technical report on touchscreen

7/27/2019 Technical Report on touchscreen

1/19

1. INTRODUCTION TO TOUCH SCREENS

A touch screen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location

of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the

display of the device by a finger or hand. The ability to interact physically with what

is shown on a display (a form of "direct manipulation") typically indicates the

presence of a touch screen.Touch screens can also sense other passive objects, suchas a stylus. Touch screen is common in devices such as all-in-one computers, tablet

computers, and smart phones.

The touch screen has two main attributes:

1. It enables one to interact with what is displayed directly on the screen, where it is

displayed, rather than indirectly with a mouse or touchpad.2. It lets one do so without requiring any intermediate device, again, such as a stylus

that needs to be held in the hand.

Microsoft says this touch screen computer will allow people to interact with digital

content the same way they have interacted with everyday items such as photos,

paintbrushes and music their entire life: with hands, with gestures and by putting real-

world objects on the surface.

Why touch Screen Technology?

1. Touch screens enable people to use computers instantly, without any training

whatsoever.

2. Touch screens eliminate keyboards and mice, which many find intimidating and

cumbersome to use.

3. Touch screens provide fast access to any and all types of digital media, with no

text-bound interface getting in the way.

4. Touch screens ensure that no space - on the desktop or elsewhere - is wasted, as the

input device is completely integrated in to the monitors.

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylus_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-in-one_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylus_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-in-one_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_computer


2/19

2. TYPES OF TOUCH SCREEN

Different types of touch screens have different feature, characteristics and differences.

These differences are resulted in different qualities of touch screen; some are long life

others are sensitive while some others are economic.

2.1 Resistive touch screen

Resistive touch screens are touch-sensitivecomputer displays composed of two flexible

sheets coated with a resistive material and separated by an air gap or microdots. When

contact is made to the surface of the touch screen, the two sheets are pressed together. On

these two sheets there are horizontal and vertical lines that when pushed together, register

the precise location of the touch. Because the touch screen senses input from contact with

nearly any object (finger, stylus/pen, palm) resistive touch screens are a type of "passive"

technology.

For example, during operation of a four-wire touch screen, a uniform, unidirectional

voltage gradient is applied to the first sheet. When the two sheets are pressed together,

the second sheet measures the voltage as distance along the first sheet, providing the X

coordinate. When this contact coordinate has been acquired, the uniform voltage gradient

2
http://www.freewimaxinfo.com/touch-screen-types.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_displayhttp://www.freewimaxinfo.com/touch-screen-types.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_display


3/19

is applied to the second sheet to ascertain the Y coordinate. These operations occur

within a few milliseconds, registering the exact touch location as contact is made.

Resistive touch screens typically have high resolution (4096 x 4096 DPI or higher),

providing accurate touch control. Because the touch screen responds to pressure on itssurface, contact can be made with a finger or any other pointing device.

Advantages of Resistive Touch Screen

1. It has comparatively longer life.

2. It is used in many different ways.

3. It is a very common type of touch screen.

4. It is cheap and so approachable.

5. Due to their durability, they are widely used in commercial zone.

Disadvantages of Resistive Touch Screen

1. It emits less light as 75 % so fails to give sharp image.

2. Its appearance is bulky.

2.2 Capacitive Touch screen

3


4/19

A capacitive touch screen panel is one which consists of an insulatorsuch as glass, coated

with a transparent conductorsuch as indium tin oxide (ITO). As the human body is also

an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the

screen's electrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance. Different technologies

may be used to determine the location of the touch. The location is then sent to

the controllerfor processing. There are different types of capacitive touch screen:

Surface capacitance

In this basic technology, only one side of the insulator is coated with a conductive layer.

A small voltage is applied to the layer, resulting in a uniform electrostatic field. When

a conductor, such as a human finger, touches the uncoated surface, a capacitoris

dynamically formed. The sensor's controllercan determine the location of the touch

indirectly from the change in the capacitance as measured from the four corners of the

panel. As it has no moving parts, it is moderately durable but has limited resolution, is

prone to false signals from parasitic capacitive coupling, and needs calibration during

manufacture. It is therefore most often used in simple applications such as industrial

controls.

