TouchGFX – pleasant user interfaces in embedded electronics

Every day we encounter a large number of monitors, displays and other graphical user interfaces wherever we go. The introduction of smartphones in recent years has changed our expectations to the user interfaces. Many people expect to encounter similar modern touch functions as on a smartphone when using a scale for fruit in the supermarket, a petrol pump at the tank, or the control panel for heating in their homes.

Not only smartphones ought to be user-friendly

Along with Mjølner Informatics in Aarhus has EKTOS developed a demo board to the TouchGFX. In brief, the demo board and software make it possible to achieve the same pleasant graphics and contemporary touch features for industrial products as we experience in high-end consumer products – that is with much lower cost than existing tools on the market. EKTOS has created the underlying development platform, while Mjølner Informatics has been responsible for the graphic interface concept. The cooperation has resulted in a fully fledged solution that can be used for a very wide range of products worldwide.

Complete development of display at very competitive costs

“We have been extremely happy with EKTOS, which is our first implementation partner. To be specific, EKTOS has already created two powerful hardware platforms for TouchGFX-based display solutions. These are based on the NXP and Freescale microcontrollers. This has meant that we have won complete display development projects”, says business development manager Jørgen Mygind from Draupner Graphics, which is a sister company of Mjølner Informatics that handles TouchGFX. “We both see the clear benefits of cooperation. EKTOS has in my opinion a perfect setup with project managers in Denmark and skilled software developers in Ukraine. By joint efforts, we now develop highly competitive embedded display solutions that we expect much of on the global market.”

EKTOS has in my opinion a perfect setup with project managers in Denmark and skilled software developers in Ukraine. By joint efforts, we now develop highly competitive embedded display solutions that we expect much of on the global market.” Jørgen Mygind from Draupner Graphics

The user experience is central

According to Jørgen Mygind keeping the user experience in focus has been central to the development process: “We all want to have a superior user experience. The user experience is directly linked to our experience of quality.

It should be easy, convenient, and intuitive to use the product and it must support the entire experience. The trick is to ensure this experience of quality even when the electronic solutions behind the screen are not very costly, yet as effective”, says Jørgen Mygind.

TouchGFX can withstand high loads, high temperatures, high vibration, various noise sources, and it has a long battery life. There are virtually no limits to the application possibilities: agricultural machinery, controllers for furnaces, scales in retail stores, and control panels for sick beds are just a few examples of where the TouchGFX is being implemented.

There are virtually no limits to the application possibilities: agricultural machinery, controllers for furnaces, scales in retail stores, and control panels for sick beds are just a few examples of where the TouchGFX is being implemented.