreen etc. Gives a linked mobile the controls with a scan of a QR code without an app or an internet connection. This is very important as most people will not download new mobile apps. 

Brightlink then plays custom HTML content in a mobile’s browser with an interactive interface to remotely control the digital signage or other public display. Links to a single mobile at any one time with con?gurable & automatic disconnection options

Mobile Device Touchless Use Cases

Contact-less engagement for museum exhibits and kiosks for transportation, hotels, healthcare & more.

Airline entertainment screen with touchless

Links to online opt-in programs & buy now sites using the mobile’s data connection.

Ideal for applications such as; 

• Product specs & service information
• Distribute coupons, o?ers & discounts
• Touchless retail interactive product selectors & demos
• Responsive retail inventory displays can instantly update content to let customers know what’s in stock
• Hands-free interactive corporate directory & way?nders
• Touchless in-flight entertainment

Leap Motion controller on pedestal

Touchless control using hand gestures – Touchfree

Touchless, hygienic interaction. Adds touchless gesture control to interactive screens. The user moves a cursor on the screen with an “airpush” gesture which replaces a touchscreen tap.

TouchFree runs on an interactive kiosk or public screen.It includes a Windows app that works with a IR camera from Leap Motion. TouchFree detects a user’s hand in mid-air and converts it to an on-screen cursor. The TouchFree application can run invisibly on top of existing touchscreens apps. Adds touchless gesture control to interactive kiosks without changing existing user interfaces or writing a line of code.

Core requirement. Ultraleap Leap Motion Controller or Stereo IR 170 camera module. Touchfree App. User content running in an app on a Windows 10 PC and a screen from 20” to 65”.

Elbow bump button

Kiosk elbow bump button

Our unique elbow bump button controller for kiosks emulates a left mouse click or double click in Windows or Android apps. We have had large numbers of people use our elbow bump button with our Arrive-all check-in kiosk. Many people have commented that they like it because of the fact it is contactless and safer than touching a public touchscreen. In public spaces people are happy to line up to use it with our Arrive-all check-in system.

Most people understand the tap and release required and we have signage on the kiosk to offer help.

Suitable for simple user experiences, where one button tap or two button tap will drive the interface. Use two elbow bump buttons for extra user control.

Elbow bump button can be used in conjunction with a movement sensor built into the kiosk to enable more options with the user experience. Can also be used with other touchless technology.

Voice Recognition

High quality microphone on front of kiosk

Now you can use your voice recognition (VR) to control a public screen in a similar way as how you use your voice to control devices at home such as Alexa, Siri or Google Home.  With advances in the use of AI for processing voice input, public interactive systems with appropriate apps can recognise a very wide range of accents for user interface commands. Benefits

• Enable people to search for information quicker and easier than having to type on a touchscreen 
• Make it convenient in public spaces for people to undertake transactions quickly in the style they are used to at home in the online world. May need an EFTPOS terminal on the kiosk for touchless payment.
• Allow people with disabilities such as bad eyesight to operate a kiosk very easily

A key component for VR is a good microphone and speaker in a kiosk. We found when we were testing video chat for kiosks in public spaces that we had to try several microphones and speakers before we could find ones that were suitable for use in noisy public spaces. We suggest the location where you place a kiosk with VR should be as quiet as possible with not much noise from people or street or train noise etc. There are privacy issues of having a microphone always on at a kiosk in a public space and we offer solutions for this.