Projected capacitance

Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology is a capacitive technology which permits

more accurate and flexible operation, by etching the conductive layer. An X-Y grid is

formed either by etching a single layer to form a grid pattern ofelectrodes, or by etching

two separate, perpendicular layers of conductive material with parallel lines or tracks to

form the grid (comparable to thepixel grid found in many LCD displays). The greater

resolution of PCT allows operation without direct contact, such that the conducting layers

can be coated with further protective insulating layers, and operate even under screen

protectors, or behind weather and vandal-proof glass. Due to the top layer of a PCT being

glass, PCT is a more robust solution versus resistive touch technology. Depending on the

implementation, an active or passive stylus can be used instead of or in addition to a

finger. This is common withpoint of sale devices that require signature capture. Gloved

fingers may or may not be sensed, depending on the implementation and gain settings.

4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulator_(electrical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium_tin_oxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_couplinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etching_(microfabrication)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_displayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_salehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulator_(electrical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indium_tin_oxidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_couplinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etching_(microfabrication)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_displayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale


5/19

Conductive smudges and similar interference on the panel surface can interfere with the

performance. Such conductive smudges come mostly from sticky or sweaty finger tips,

especially in high humidity environments. Collected dust, which adheres to the screen

due to the moisture from fingertips can also be a problem.

There are two types of PCT:

Self Capacitance

Mutual Capacitance.

Mutual capacitance

In mutual capacitive sensors, there is a capacitorat every intersection of each row and

each column. A 16-by-14 array, for example, would have 224 independent capacitors.A voltage is applied to the rows or columns. Bringing a finger or conductive stylus close

to the surface of the sensor changes the local electrostatic field which reduces the mutual

capacitance. The capacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be

measured to accurately determine the touch location by measuring the voltage in the

other axis. Mutual capacitance allows multi-touch operation where multiple fingers,

palms or stylus can be accurately tracked at the same time.

Self-capacitance

Self-capacitance sensors can have the same X-Y grid as mutual capacitance sensors, but

the columns and rows operate independently. With self-capacitance, the capacitive load

of a finger is measured on each column or row electrode by a current meter. This method

produces a stronger signal than mutual capacitance, but it is unable to resolve accurately

more than one finger, which results in "ghosting", or misplaced location sensing.

Advantages of Capacitive Touch Screen

It emits 90% of light ray to make screen clear.

It has long life because of the resistivity

Disadvantages of Capacitive Touch Screen

5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-touch


6/19

They are sensitive only for the fingers touch no other object like stylus can be

sensed.

2.3 Surface Acoustic Wave Touch Screen

This is the more advanced types of touch screen. They are fast and have sharp image. In

this touch screen three sheets are used to perform the action;

Sending transducer

Receiving transducer

Reflectors layer

Both transducers are used in making of screen and these transducers enable the screen to

sense the outer touch and reflectors help in giving the proper response. This whole

mechanism works through the wave transmission. When we touch the screen a wave

produced and transfer from one transducer to the receiver where reflectors get the

message. This wave travels back to the specific place and perform the action.

Advantages of surface acoustic wave touch screen

Because of this wave mechanism versatile action can be done.

6


7/19

Being no electric field created, it emits 100% light resultantly quality image

received.

Disadvantages of surface acoustic wave touch screen

They tend to have very short life.

They are expensive so out of reach of a common man.

They can be easily damaged

2.4 Other technologies:

Infrared Touch Screen

An infrared touchscreen uses an array of X-Y infrared LED andphoto detectorpairs

around the edges of the screen to detect a disruption in the pattern of LED beams. These

LED beams cross each other in vertical and horizontal patterns. This helps the sensors

pick up the exact location of the touch. A major benefit of such a system is that it can

detect essentially any input including a finger, gloved finger, stylus or pen. It is generally

used in outdoor applications and point of sale systems which can't rely on

a conductor(such as a bare finger) to activate the touchscreen. Unlike capacitive

touchscreens, infrared touchscreens do not require any patterning on the glass which

increases durability and optical clarity of the overall system.

