Touch Screen Technology has been slowly becoming more main-stream with the roll out of several new smart phones and computer monitors. No mouse is required, no trackball, and no arrow buttons either. With the touch of your finger, you can launch applications, make a phone call, draw a picture, and more! It makes becoming mobile even easier, plus when it comes to smart phones, the screen is larger for better viewing. But how does touch screen technology work?
Touch Screens are able to operate using your hand, finger, or a stylus pen.
Resistive Touch Screen Monitor
There are several different kinds of touch screens:
· Resistive (pressure-sensitive)
· Capacitive (electrically-sensitive)
· SAW (aka surface acoustic wave, or acoustically sensitive)
· Infrared (photo-sensitive)
Resistive touchscreen panels are composed of several very thin layers, including two thin metallic layers that are electrically conductive and separated by a narrow gap. When there is pressure applied to those layers, the metallic layers become connected. This causes a change in electrical current. This registers as a touch event which will then show as a cursor movement or the selection of an icon or application.
SAW technology uses ultrasonic waves that pass over a touchscreen panel. As the panel is touched, part of the wave is absorbed. This registers as a touch event due to the change in the waves themselves.
Capacitive touch screen panels consist of an insulator coated with a transparent conductor. By the human body touching this conductor, it distorts the electrostatic field of the body and determines the location of the touch.
Infrared touchscreen technology uses infrared LED and photo-detectors around the edge of a screen. When a stylus, finger, or other object interrupts the flow of these LEDs and photo-detectors, it creates a touch event.
The touch screen technology can be more complex than this simple explanation; however the method of using touchscreens is very easy and even fun!