Multimedia, multiuser system and associated methods

1. A multiuser, multi-interface computing system for use with at least two users, the system comprising:

a computer system;

at least two separate displays; and

a substrate including a first surface and a second surface, wherein:

the substrate includes at least two touch sensitive regions adjacent at least one of the first and second surfaces, each touch sensitive region including a touch sensitive surface that covers at least a portion of at least one display of the at least two separate displays and an individual interface for selecting applications,

the touch sensitive surface is to serve as the primary input to the computer system,

the substrate has transparent portions at least within the touch sensitive regions,

the at least two users can use the touch sensitive regions simultaneously to select individual applications in the at least two separate displays,

each display includes at least one sub-screen,

when a single sub-screen is in a display, that display is to enter a sleep mode after a predetermined period of time of inactivity therein and to bring up a navigational menu in response to a touch in that display, and

when there is more than one sub-screen in a display, each sub-screen is to enter a sleep mode after a predetermined period of time of inactivity in that sub-screen, and to bring up a navigational menu in response to a touch in that sub-screen, the at least two users can use the touch sensitive surface simultaneously in corresponding sub-screens of that display to select individual applications on that display.

2. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the computer system is a single computer.

3. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the substrate is a top surface that forms a top surface of a table.

4. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two touch sensitive regions covers a different display of the at least two separate displays.

5. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising opaque material between a top surface of the substrate and elements of the system other than a display region of the at least two separate displays.

6. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the opaque material is patterned on to a bottom surface of the substrate in order to block the view of elements of the computer system other than a display region of the at least two separate displays.

7. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the substrate includes a touch sensitive sensor between a bottom surface of the transparent portions of the substrate and a corresponding display of the at least two separate displays, the touch sensitive sensor being in communication with the computer system and the touch sensitive sensor to detect gestures made on or near the top surface of the substrate.

8. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive regions are clearly marked with pre-determined boundaries and further includes at least one region between the at least two touch sensitive regions which is not sensitive to touch or gestures.

9. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each touch sensitive surface covers a larger region than that occupied on the substrate by a display region of the corresponding display.

10. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each touch sensitive region has a separate controller, with both controllers connected to the computer system, the computer system to operate in extended desktop mode to drive the at least two displays, so that different images can be displayed on the at least two displays and the computer system and controllers further configured so that the computer system is able to distinguish touches in a first touch sensitive region from those in a second touch sensitive region.

11. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two touch sensitive regions form a single touch sensitive region.

12. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a secondary screen, separate from the substrate, the secondary screen being viewable by users adjacent the substrate, wherein the secondary screen is driven by the computer system.

13. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the computer system is to detect touches by users on at least two touch sensitive regions, combine the information associated with touches, and to display information on the secondary screen.

14. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein touches represent votes.

15. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the votes are for particular media files, the secondary screen displaying a most voted for media file on the secondary screen.

16. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein touches are associated with user designed elements that are simultaneously displayed on the secondary screen.

17. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive regions are clearly marked with pre-determined boundaries.

18. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separate displays are clearly marked with pre-determined boundaries.

19. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the touch to bring up the navigational menu is a single touch.

20. The multiuser, multi-interface computing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sub-screens are coextensive with the touch sensitive region.