Optical imaging

This is a relatively modern development in touchscreen technology, in which two or more

image sensors are placed around the edges (mostly the corners) of the screen. Infrared

back lights are placed in the camera's field of view on the other side of the screen. A

touch shows up as a shadow and each pair of cameras can then be pinpointed to locate the

touch or even measure the size of the touching object (see visual hull). This technology is

growing in popularity, due to its scalability, versatility, and affordability, especially for

larger units.

7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infraredhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_salehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_sensinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_sensinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_hull#In_two_dimensionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infraredhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photodetectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_salehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_sensinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitive_sensinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_hull#In_two_dimensions


8/19

Dispersive signal technology

Introduced in 2002 by 3M, this system uses sensors to detect the mechanical energy in

the glass that occurs due to a touch. Complex algorithms then interpret this information

and provide the actual location of the touch. The technology claims to be unaffected by

dust and other outside elements, including scratches. Since there is no need for additional

elements on screen, it also claims to provide excellent optical clarity. Also, since

mechanical vibrations are used to detect a touch event, any object can be used to generate

these events, including fingers and stylus. A downside is that after the initial touch the

system cannot detect a motionless finger.

Acoustic pulse recognition

This system, introduced by Tyco International's Elo division in 2006,

usespiezoelectric transducers located at various positions around the screen to turn the

mechanical energy of a touch (vibration) into an electronic signal. The screen hardware

then uses an algorithm to determine the location of the touch based on the transducer

signals. The touchscreen itself is made of ordinary glass, giving it good durability and

optical clarity. It is usually able to function with scratches and dust on the screen with

good accuracy. The technology is also well suited to displays that are physically larger.As with the Dispersive Signal Technology system, after the initial touch, a motionless

finger cannot be detected. However, for the same reason, the touch recognition is not

disrupted by any resting objects.

Strain-gauge Touch Screen

The Strain-gauge Touch Screen have pressure sensors that measure at each corner the

stresses that a touch to the screen produces. The ratio of the four readings indicates the

touch point coordinates. The platform touch screen doesnt use a screen. Instead, the

monitor or display device rests on a platform with force measurement sensors at the

corners of the base. A touch to the display device translates to forces at the platforms

base corners. The platforms controller performs the vector calculations that determine

the touch point from the four force measurements through rigid body mechanics. The

controller tracks out static forces, such as gravity, and repetitive forces, such as vibration.

8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3Mhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyco_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3Mhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_energyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyco_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_effect


9/19

This type also has no glass panel construction that may reduce visibility of the display.

The platform type is a good concept in theory because there is no integration of touch

components into the display. You need only set the display on the touch base, calibrate

and go. Practically, problems occur when the display is moved only a very small amount

on the platform base or if even the display is tipped up or down for different heights of

viewing. This throws off the base vector values as initially calibrated and therefore the

calibration. The life span is excellent - infinity.

3. ANATOMY OF TOUCH SCREEN

Knowing what you need is an important first step in designing a touchscreen product.

Vendors in the touchscreen supply chain frequently offer different pieces of the puzzle,

often times combining several to create a value chain for the end customer. Figureshowsa blowup of the touchscreen ecosystem. This ecosystem is the same whether it is in the

latest Notebook PC or the latest touch-enabled mobile phone.

There key elements of touch screen technology are:

1.Front panel or bezel: The front panel or bezel is the outermost skin of the end product.

In some products, this bezel will encompass a protective clear overlay to keep weather

and moisture out of the system, and to resist scratching and vandalism to the underlying

9


10/19

sensor technology (see item 3 below). Other times, the outmost bezel simply covers the

edges of the underlying touch sensor; in this case, it is purely decorative.

2. Touch controller: The touch-controller is generally a small microcontroller-based IC

that sits between the touch sensor and the embedded system controller. This IC can either

be located on a controller board inside the system or it can be located on a flexible

printed circuit (FPC) affixed to the glass touch sensor. This touch controller takes

information from the touch sensor and translates it into information that the PC or

embedded system controller can understand. The controller is usually installed inside the

monitor for integrated monitors or it is housed in a plastic case for external touch add-

ons/ overlays. The controller determines what type of interface/ connection you will need

on the PC. Integrated touch monitors will have an extra cable connection on the back for

the touch screen. Controllers are available that can connect to a Serial/COM port (PC) or

to a USB port (PC or Macintosh). Specialized controllers are also available that work

with DVD players and other devices.

