Philips are set to showcase a prototype of their interactive Entertaible at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas tomorrow, combining traditional board games with a multi-user touch screen LCD display.


Philips Entertaible


The working concept design features a 30-inch LCD display which can sense objects due to the built-in touch-detection, with infrared LEDs and photodiodes mounted around the edge of the screen, allowing for completely hand-operated control of the device.

Whilst the Entertaible isn't currently being touted for home use - probably due to the potential initial cost of the units if they were to go in to production - they are being lined up with the expectation to make appearances in bars, restaurants and casinos, where the outlay could soon be recouped.


Philips Entertaible


Advantages of an interactive "entertainment table" like this seem numerous, with not only the chance to have dynamically changing gameplay - such as colour changing squares and on-the-spot rules - but also the ability to warn players of illegal moves which might have otherwise ruined the outcome of the game.