[Long-Term] Touchscreen Coffee Table for Digital Board Games & Cocktail Games

[Xerobull]

My next, longer-term project: A touchscreen Coffee Table to integrate digital board games. The cocktable games are an add-on as I like utility. And maybe digital pinball as it's a horizontal setup? Maybe a jukebox program. Oh, and some kind of calendar/organizer interface? Something-something moar...



The impetuous? Board games are big in my family, board game digitization, falling technology prices, maturity of software, current coffee table is worn out, gotta build something.

Timeline: start in Fall 2016 to coincide with 2016 Black Friday deals.

The guts:

• Windows PC guts, older will probably work as digital board games don't require a lot of juice.
• Large Screen TV (Possibly 42).
• Multi-touch IR setup with Arduino. This stuff is dirt cheap from China.
• Arcade controls for each side, probably a stick and two buttons each (plus start, coin). We're talking retro MAME cocktable games only.
  Custom wood build
• Power socket
• 2.1 Speakers

The challenges:

• Ascetics. As this will be in the middle of my living room, it needs to look nice, match my wife's decorating tastes, and be low profile. I don't want it to dominate the room. It shouldn't look like anything other than a coffee table at first glance. The power cord needs to be removable (easy). The controls should be hidden from an adult's POV.
• Water-proofing. With two kids, one a toddler at the time of the build, I need to make sure this thing is waterproof and cleanable. It's a challenge to do so with the touchscreen.
• Durability & safety. two boys = trashed furniture. It's gotta be tough yet safe to faceplant on.
• Software build(s)/Front End. I haven't done much research on this yet but it needs an elegant, easy to use interface so my son or wife can drive it. The car only the mechanic can drive is a big no-no on this thing.
• Software bloat: I have a tendency to add on more and more to a project. I don't want it to look like Homer Simpson's dream car.
  
  

As always, any input is welcome and appreciated.

[yotsuya]

My next, longer-term project: A touchscreen Coffee Table to integrate digital board games. The cocktable games are an add-on as I like utility. And maybe digital pinball as it's a horizontal setup? Maybe a jukebox \

• Software bloat: I have a tendency to add on more and more to a project. I don't want it to look like Homer Simpson's dream car.
  
  

As always, any input is welcome and appreciated.

I commend you for recognizing a problem many, many users have around here (I did at one time, as well). 

[edekoning]

• Water-proofing. With two kids, one a toddler at the time of the build, I need to make sure this thing is waterproof and cleanable. It's a challenge to do so with the touchscreen.

Even without kids, adults will tip over full glasses. So the picture you showed with a recessed screen seems like a really really bad idea.

Personally I have a strong dislike for touchscreens, as I hate the lack of feedback, and can't stand all the smears on the screen. That being said, playing digital boardgames on a coffee table seems like the ultimate touchscreen use. So I am really looking forward to see where you take this.

[Xerobull]

• Water-proofing. With two kids, one a toddler at the time of the build, I need to make sure this thing is waterproof and cleanable. It's a challenge to do so with the touchscreen.

Even without kids, adults will tip over full glasses. So the picture you showed with a recessed screen seems like a really really bad idea.

Personally I have a strong dislike for touchscreens, as I hate the lack of feedback, and can't stand all the smears on the screen. That being said, playing digital boardgames on a coffee table seems like the ultimate touchscreen use. So I am really looking forward to see where you take this.

Thanks, strong endorsement from Magneto!!!

Agreed- the recessed glass is a no-no.

[broberg]

The IR frames are cheap yes, but the major fault with them are the frame that have to be mounted on top and can't be hidden.
What you need is a capacative touch film.

I have one in my current build :
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,147366.0.html


You mount it underneath for an example a glass surface (you can actually mount it on basically anything if you'd like) and then the screen beneath that. And that takes care of your issues with screen protection and cleaning.
A small clip of me testing my custom made touch-keyboard skin :


The only thing I can think of that would the IR-frame better suited is
if you are planning to somehow use physical objects/markers on your board games,
due to the fact that IR registers all objects while the touch film only registers the magnetic field of your fingers (well any body part that is  ).

[Xerobull]

The IR frames are cheap yes, but the major fault with them are the frame that have to be mounted on top and can't be hidden.
What you need is a capacative touch film.

I have one in my current build :
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,147366.0.html


You mount it underneath for an example a glass surface (you can actually mount it on basically anything if you'd like) and then the screen beneath that. And that takes care of your issues with screen protection and cleaning.
A small clip of me testing my custom made touch-keyboard skin :


The only thing I can think of that would the IR-frame better suited is
if you are planning to somehow use physical objects/markers on your board games,
due to the fact that IR registers all objects while the touch film only registers the magnetic field of your fingers (well any body part that is  ).

Ahhhh, sweet Matilda that's amazing!!! Exactly what I need and +10,000 points for making a Tron desk! Seriously cool. One meelion kudos!

Looks like around $350 for a 42" from China.

[tomstewdevine]

This could be a really cool table, thanks for sharing your process.

[broberg]

Ahhhh, sweet Matilda that's amazing!!! Exactly what I need and +10,000 points for making a Tron desk! Seriously cool. One meelion kudos!

Looks like around $350 for a 42" from China.

You'r welcome!

If you are buying from Defi-tech (http://defi-tech.com) make sure to get their multitouch (10+ points) rather then the 2 point one (that I bought) the 10+controller is probably better programmed than the 2point one.

There is some issue with noise from the screen that could interfere with the sensors in the foil/film, so mounting the screen to close to the touch could be an issue. But that depends a lot on what screen you get, the cheaper ones usually gives out more noise than others.

And I suppose the more expensive brands of touchfoil makers have a better programmed controller than the chinese ones that deals with the noise issue. But with 1/4 of the price you do have some understanding


Defi-tech has an excellent support online if any issues arise!

[GSXRMovistar]

Interesting, looking forward to see where this goes.