Zytronic Share Discussion Threads

[buywell3] 27/7/2020 08:07

============ A TOUCHLESS SCREEN that utilizes AI ============


University of Cambridge engineers have created what they believe is the first “no-touch touchscreen”.

The creation will use artificial intelligence to tell where someone is pointing as cars rely less on switches and buttons, with controls increasingly on a central screen.

This is where the future lies IMO ---- the touch screen will become a dinosaur

Then also --

There are other applications including facial recognition coupled with voice and AI
which are working in many places already.

dyor

[netcurtains] 27/7/2020 07:45

gambling machines for social and medical reasons are probably realistically dead (or should be). So what I would like to know is what percentage of Zytronic's turnover is not related to gambling screens?

Eg we've read about: bike hire screens, ATMS, ordering terminals in retail outlets, car hire, car charging points etc etc - do these screens MINUS gambling screens amount to a viable business going forward?

One area NOT mentioned in "sectors" is "gaming consoles" - I would have thought touch screens could be a massive hit with gamers - the games console market possibly could be the future for this company.

[1pencil] 25/7/2020 17:48

(679)

There's no doubt they will take a hit H2 due to Covid, but how much of that is already on the price?

Overheads are quite low with no debt and ownership of manufacturing premises, fixed assets of 6m GBP plus cash 12.4mGBP is around the current market cap.

Depends on how you read it I guess, but personally see it as a positive that the lights are still on.

From the Chairman's statement in May.

"However, we were expecting an upturn as the year progressed, and in February and March the order book and sales improved considerably and until the impact of COVID-19, we were well on track for a second half at significantly improved levels."

[masurenguy] 25/7/2020 14:26

Zytronic@Zytronic
24 Jul
#COVID-19 will impact our day-to-day lives for months ahead. We continue to operate our UK #touchscreen manufacturing at a reduced level – for the safety of our employees and the continuity of our customers’ businesses.

[netcurtains] 25/7/2020 08:17

bookbroker: Active R&D department?
Perhaps read this article bb, it will ease your mind on that score:


(note in this article from June it states the touch screens work even if you're wearing gloves)
"
installed next to a rack of bikes, allowing users to book rentals, specify their bike preferences and validate their identity via the touch screen. As well as providing unrivalled robustness, projected capacitive touch sensors of the appropriate technology may be operated with gloved fingers.
"

You cant say fairer than that gov'nor.

[bookbroker] 25/7/2020 08:12

I hope this company has an active R&D.department, I don’t see their products as obsolete, you talk of AI buywell, I don’t doubt you but touchscreen is still going too play a large part in the evolution of technology, it is where that Zytronic have to discover. Casinos are not going away, even if coronavirus languishes, just make it mandatory for face masks to be worn. The whole process of personal and preventative measures are so flawed it has become ridiculous. Still not met anyone who has actually had it or heard of anyone who died, more like they died of complications arising from it, in which case their chances succombing to heat exhaustion were likely quite high. That big oaf of a PM still harking on about obesity, he looks like he replaced all that weight he lost a few months back.

[netcurtains] 25/7/2020 08:06

The MACRO situation causes the falls.
The rises are caused by "not as bad as I thought" trading updates.

If NETNET clothing retailers can rise 100% on trading updates then its quite possible (not saying probably - lots of risks here) touch screen manufacturers will rise too. Most people (including me) use ATM machines and other touch devices.

As I said loads of peoples touch fruit in the shops and we all eat those, we dont eat touch screens. 100000000 times risker (I would have thought) eating a supermarket apple then using an ATM (and I do both quite happily).

[buywell3] 24/7/2020 23:07

What about the MACRO situation we are now at ??

[netcurtains] 24/7/2020 17:09

AI? lol (try using (SHOUTING) Bixby on Samsung phones: "GIVE ME £100" - the whole high street will hear you) )...
Fingers are actually designed to touch things - heavens above - who would have thought...

This actually looks a reasonable company.

Is it a NETNET (answer to this sum must be greater than 1)::
(a.total_current_assets-a.total_liabilities) / (b.market_capitalisation*1000)

Total Current Assets: 20,304
Total Liabilities 2,193
Market Capitalisation 17m

(20304 - 2193 )/ 17000 = 1.065

so yes it is a NETNET.
On top of this NAV per share is about 150

I'm in.
Cheers Net.

[bookbroker] 23/7/2020 15:45

And no human race, heading for extinction!

[buywell3] 23/7/2020 15:17

ATM's Are Transitional Market's

Transitioning towards extinction

AI is the future

Technology without people not turning up for work or going sick , robotics and machine technology that learn on the job 24/7

No unions
No sickness benefits

The service industry , cars/transport and retail are all seeing big AI inroads IMO
first , but all others will and are adopting AI as of now.

dyor

[1pencil] 23/7/2020 14:55

Wiping down a screen is fairly straightforward, it's the separate buttons and other crevices which are tricky.

