Brisbane-based digital solutions provider, TouchMate, has provided a complete front-of-house solution to help simplify and expedite guest services for Australian movie theatres employing Zytronic touch sensors.
Self-service ticket kiosks have wide acceptance in movie theatres, but TouchMate saw the potential in combining the widespread use of videowalls in cinema foyers with kiosk-style features.
David Ellsworth, director of TouchMate, explained: “Our system is an evolution of the current technology. Traditionally, the cinema might spend more than USD 50,000 on a videowall then install eight self-service kiosks that might cost an extra UDS 50,000 or more. If you merge the two technologies, you halve the capital costs and costs of maintenance. You save space and money.”
Patrons immediately understand the proposition — as soon as they see the attendant EFTPOS facilities they know they have the opportunity to buy cinema tickets. As they approach the machine, proximity sensors switch the videowall’s content, such that the customer can find their desired screening and complete the transaction. Once complete, the content automatically switches back to the in-house CMS programming.
Crucial to the success of the TouchMate digital solution is the Zytronic ZXY500 touch controller. The new technology allows the touch sensors to be designed with sub 10mm borders.
David Ellsworth said: “We’ve been working with Zytronic since 2002 on a whole variety of products in a whole range of different industries. The new ZXY500 controller is a real step forward. The success of our cinema product is dependent on an edge-to-edge full screen glass touchscreen and Zytronic has achieved that. In this case, the bezel width of the touchscreen is right down to 1.8mm either side — 3.6mm from screen to screen in total. It’s almost seamless.”
Zytronic and its local partner, JEA Technologies, worked closely with TouchMate to design a custom, printed 53-in Zybrid touch sensor with ultra-narrow borders, made from 6mm-thick toughened anti-glare etched glass.