3. Touch sensor: A touchscreen "sensor" is a clear glass panel with a touch-responsive

surface. This sensor is placed over an LCD so that the touch area of the panel covers the

viewable area of the video screen. There are many different touch-sensor technologies on

the market today, each using a different method to detect touch input. Fundamentally,

these technologies all use an electrical current running through the panel that, when

touched, causes a voltage or signal change. This voltage change is sensed by the touch

controller to determine the location of the touch on the screen.

4.Liquid crystal display: Most touchscreen systems work over traditional LCDs. LCDs

for a touch-enabled product should be chosen for the same reasons they would in a

traditional system: resolution, clarity, refresh speed, and cost. One major consideration

for a touchscreen, however, is the level of electrical emission. Because the technology in

the touch sensor is based on small electrical changes when the panel is touched, an LCD

that emits a lot of electrical noise can be difficult to design around. Touch sensor vendors

should be consulted before choosing an LCD for a touchscreen system.

10


11/19

5. System software: Touchscreen driver software can be either shipped from the factory

(within the embedded OS of a cell phone) or offered as add-on software (like adding a

touchscreen to a traditional PC). This software allows the touchscreen and system

controller to work together and tells the product's operating system how to interpret the

touch-event information that is sent from the controller. In a PC-style application, most

touchscreen drivers work like a PC mouse. This makes touching the screen similar to

clicking the mouse at the same location on the screen. In embedded systems, the

embedded controller driver must compare the information presented on the screen to the

location of the received touch.

4. WORKING OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY

Let's look inside the two most common touchscreen technologies.

The most widely used touchscreen technology is resistive. Most people have used one of

these resistive touchscreens already, in the ATM at the bank, in the credit card checkout

in most stores, or even for entering an order in a restaurant. Projective-capacitance

touchscreens, on the other hand, are not as broadly available yet, but are gaining market

momentum. Many cellphones and portable music players are beginning to come to

market with projective-capacitance interfaces. Both resistive and capacitive technologies

have a strong electrical component, both use ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide, a clear conductor),

and both will be around for a long time to come.

A resistive touchscreen (Figure1, left side) consists of a flexible top layer, then a layer of

ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide), an air gap and then another layer of ITO. The panel has 4 wires

attached to the ITO layers: one on the left and right sides of the 'X' layer, and one on the

top and bottom sides of the 'Y' layer.

11


12/19

Figure1. Stackup layers for "resistive" (left) and "capacitive" (right) screens

A touch is detected when the flexible top layer is pressed down to contact the lower layer.

The location of a touch is measured in two steps: First, the 'X right' is driven to a known

voltage, and the 'X left' is driven to ground and the voltage is read from a Y sensor. This

provides the X coordinate. This process is repeated for the other axis to determine the

exact finger position.

Conversely, projected-capacitive touchscreens have no moving parts. The only thing

between the LCD and the user is ITO and glass, which have near 100% optical clarity.

The projected-capacitance sensing hardware consists of a glass top layer (Figure1, right

side), followed by an array of X sensors, an insulating layer, then an array of Y sensors

on a glass substrate. The panel will have a wire for each X and Y sensor, so a 5 x 6 panel

will have 11 connections (Figure2), while a 10 x 14 panel will have 24 sensor

connections.

12


13/19

Figure2. Signal intensity at rows and columns denote location of touch

As a finger or other conductive object approaches the screen, it creates a capacitor

between the sensors and the finger. This capacitor is small relative to the others in the

system (about 0.5 pF out of 20 pF), but it is readily measured. One common measuring

technique known as Capacitive Sensing using a Sigma-Delta Modulator (CSD) involves

rapidly charging the capacitor and measuring the discharge time through a bleed resistor.