Most of the ATM's that I have used are not touch screen with buttons to one side.

Zytronic have the technical ability to add this functionality into their screens but as yet most seem to be standalone, perhaps there is a security aspect that is not apparent?

The move yesterday by supermarket chain Tesco sounds practical, train existing staff to wipe down high traffic surfaces at specified intervals.

Everyone will be looking to make cost savings where possible.

The following article (dated June 2020) relates to Covid together with other emerging technologies such as speech recognition.

[masurenguy] 23/7/2020 12:55

Although a good potenial value play this still remains on my watchlist since the post coronavirus effect could still impact touch screen sales to some degree. This could apply where they are not sited to be easily and regularly cleaned by an operator, as for example ATM's are inside a bank but not outside. Other technologies could also make some inroads into their businee too. See below.

Cambridge University and Jaguar Land Rover develop touchless screens
The Times: 23 July 2020

University of Cambridge engineers have created what they believe is the first “no-touch touchscreen”. The creation will use artificial intelligence to tell where someone is pointing as cars rely less on switches and buttons, with controls increasingly on a central screen.

The group worked with Jaguar Land Rover, which will begin to use the technology in its vehicles. The patented technology behind the touchscreen is called “predictive touch” and incorporates several factors to ensure the car knows where a person is pointing without actually touching the screen. This includes gesture and eye-tracking devices, environmental conditions, the design of the screen and the driver’s habits to determine what button the user intends to select in real time.

The team believes the technology could also be replicated in other areas such as train-ticket kiosks, ATMs and self-service checkout tills to reduce the risk of touching screens in a post-pandemic world.

Complete article:

[bookbroker] 22/7/2020 17:27

And £6mln fixed assets!

[masurenguy] 22/7/2020 15:42

Well two-thirds of the market cap was cash at the end of March so the actual EV was just £6m.

[bookbroker] 22/7/2020 10:17

This is trading well below book value as a result, when it hit lows back in 2003 it was a company with very few reserves, so it is case of keeping the hatches battened down.

[crystball] 22/7/2020 08:13

Good to see this up to date article and not something old that has been recycled!

[1pencil] 21/7/2020 14:41

Another growing market?

"As these publicly used charging networks expand, network operators will need kiosks to include point-of-sale payment devices in order to begin charging for the service. These must incorporate user interfaces that are robust enough to work in all weather conditions, 24/7 and all year round.

In addition to proven reliability, as with any outdoor, unattended self-service kiosk, the interactive display must be sunlight readable and vandal resistant."

[football] 17/7/2020 16:40

just hope the share price stays low for a few more weeks


sorry longs

[zeit1] 17/7/2020 16:29

Although there may be fears about touching public touchscreens due to Covid19 , this problem can easily be eliminated with anti-viral and
anti-bacterial coatings, many of which already exist and more are actively being developed.
hxxps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005532/en/Antimicrobial-Coatings-Rising-Demand-due-COVID-19--
hxxps://kastus.com/touchscreenprotectors/
hxxps://www.selenbiochemical.com/.
hxxps://www.glassonweb.com/news/anti-covid-glass-soon-market

Due to the sensing element being protected behind thick glass, Zytronic touchscreens can be washed down with disinfectant, operated with gloves or be
set to "proximity sensing" meaning that the surface does not even need to be touched by hand. Anti-viral and anti-bacterial coatings can be added
during manufacture or retro-fitted.
Touchscreen operation outdoors may also result in bacteria and viruses being killed by sunlight .
hxxps://www.coronavirustoday.com/natural-sunlight-rapidly-inactivates-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-surfaces

Zytronic has exclusive use of a unique patented manufacturing technology which is much simpler, more flexible and diverse in its potential
applications than its competitors, enabling it to rapidly exploit new markets or, if necessary, diversify into new "non-glass" fields such as touch
sensitive work surfaces, fabrics, or robotic sensors.


Zytronic has plenty of funds to invest in R&D, and there are already several patented improvements to this technology which, although not currently
being exploited by the company, could further improve its competitive edge . e.g.


When it comes to alternatives to touchscreen technology, there do not seem to be any that fulfil all the same functions. Facial recognition may be
able to identify the user but it is no use when selecting items from a complex list.

IMO there is a bright future for touchscreens and other spin-off touch sensing technologies, and Zytronic is in a great position to exploit it.

[1pencil] 15/7/2020 13:46

The recent budget reflects this:

Budget 2020: Government commits to protecting access to cash



Cash trends:

[aleman] 15/7/2020 12:45

Cash has been getting hoarded for years. It accelerated a bit for some currencies when rates hit zero but not so much in currencies that still pay interest.