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XN Corporation Collaborates with Elo TouchSystems for Dual-Screen Touch System for Retail and Hospitality SectorsXN Corporation is a developer of innovative, web-based solutions for the hospitality and retail marketplaces. When the company produced its XN500 dual-screen electronic point of sale (EPoS) touchscreen terminal, it wanted to employ the best possible touch technology available on the market. It selected Elo TouchSystems' five-wire resistive touchscreen technology, AccuTouch, as it brought a number of benefits, including high reliability and cost effectiveness to the system. A Dual Touchscreen SystemThe system consists of a small footprint, dual-screen EPoS terminal originally devised for one-to-one, consultative selling applications where the customer and sales consultant face each other, with a screen each. When the sales consultant makes a selection from the touchscreen on their side of the terminal, the customer on the opposite side sees the selection made on their screen. In addition, the customer may also make a selection at any time as both touchscreens are driven and react simultaneously. Because touch is intuitive, staff and customers don't need any formal training to use the system, allowing the customer and the sales assistant to concentrate on fulfilling the requirements. Based on the Windows platform, to maximise development flexibility, the dual-screen XN500 is easily adapted and lends itself to many other applications. For example, in quick service restaurant environments, both the customer and the sales assistant see the same screen data. Only the sales assistant's side needs the touch interface for order entry, while the customer side displays the order and sales price. While the sales assistant prepares the order, creative programming of the on-screen sales message will also encourage further sales, for example: "... do you want fries with that order, sir?" This, and similar messages can be displayed on the sales assistant's side only, or on both screens simultaneously. Again, minimal training is required, making the system ideal for new and untrained staff to get up to speed and concentrate on the job at hand. Employee and Customer Use the XN500 at the Same Time–One for Work, One for FunAnother emerging application is the deployment of the XN500 in amusement games. The power of the terminal is built in to the compact modular terminal, bringing true counter and bar-top amusement applications to any leisure environment. The dual touchscreen means simultaneous multi player amusements become a reality as players can take part in a multiple choice quiz playing against the system or an opponent, participate in skill games, in addition to playing popular card games. At the heart of the system is a powerful, Windows-based PC with Internet connection, a dual-screen TFT (thin film transistor) LCD (liquid crystal display), Elo's AccuTouch five-wire resistive touchscreen for reliability, and an extensive set of diagnostic tools, including Elo's own touchscreen diagnostics package and chip controller called COACh. The diagnostic tools enable active state-of-health monitoring of the complete system, alerting the store manager, or even XN Corporation's operations, as required, when corrective action might be needed. For example, the touchscreen's diagnostic tools can monitor for foreign object contamination, touchscreen sensitivity or damage which may degrade performance over time. Even the fan and system temperature are monitored to ensure system longevity. Designed as standard for use with two 12.1" TFT LCD panels, utilising Elo's MonitorMice software, the system allows simultaneous use of the two touchscreen displays, driven from a single PC and positioned up to five meters away from the PC itself. Additionally, XN has developed a range of designer displays in 15-inch, 18-inch, and 21-inch versions available with AccuTouch, IntelliTouch or SecureTouch and housed in attractive, colour-matched aluminium housings to grace any retail setting. IntelliTouch and SecureTouch use a different touch technology, called surface wave, and are ideal for public-access applications. Both use a solid glass overlay for outstanding display brightness, and SecureTouch uses 6mm tempered glass for the ultimate in vandal resistance and safety. Bob Sawyer, XN Corporation Vice President, International Sales said: "The critical component of our system is the touchscreen, and that's why we put the top touchscreen suppliers and their products through an exhaustive testing programme. We settled on Elo's AccuTouch touchscreen technology for a combination of its excellent diagnostics package and the touchscreen's all round reliability, durability and performance. Additionally, we found the AccuTouch brand name to be highly respected and specified in the retail and hospitality market, making our touchscreen PCS easier to sell as a result." Bob Sawyer continued: "In an EPoS application, the system is often subject to high use and accidental spillage of foods and liquids. In retail, under these situations, reliability is critical as system failure means our customers are unable to process orders and take money. Sealable to IP65, the touchscreen provides added protection to the system in a fast-food application, and the screen is simply wiped clean, as required, to retain full hygiene and performance. Furthermore, we were delighted with the extensive support and service from Elo's technical and support staff in helping us to develop the most appropriate touchscreen solution. Elo's support team were not satisfied with simply offering a solution. They worked closely with our R&D group to help us break new ground in touchscreen functionality on the XN500. Over time, Elo's touchscreen technology has proved its reliability with zero defects and no quality problems at all, from many thousands of installations around the world, in the last two years." The XN500 continues to be rolled out across a wide range of applications where consultative selling, fast-food and amusement applications demand high performance with compact, reliable systems. About XN CorporationXN Corporation was formerly Checkout Computers, a highly successful provider of EPoS technology since 1982. Now a subsidiary of Checkout Holdings Ltd, XN Corporation was founded early in 1999 with its specific objective being to develop the next generation of EPoS technologies for the global hospitality, leisure and retail market sectors. With its headquarters in the UK, XN Corporation has subsidiary offices in France, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Korea and a network of partners and approved resellers in USA, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel, South Africa, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, China and Indonesia. Today, XN Corporation has 30,000 terminals in over 8,000 hospitality industry locations, including bars, restaurants, hotels, fast food and leisure companies. The company has customers such as Scottish & Newcastle Retail, Young & Co Brewery, Bass Leisure Retail, Fuller Smith & Turner, Burger King, Haagan Dazs, Agapes, Videotronic International, Sun International, Southern Sun, Macro, L'Oreal, and Sofitel (Vienna Airport). For more information: www.xncorp.com. About Elo TouchSystemsElo TouchSystems, Inc., global leader in touch technology, is part of Tyco Electronics. Elo develops, manufactures and markets a complete line of touch products that simplify the interface between people and computers in both public-access and employee-activated applications. Founded in 1971, the company is headquartered in Fremont, California, USA, with manufacturing sites in the U.S., France, and Japan. Elo's main regional offices are in Kessel-Lo, Belgium and Yokohama, Japan, with additional sales and technical support offices worldwide. For more information on Elo TouchSystems' products and services, dial +32 16 35 21 00 or visit our Web site at www.elotouch.com. About Tyco ElectronicsTyco Electronics is one of the major business units of Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC; LSE: TYI; BSX: TYC). Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, Tyco Electronics is the world's largest passive electronic components manufacturer, and a world leader in cutting-edge wireless technologies, fiber optic active components, and complete power systems. The company has facilities located in 56 countries serving customers in the aerospace, automotive, computer, communications, consumer electronics, industrial and power industries. Tyco Electronics provides advanced technology products from over thirty well-known and respected product brands, including Agastat, Alcoswitch, AMP, AMP Netconnect, Buchanan, CoEv, Critchley, Elcon, Elo TouchSystems, HTS, M/A-COM, Madison Cable, OEG, Potter & Brumfield, Raychem, Schrack, Simel and TDI Batteries. Information from: Information from: Press Information (UK): Elo TouchSystems, AccuTouch, IntelliTouch, iTouch, SecureTouch, CarrollTouch and Entuitive are trademarks of Elo TouchSystems, Inc. All other products and company names referred to herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders. |