A projected capacitive sensor array is designed so that a finger will interact with more

than one X sensor and more than one Y sensor at a time (See Figure 3). This enables

software to accurately determine finger position to a very fine degree through

interpolation. For example, if sensors 1, 2 and 3 see signals of 3, 10, and 7, the center of

the finger is at:

[(1 3) + (2 10) + (7 3)]/(3 + 10 + 7) = 2.2

Since projected-capacitive panels have multiple sensors, they can detect multiple fingers

simultaneously, which is impossible with other technologies. In fact, projective

capacitance has been shown to detect up to ten fingers at the same time. This enables

exciting new applications based on multiple finger presses, including multiplayer gaming

on handheld electronics or playing a touchscreen piano.

13
http://i.cmpnet.com/planetanalog/2009/06/C0411-Figure3.gif


14/19

5. COMPARING TOUCH TECHNOLOGY

4-Wire Resistive Touch screens

4-Wire Resistive touch technology consists of a glass or acrylic panel that is coated with

electrically conductive and resistive layers. The thin layers are separated by invisible

separator dots. When operating, an electrical current moves through the screen. When

pressure is applied to the screen the layers are pressed together, causing a change in the

electrical current and a touch event to be registered.

4-Wire Resistive type touch screens are generally the most affordable. Although clarity is

less than with other touch screen types, resistive screens are very durable and can be used

in a variety of environments. This type of screen is recommended for individual, home,

school, or office use, or less demanding point-of-sale systems, restaurant systems, etc.

5-Wire Resistive Touch screens

5-Wire Resistive touch technology consists of a glass or acrylic panel that is coated with

electrically conductive and resistive layers. The thin layers are separated by invisible

separator dots. When operating, an electrical current moves through the screen. When

pressure is applied to the screen the layers are pressed together, causing a change in the

electrical current and a touch event to be registered.

5-Wire Resistive type touch screens are generally more durable than the similar 4-Wire

Resistive type. Although clarity is less than with other touch screen types, resistive

screens are very durable and can be used in a variety of environments. This type of screen

is recommended for demanding point-of-sale systems, restaurant systems, industrial

controls, and other workplace applications.

8-wire resistive technology

Resistive touch screen technology exists in 4-wire, 5- wire, or 8-wire forms. Fast point

LCD touch screens specifically employ 8-wire resistive technology because of its

benefits over its counter parts. whereas 8-wire fast point touch screens are available in all

sizes , 4-wire resistive technology is restricted to small flat panels (


15/19

Newton rings additionally, 8-wire resistive touch screens are not susceptible to problems

caused by high level short-term variances and axis linearity and drifts.

Pen Touch Capacitive Touch screens

The Pen Touch Capacitive screen is a durable Capacitive type touch screen with an

attached pen stylus. The Pen Touch screen can be set to respond to finger input only, pen

input only, or both. A capacitive touch screen consists of a glass panel with a capacitive

(charge storing) material coating its surface. Circuits located at corners of the screen

measure the capacitance of a person touching the overlay. Frequency changes are

measured to determine the X and Y coordinates of the touch event. Capacitive type touch

screens are very durable, and have a high clarity. They are used in a wide range of

applications, from restaurant and POS use to industrial controls and information kiosks.

15


16/19

6. USES OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY

The touch screen is one of the simplest PC interfaces to use, making it the interface of

choice for a large number of applications. Following are uses of touch screen.

1) Public Information Displays

Tourism displays, trade show displays, Information kiosks and other electronic displays

are used by large number of people that have little or no computing experience. The

touch screen interface is easier to use than other input devices especially for novice users.

A touch screen is useful to make your information more easily accessible by allowing

users to navigate your presentation by simply touching the display screen.

2) Retail and Restaurant Systems

In retail or restaurant environment, touch screen systems are easy to use so employees

can get work done faster and also training time can be reduced for new employees. As

input is present right on the screen, valuable counter space can be saved. Touch screens

can be used in order entry stations, cash registers, seating, reservation systems and more.

3) Control and Automation Systems

The touch screen device is useful in systems ranging from industrial process control to

home automation. Valuable workspace can be saved by integrating the input device with

the display. In real-time by simply touching the screen and with a graphical interface,

operators can monitor and control complex operations.

