3M Launches 20-Finger Multi-Touch Display

Use your hands, AND your feet!

Back in January we saw 3M's multi-touch panel--the 22-inch M2256PW--on display at CES 2010. At the time, it only allowed for ten simultaneous inputs using the company's Projected Capacitive Technology. However that's all changed, and now the LCD is hitting the market with 20+ finger support. What this means is that the display will accept multiple users collaborating on a single panel at the same time.

Outside the 20+ finger support, the M2256PW has a 6 millisecond response time for 20 touches, and palm accommodation which allows for "interface manipulation with one or more hands resting on the screen." The display also has 3358 touch points for precision drawing and edge accuracy, and a smooth and natural draw response thanks to the display's "anti-stiction" touch surface.

Although the actual screen size wasn't specified in the press release, the product page indicates that the size hasn't changed since its debut back in January, measuring 22-inches. Other bells and whistles include a 1680 x 1050 resolution, DVI and VGA video inputs, a USB and serial-based RS232 dual-mode communications protocol, and an anti-glare surface. The device is also Windows Touch AQ tested for 20+ fingers, making it compatible with Windows 7 and requiring no additional drivers.

"With the release of the M2256PW multi-touch display, 3M is helping realize the full potential of the multi-touch ecosystem," said Chris Tsourides, business manager, 3M Touch Systems. "With 20-plus finger multi-touch capability, the M2256PW display offers software developers an important development tool that they’ve been missing until now."

3M's online store indicates that it will cost $1,549 USD, however it appears that the company is providing discounts for specific quantities.