Just out of curiosity, what is the advantage of using a screen that works off an electromagnet pen instead of a regular touch screen? Obviously there is some advantage as that's what your company makes. It's kinda hard to tell in the vid, but is the pen not actually touching the screen? That would be kinda cool to point to the screen (hover above it), then touch the screen to "click" an option. If that's how it works, then I think I just answered my "why" question.
Well, there are a few advantages to the electromagnetic digitizer technology. Basically the company I work for used to be called GTCO CalComp. We made digitizers for the construction industry until we started an educational line of products. This basically takes the technology that has been in the industry for years and adapting it to a more consumer approach. The result is that you get very high accuracy tablets and an overall more durable product.
I know my video was rather lame since I took it on my cell phone... I am not actually touching the panel until I pick something from the menu. The electromagnetic technology works like a transducer disrupting an electromagnetic field. It puts out a few different sets of frequencies. When I get close to the surface it detects the pen and allows me to hover. There is a sensor in the tip that is triggered when I make contact with the surface of the panel. There are also 2 side buttons that work as a double click and a right click.
It is different then touch screen because your finger or anything else cannot trigger the screen. You must use the pen in order for the cursor to react.
Something like this would most defiantly work in a coffee table. I have actually had that Idea before but cannot really convince my wife to put a computer coffee table in the middle of our living room.
