Over recent years I have explored several areas of cutting-edge electronics research and interface development. The primary aim of this research work has been the creation of intellectual property relating to the design of electronic entertainment devices. Of particular technical significance are the pioneering research-based advances in the fields of multi-touch touchsceens, multi-object-tracking, kinetic surfaces, and RFID hardware.

A by-product of these activities has been the creation of a sizeable collection of innovative high-specification prototype systems, and what might be called 'machine art'. The aim of this site is to exhibit part of this collection.

Andrew Fentem




FENTIX CUBE


    

World's first cubic touchscreen computer games platform
(2007)

Featuring a unique ultra-bright (even in daylight) full-colour cubic screen and a unique cubic multitouch touchscreen technology (patent pending) this games platform has been programmed to implement various multi-dimensional games, puzzles, and lighting effects.

Please direct all enquiries about this project and sales enquiries to the email address shown at the top of this page.





MULTI-TOUCH TOUCHSCREENS






'Multi-touch' touchscreen interfaces for both musical and general-purpose computer applications
(2002-present)

These state-of-the-art touchscreen surfaces are capable of discriminating between (and tracking) multiple objects, human touches, and/or elements of user-reconfigurable mechanical and/or graphical overlays.
Since Apple and Microsoft announced their own multi-touch touchscreen interfaces in 2007, for their iPhone and 'Surface' products, there has been significant international interest in this field of research. As one of the pioneers of these kinds of interfaces, I was asked in June 2007 to write for The Register about what I thought about these recent commercial developments.






KINETIC SURFACES 


     

Surfaces capable of tracking, intercepting, moving and propelling passive objects through the co-ordinated activity of embedded actuators
(2001-2006)

This pioneering research has resulted in the development of a number of different kinetic surface technologies, including what are probably the fastest such systems ever built.
The above video clip shows an experimental games machine called 'Robo-breakout' that evolved out of part of this research. It demonstrates the capabilities of some of the high-speed kinetic surface and object-tracking systems.
Details of the various other kinetic surface technologies that have been developed are available on request.





ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND INTERFACES


     

Innovative tactile instruments, sequencers and mixing desks based around multi-object tracking and multi-touch sensor technologies
(2003-2004)

These highly innovative electronic music interface systems were developed in collaboration with Novation EMS Ltd.
The multitouch tactile sequencer demonstrated in the above video clip was exhibited by Kinetica Museum, London, 18 May - 29 June 2007.
In addition to these projects various DSP-based sound synthesis and spectrum analysis toys and gadgets were developed such as the SoundMouse, KeySensor, and the OpticalMicrophone.





LED EYES


    

Super-bright high-resolution LED screens combined with semi-translucent acrylic diffusers to create visceral 'analogue' images
(2002-2005)

Each of the screens stores an indexed set of images of each eye in almost every conceivable orientation and degree of closure. This means that each of the 'eyes' can be animated in real-time. An object-tracking camera and small microphones sense activity in front of the screens, potentially enabling the eyes to follow people as they move around the room.
The above video clip was shot in September 2007 when the LED Eyes were exhibited by Kinetica Museum at the 100% Design Show, Earl's Court, London.






INTERACTIVE FLOORING SYSTEMS


     

Sensor technologies and interactive graphical flooring systems
(2002-2004)

Ground-breaking interactive flooring systems developed in collaboration with Peracolor for The Experimenta House of Tomorrow (Australia), Diesel's flagship store (Milan), and The Science Museum (London).


ULTRA-FAST VIRTUAL AIR-HOCKEY




A large ultra-fast table-top virtual air-hockey system
(2001-2002)

This uniquely fast system incorporates a proprietory ultra-fast velocity-sensitive multi-touch touchscreen and a 500+ frames per second high-resolution LED display. The touchscreen is capable of tracking up to four players' fast sweeping hand movements. A hand's velocity and point of contact with the virtual 'puck' can therefore be determined. This velocity and position data is factored into the physics of the simulation so that the puck responds in a realistic manner to contact with the players' hands. The high frame rate of the screen ensures that the puck image does not flicker even when moving at high speed across the table - giving an 'analogue' feel to the game.






INTELLIGENT RFID




Communications and tracking device
(2004-2005)

This is an experimental communications device embedded in a wristband. Each device is able to locate and track other such devices, and compare and exchange user profile information such as security and/or personal data. The antenna hardware and Zigbee protocol stack was modified to add innovative location and direction finding capabilities.
An innovative optical technique for directly programming the wristband securely from a website using specially animated graphics was also developed.


ELECTRONIC TOYS




Flying disc
(2004-2005)

Toys developed in collaboration with Petracolor and ActivePeople include a glowing flying disc that changes colour depending upon how fast the disc is flying.


COUTURE ELECTRONICS




Electronic garments
(2004)

Wearable computing devices and a technique for fabricating electronic garments developed for Alexander McQueen's (Gucci) Lucem couture collection (Spring 2004, Paris).


ANDREW FENTEM




I've been interested in the electronic arts since the early 1980s when I built my first synthesiser.
Completing a degree in electronic engineering was followed by several years in military R&D - intelligent battlefield systems etc, and then by six years in academia. At Cambridge, UCL, and London Business School I worked on cutting-edge research projects in the fields of human-computer interaction, computer science, data visualization, and innovation management.
Returning to the 'real' world I have advised many organisations interested in innovation and new product development strategies including Nokia, Unilever, BMW, Hasbro, and Harvard Business School. I was also a founding Director of the innovation management consultancy Viadynamics Ltd.
Since 2001 I have been carrying out independent electronics research. I received an award for my multitouch touchscreen research from the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA), and my work has been exhibited by Kinetica Museum - the UK's museum dedicated to electronic art.

CURRENT NEWS: I am currently completing the development and patenting of a new form of interactive electronic technology. I am also continuing to write about technological innovation.

 To discuss anything on this site, or current research projects, please email or phone +44 (0) 7905 681355


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