Japan Display’s ZINNSIA Technology: Transforming Everyday Materials into Interactive Sensors

At CEATEC 2024, Japan Display Inc. (JDI) introduced ZINNSIA, a sensor interface technology that has the potential to change how everyday materials can be turned into interactive touch-sensitive surfaces. Originally unveiled in June, the ZINNSIA sensor was showcased at CEATEC with a series of demonstrations designed to illustrate the vast potential for integrating sensor functionality into a wide array of materials, ranging from wood and marble to fabric and leather.

ZINNSIA is a highly adaptable sensing solution that can detect motion even through thick and irregular surfaces. This innovative technology paves the way for seamless and unobtrusive sensing experiences. Its core feature lies in its ability to transform materials that were once considered unfeasible for capacitive sensing into functional touch interfaces, granting designers a new level of creative freedom.

How ZINNSIA Works

The core of ZINNSIA’s functionality is a sensing mat placed behind the target material or object. This mat transforms the surface into a capacitive touch sensor capable of detecting movements without the need for direct contact. Even hovering a hand or a finger above the material can trigger a response. Unlike other technologies turning objects into touch interfaces, such as depth cameras,  ZINNSIA is more reliable and efficient, maintaining its sensitivity through thicker and uneven materials. The precision of JDI’s capacitive sensor sets it apart, even when dealing with objects of complex or irregular shapes.

Demonstrations at CEATEC 2024

JDI’s exhibit showcased the versatility of ZINNSIA through several live demonstrations, each highlighting the different ways the technology can be used across diverse applications. Here are some of the highlights from the event:

Lighting Control Using

Lighting Control with Different Types Of Materials

One of the most interactive parts of JDI’s booth featured six different materials, all of which could be used to control a light. By merely hovering a hand over these surfaces, visitors could switch the light on or off and adjust its intensity. The demonstration underlined the ability of ZINNSIA to work through a variety of surfaces without requiring any physical contact, emphasizing its potential for smart home applications where aesthetics and seamless integration are important.

Thick Wood Board Sensing

A standout demonstration involved a thick wooden board. Despite the material’s density, the ZINNSIA sensor could accurately detect hand positions and movements from up to 10 centimeters above the surface. A JDI representative explained that ZINNSIA could adapt to different material shapes, transforming them into functional remote controls. This capability indicates a future where wooden furniture, for example, could be embedded with hidden controls for home automation.

Interactive Furry Object For Kids

Another intriguing use case shown at CEATEC revolved around a furry object that simulated an interactive stuffed toy. This setup suggested the potential for ZINNSIA to be integrated into children’s toys, allowing them to respond to different types of touch and motion. Although the CEATEC team did not personally experience this demo, it featured a display of a digital cat face that reacted on a laptop screen. By interacting with a soft, blue, furry object, visitors could make the virtual cat respond with various animations, demonstrating how the technology could enhance the sensory experience of toys and make them more engaging for children.

House Plant Becomes A Touch Panel

One of the most imaginative and playful demos featured a house plant that produced sounds when its leaves were touched. ZINNSIA technology leveraged the natural fluctuations in electric potential that occur when plant leaves are touched. These slight variations were conducted through the roots to the plant pot, where a flexible printed circuit (FPC) substrate detected the signal.

Here’s how the setup worked:

1. An FPC substrate, using the same capacitive touchscreen method as found in smartphones, was positioned beneath the plant pot.
2. This substrate was connected to a PC via a cable, which processed the signals generated when the leaves were touched.
3. The slight changes in electric potential caused by the vibrations when touching the leaves were transmitted to the PC, prompting an app to play back preset sounds. Even though there was a gap between the leaves and the bottom of the pot, ZINNSIA’s high sensitivity allowed the plant to function like a touch panel.

The audio output included cheerful phrases like “Konnichiwa” (hello) and “Yokoso” (welcome), and the demo demonstrated how even houseplants could be used as interactive switches. JDI representative noted that the output action could be customized beyond sound, potentially enabling lights or other devices to be controlled through plant interactions.

Applications For Education

ZINNSIA’s potential in educational settings was highlighted through interactive demos designed to make learning engaging and immersive for children. One featured a poster of the solar system, where kids could touch different planets and celestial bodies to receive detailed information displayed on a connected monitor. This hands-on approach transforms a simple educational poster into an interactive learning tool, making complex concepts more accessible and memorable for young learners.

Another educational demo showcased a poster aimed at teaching English vocabulary. The poster displayed various images of everyday objects, fruits, and animals. By pointing at any image, the connected monitor would pronounce the word, helping children learn pronunciation and word association in an engaging, tactile manner. These applications underscore ZINNSIA’s potential to revolutionize educational materials, turning them into interactive resources that can captivate and educate simultaneously.

Eliane Fiolet
Categories: Design, Gadgets, Home
Tags: 3d touch, CEATEC, ceatec 2024, design, Japan, motion sensing, sensor, Smart Home