4) Computer Based Training

The touch screen interface is more user-friendly than other input devices so overall

training time for computer novices and therefore training expense can be reduced. It can

also more useful to make learning more fun and interactive, which can lead to a more

beneficial training experience for both students and educators.

16


17/19

5) Assistive Technology

The touch screen interface is very useful for those having difficulty using other input

devices such as a mouse or keyboard. When touch screen used with software such as on-

screen keyboards or other assistive technology, they can help make computing resources

more available to people that have difficulty using computers.

6) And many more uses

The touch screen interface is being used in a wide variety of applications to improve

human computer interaction. Other applications include digital jukeboxes, computerized

gaming, student registration systems, multimedia software, financial and scientific

applications, and more.

7. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

In order to make a profit,businesses must learn how to reduce costs while increasing

revenue. By investing in computertechnology, manybusiness owners are able to do just

that, while increasing the quality of customer service. Innovations in computer

technology have allowed business owners access to touch-screen interfaces, adding many

advantages to the way they serve customers, as well as expanding their potential

customer base.

Saves Time- Several businesses use touch-screen technology to accelerate their speed of

service, allowing customers to serve themselves at touch-screen kiosks. Customers use

these self-serve kiosks for simple services, such as purchasing movie tickets, paying bills

or accessing account information quickly. As a result, businesses can offer shorter lines

and reduced wait times for other customers, while reducing the need to hire, train and payemployees.

Improves Accessibility- Impaired individuals can use touch-screen technology,

especially those who find using a mouse or keyboard difficult. For example, touch

screens often organize information in a clear and simplified way, so visually-impaired

17
http://www.ehow.com/business/http://www.ehow.com/computers/http://www.ehow.com/business/http://www.ehow.com/business/http://www.ehow.com/computers/http://www.ehow.com/business/


18/19

individuals can operate them. Similarly, disabled patrons who have difficulty speaking or

standing in long lines can take advantage of touch-screen technology to access

information easily and at their own pace. In addition, touch-screen interfaces are often so

easy to use that even people with little or no experience using computers can operate one

with minimal or no supervision.

Saves Money- Business owners who utilize touch-screen kiosks save money because

they don't have to hire, train and pay as many employees; the computer will do the same

job. For example, grocery stores that install self-serve cashier stations allow customers to

scan and pay for goods without the intervention of an actual sales person. In

environments where hiring cashiers is essential, they perform their jobs with increased

accuracy and speed because touch-screen technology simplifies operations so tasks are

completed smoothly. For example, cashiers who use touch-screen technology to handle

sales, returns and refunds have fewer chances to make mistakes while decreasing each

customer's checkout time. By increasing the speed and accuracy of each transaction, the

business can handle more customers and sales, increasing profit.

Durable and Sanitary- Restaurants, health care clinics and hospitals can take advantage

of touch-screen technology, especially since screens clean easily. Typically, screens are

constructed out of glass, making touch-screen technology a durable and easy-to-clean

interface in environments where cleanliness is important.

Disadvantages

The user must sit within arms reach of the display

Possible arm fatigue

Difficult to select small items

Possible retrofit problem (the touch screen must be fitted on the screen)

18


19/19

8. CONCLUSION

Though the touch screen technology contains some limitations its very user friendly,

fast, accurate, easy for the novices & fun to operate. It has been widely accepted. And

now by just modifying a little it can replace the mouse and key board completely in near

future.

9. REFRENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen

http://www.eetimes.com/design/analog-design/4010387/Touchscreens-101-

Understanding-touchscreen-technology-and-design/

www.touchscreen.com

http://computer.howstuffworks.com

19
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreenhttp://www.eetimes.com/design/analog-design/4010387/Touchscreens-101-Understanding-touchscreen-technology-and-design/http://www.eetimes.com/design/analog-design/4010387/Touchscreens-101-Understanding-touchscreen-technology-and-design/http://www.touchscreen.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreenhttp://www.eetimes.com/design/analog-design/4010387/Touchscreens-101-Understanding-touchscreen-technology-and-design/http://www.eetimes.com/design/analog-design/4010387/Touchscreens-101-Understanding-touchscreen-technology-and-design/http://www.touchscreen.com/

technical report on touchscreen

Documents