In addition to showcasing the latest and greatest gizmos and gadgets set to hit big-box retailers in the coming months, the Consumer Electronics Show is a place where companies show off their bleeding-edge innovations and conceptual flights of fancy, no matter how extravagant, impractical, or far out of the reach of actual consumers they might be.

　　One such device making its debut at this year's show is Philips' Entertaible, a touch-screen gaming system in a tabletop. Essentially a 30-inch horizontal touch-screen LCD monitor, the Entertaible uses a series of infrared LEDs and photodiodes set around the edge of the screen and can simultaneously detect "dozens of objects."

　　According to Philips, the Entertaible was devised as a way to combine aspects of traditional board games (the social experience, tangible pieces moving around a board, and dice) with the benefits of video games (dynamic environments, ability to play many different games on one system, and a more lively audiovisual experience).

　　"Entertaible will host electronics games that promote invaluable social interaction within groups and families," said Gerard Hollemans of Philips Research, who led the team responsible for the Entertaible. "This contrasts completely to the solitary, isolated environment encouraged by some contemporary console-based electronic games."

　　While the family might be Hollemans' target market for the device, Philips has suggested that it could be used for business or educational purposes, as an interactive desk where students or colleagues could work together on a project.