i3 Tech Update: Q2 2022

i3RDM Remote Configurations

In the last i3 Tech Update we discussed remote configurations for i3RDM (Remote Display Management). This was demonstrated during our recent Live Event for our new product launches. Watch the full demonstration below:

Touch Technologies in LCD

i3-Technologies, as a manufacturer of interactive solutions, has always made the touch experience on our interactive displays the first priority for its users. We follow touch technologies closely, understanding the benefits and limitations of each technology so that we can bring you the best possible experience.

In this section, we will discuss Resistive, Capacitive, PCAP, Infrared, and In-Cell touch technologies. Our brand new i3SIXTY 2 digital flipchart uses In-Cell touch technology. With In-Cell, users benefit from a better touch and smoother writing experience, better colors and sharper images, and enhanced responsivity. Using In-Cell in combination with our 4K interface results in an interactive display that really stands out from the rest.

Learn more about the different touch technologies below:

Touch Technologies Overview

Resistive Touch Technology

i3-Technologies Products: None

The resistive touchscreen is composed of a flexible top layer made of polythene and a rigid bottom layer made of glass separated by insulating dots, attached to a touch screen controller. Resistive touchscreen panels are more affordable but offer only 75% of the light monitor and the layer can be damaged by sharp objects.

Capacitive Touch Technology

i3-Technologies Products: None

A capacitive touch screen panel is coated with a material that stores electrical charges. The capacitive systems can transmit up to 90% of the light from the monitor.

Whenever a human finger touches the screen, the conduction of electric charges occurs over the uncoated layer which results in the formation of a dynamic capacitor. The controller then detects the position of touch by measuring the change in capacitance at the four corners of the screen.

PCAP Touch Screen Technology

i3-Technologies Products: i3TOUCH P-Series, i3TOUCH PX

The PCAP or Projected Capacitive touchscreen technology provides the accessible multi-touch experience to operate through extremely light touch using an extremely tough glass surface. These are strong and easily set with protecting glass.

These touchscreens are equipped with a network of electrodes such as Silver Nanowire, Metal Mesh & ITO which project an electromagnetic field that passes throughout a protecting glass. Once the field alters at one end because of a touching finger, the position of touch can be designed as well as forward toward the controller.

These touchscreens depend on conductivity to notice touch commands. If you use any stylus or gloved finger to control them, then they won’t record the commands otherwise react to your commands.

There are passive styluses that are able to reproduce (or conduct via their metal body) the capacitance of the user. With i3-Technologies’ C-SENSE design and logic, the i3TOUCH PX also added an active pen to boost the regular human capacitance to a second recognized value range for active pen detection.

Infrared Touch Technology

i3-Technologies Products: i3TOUCH E-Series, i3TOUCH EX, i3TOUCH X-ONE, i3TOUCH E-ONE

Using infrared touchscreen technology, an array of X and Y axis is fitted with pairs of IR LEDs and photodetectors. Photodetectors will detect any image in the pattern of light emitted by the LED whenever the user touches the screen.

i3-Technologies added V-SENSE logic to this technology to improve the detection and accuracy of multiple touch points by scanning the touch surface in a smarter pattern, which also makes it possible to recognize styluses based on their physical size.

In-Cell Touch Technology

i3-Technologies Products: i3SIXTY 2

In-Cell displays are revolutionary in the sense that they combine a digitizer, use touch input, and integrate an LCD screen into a single-layer display. Some reports also suggest that In-Cell technology displays provide better resolution compared to standard LCD screens.

The main benefit of In-Cell technology is that it allows for touchscreens of a smaller size and a lower profile. In-Cell technology eliminates the need for two layers. Instead, it combines the display and digitizer into a single layer, thereby allowing for a smaller and slimmer size.

Another big benefit of In-Cell technology is improved clarity. The display will be clearer if there’s no separate digitizer layer. The presence of two layers can create cloudy or murky images. Touchscreens may still work if they have two layers, but they won’t offer the same crystal-clear images as In-Cell touchscreens with an integrated display and digitizer layer.

Because a protective glass pane is not possible with capacitive In-Cell touch technology, the top polarizer of the LCD Module is hardened to provide additional protection and H4 scratch resistance.

Follow-up on Past Releases

This recurring section looks back on past releases and gives an insight on what's to come.

Recent releases

A chronological overview of the i3 releases can also be found HERE

i3TOUCH Firmware Releases

• EX Firmware 3.0.18 - 26/04/22

• PX Firmware 3.0.9 - 22/04/22

• X-ONE Firmware 1.2.1 28/04/22

• X-ONE Firmware 1.2.4 25/05/22

i3STORE Releases
detailed release notes to be found on i3DOCS

• 02/Jun/22 Zebrix 1.1.0

• 25/May/22 i3SystemService 2.4.0

• 25/May/22 i3ALLSYNC4.0 4.1.1.033

• 25/May/22 i3CAST TO 4.0.1.15

• 25/May/22 i3WHITEBOARD 1.9.1

• 26/Apr/22 i3Setup Wizard 1.3.0

• 22/Apr/22 i3STORE 2.3.0

• 22/Apr/22 i3WHITEBOARD 1.9.0

• 22/Apr/22 i3RDM Client 2.7.0

• 22/Apr/22 i3SystemService 2.3.0

• 22/Apr/22 i3STUDIO Launcher 1.6.2

• 22/Apr/22 i3OTA Client 1.6.1

Upcoming firmware releases

Precursor:

The below announced scope and timing are subject to change, although i3 product development is investing a lot of time and effort into adhering to the release calendar, delays and or scope changes may occur.

In these releases:

• Update to the latest versions of i3 Applications:

  • i3STUDIO Launcher: Additional themes available

  • i3WHITEBOARD: Cloud Storage extended to Microsoft One-Drive

  • Various stability improvements and bugfixes

Release-Calendar:

On popular request, i3-Technologies will send out a short notice at least 24h before the actual releases are rolled out.
Below you can find the preliminary planned release schedule.

Release notes will become available after their respective releases on the designated product page on i3DOCS.