As touch screen technology continues to improve, touch screen displays will become more popular in offices, homes, restaurants, retail stores, and other locations where one will need to interact with numerous individuals at the same time. Touch screen devices such as kiosk touchscreen help eliminate the need for a keyboard, mouse, touch pad, or any such other devices and facilitate direct human interaction between the user and what’s being displayed. While this type of technology has been around for quite some time, the ability to use it in the privacy of your own home is still quite unique. If you want to find out how you can use a touch screen display to enhance your work environment, here are some tips.
There are basically two ways that touch screens work: with the help of a finger, with the use of your hand. In the former case, you point to what you want to change on the screen with your finger and move your finger towards it. Your finger will register the touch, and then the screen will do the rest. With the latter, all you have to do is tap your finger to indicate what you want to change. Depending on the type of screen you are using, the process may be a bit different.
You can find touch panel technology in many different applications. This includes cell phones, PDAs, laptops, computers, and even tablet computers. One of the most common places for touch panel technology is in ATM machines. When a customer swipes his card through the machine, a special sensor located behind the card detects the finger motion and instantly alters the amount of money shown on the screen. This is also why you see so many ATM machines equipped with touch screen technology – to enable the customers to make their transactions easier and more convenient.
Multi-touch technology can also be found in many medical imaging equipment. The display in these pieces is not generally the typical LCD or LED touch screen. Instead, a liquid crystal on the front surface of the display shows the patients’ medical information and other buttons click automatically when the patient begins to move his hands towards the display. These types of units are often used in operating rooms, especially those that are open and wide spaces with a lot of motion.
Touchscreens are not exclusively for use in business establishments. Home versions of touch screen displays are starting to appear on consumer products such as cell phones and MP3 players. Some companies, such as Panasonic, are even producing touchscreens specifically for home use.
One of the main concerns with touch screen displays for consumers has been whether or not the user would have easy access to the screen in the event of an accident. Manufacturers of the earlier touch screen models had built in safety mechanisms that prevent the user from inadvertently pressing on the display with their fingers. Modern touch screens employ technology that detects any unintentional pressure from the finger and quickly alerts the user to the problem. This technology allows for accidental pressing of the screen to be reduced considerably.
Capacitive touchscreens are much safer than resistive ones. A resistive screen works under pressure from a tap or stylus. It responds quickly to any action, but it takes longer to register the finger motion. In the case of the capacitive technology, the user’s finger actually pushes on the screen to register a touch. With the use of finger-tracking systems, the system can track any motion and thus performs more functions accurately than its predecessors. This type of touch screen technology has even found application in watches.
The last type of technology used in touch screen monitors is capacitive. A capacitive sensor recognizes a touch and reacts by either raising or lowering the level of sensitivity. There are some older model capacitive monitor devices that are no longer manufactured. If you are looking for a touch screen monitor, make sure it has at least this form of capacitance.