Ideum has announced the release of a ruggedized multi-touch, multi-user table built specifically for museums.

The MT Table supports multi-touch and multi-user interactions. It has a 50" (diagonal) surface with a high resolution 1280 x 720 display. The large display also makes it easier to facilitate multiple simultaneous visitors interacting with computer programs through the use of multi-touch gestures. Visitors can use hand gestures to manipulate images or media or to interact with computer-based programs.

The table, which stands 31" tall with heavy-duty locking casters, is wheel-chair accessible and meets standard ADA requirements for height. The table is automated and can safely shut itself down.

The MT is also durable with a frame built of aircraft-grade aluminum and a surface of thick, tempered glass. All of the components of the MT Table are industrial-grade.

Ideum has partnered with Natural User Interface, a Swedish technology company specializing in multi-touch solutions to provide the base software package. Each table comes with NUI's Snowflake Software, a gesture recognition multi-touch software package. This software allows developers to create their own applications with Flash, C/C++/C#, Java, Python, and other programming languages.

Snowflake includes these applications: Viewer: media viewer with support for image and video media types; Draw: basic drawing application; and 3D model viewer: .3ds and .obj file format support.

The MT table includes TouchEarth, Google Earth with a multitouch interface.