Monday, November 26, 2007

Selecting a Touch Screen Technology

The touch screen technology is the in-thing for computers and mobiles that are made sleek and cozy for attraction. Touch-screen monitors have become more of a commonplace today and their price is too witnessing a sharp fall. The latest technology includes four main divisions: they are-- resistive, capacitive, SAW (surface acoustic wave) and infrared. Though each technology varies from one another the first two technologies are said to be the most popular ones as far as industrial applications are concerned.

If the application requires that operators have to wear gloves while using the touch screen, then resistive technology is generally recommend. Because of its sheer convenience, the touch screen technology solutions have been applied more and more to industrial applications and other products and services. Resistive technology offers excellent durability and resolution. It is used in a variety of applications.

Resistive touch screens deliver cost-effective and consistently durable performance in environments where equipment must stand up to contaminants and liquids, such as in restaurants, factories, and hospitals. Because of only 75% optical transparency there is a possibility of a sharp object damaging the resistive layers is likely. It forms as one of the greatest disadvantages.

A touch screen is a computer display screen that becomes sensitive to human touch. Thus, it allows a user to interact with the computer by touching pictures or words on the screen. Touch screen devices are used with information kiosks, computer-based training devices or systems designed to help individuals who cannot manage a mouse or keyboard. A touch screen kit consists of a touch screen panel, a controller, and a software driver.

Capacitive touch screen technology

A capacitive touch screen panel is coated with a material that stores electrical charges. When the panel is touched, a small amount of charge is drawn to the point of contact. Circuits located at each corner of the panel measure the charge and send the information to the controller for processing. Capacitive touch screen panels must be touched with a finger unlike resistive and surface wave panels that can use fingers. Capacitive touch screens are not affected by outside elements and have high clarity.

Among this method’s advantages the foremost one is that it transmits almost 90% per cent of the light from the screen. The superior efficiency gives capacitive better than resistive technology.

The other two types are SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) and infrared. These two are relatively considered of less importance than the above two.

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