LG has launched a new plasma TV set that has one distinct difference  - it enables users to draw, sketch and write on it, using it almost as a digital whiteboard.

The company explained that the new Plasma Pentouch TV, which has a protective scratch-free glass screen that is harder than the average LCD or LED TV’s, offers all the advantages of a PC with internet access, while allowing viewers to control content directly on the screen using a special pen.

“Touch displays have become the norm in phones and tablets, but remain almost unheard of in TVs,” commented JM Lee, chief executive officer of LG Electronics South Africa. “The Plasma Pentouch TV brings all the excitement of a touch display, a computer and the internet to the world of TVs, with functions and programs that are great fun and educational,” he enthused. Lee added that the TV is particularly suited to families.

 

 

Features

By default, the apps available on the TV include a sketchbook for digital drawing, a photo editor, a family diary, a gallery for viewing photos and saved sketches, as well as direct access to the internet and office applications. A full virtual keyboard is also accessible for all the applications.

However, once connected to a PC or notebook, all the programs installed on it will be controllable on the TV as well. Additionally, if the PC is connected to a printer, users can print their Pentouch creations directly from the TV screen.

In order to interact with the screen using the pen, users need to activate the Pentouch mode with their remote control. This then enables users to access files such as PowerPoint and other content from their PC, and work on it directly on the TV.

The TV further supports simultaneous two-pen use, with each pen offering eight hours on a charge. The pen batteries can then be recharged through USB ports on the back of the TV unit.

To the point

In a bid to answer one of the main concerns about interacting so directly with a TV screen, that it may topple with too much pressure, LG reassured that the Plasma Pentouch TV employs a four-leg stand that has been specially designed to ensure stability.

The Plasma Pentouch TV will be available in two models: the premium 3D-enabled 60” PZ850 which comes with a RRP of R25 999, while the entry-level 50” PT490 has a RRP of R10 999. The former will come with two pens included, while the latter will only have one.

In recent news, LG also launched its new Care and Delight campaign, which is aimed at making service for its products more accessible, and also announced the availability of its ARX 9000ARV receiver locally.