EDiT, the interactive table i’ve been engineering for InformaSistemi, has been highlighted as one of the innovations of Smau 2009.
Can we still talk about innovations when all the HCI world is turning its eyes towards the “touch”.

In my opinion: yes. Touch technologies will become mainstream in 2010/2011, and there are a lot of them, while operating systems are updating their widgets accordingly. However this does not mean that all applications we use today will be magically improved by enabling multiple touches.
My forecast is, instead, an initial frenzy in creating new apps (see the iPhone experience) where the quantity/quality ratio will also become a factor of criticism towards the real need for the multitouch applications.

Multi-touch is cool ok, but multi-user is the real change.

EDiT has been designed from the ground up with this idea in mind, so it still deserves the “innovative” adjective (IMHO of course).

We are working closely with Teddy italian fashion company in the context of the recent Terranova brand restyling.
For Terranova, the designers decided to create a new retail experience based on digital projection and interactive surfaces. The focus is always on the product, so all the “cosmetic” elements should have an orientating goal towards the merchandise, this is the rule in the retail space.
We realized for them a project using multiple digital projections with custom image warping on volumes, using two Façade systems both at the entrance (keywords: stunning, catchy, inviting) and at the very end of the shop (keywords: element of continuity, ambiance).
The interactive projection is using a TouchMyBrand system where the movements of the sales person behind the counter have a “fragmenting” effect on the digital projection behind her. So, users experience interactivity not on themselves, but on some other human being (let’s call it the “zoo” effect?).
The whole experience is well balanced, and the goal of the place is maintained.
As always the motto is: “follow the rules of nature”.  [video]