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1118 B9 Touch Screens: A Pressing Technology: Timothy Hoye (Tmh60@pitt - Edu) and Joseph Kozak (Jpk54@pitt - Edu)
1118 B9 Touch Screens: A Pressing Technology: Timothy Hoye (Tmh60@pitt - Edu) and Joseph Kozak (Jpk54@pitt - Edu)
B9
TOUCH SCREENS: A PRESSING TECHNOLOGY
Timothy Hoye (tmh60@pitt.edu) and Joseph Kozak (jpk54@pitt.edu)
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FIGURE 1
THINSIGHT TOUCH SCREEN INFRARED EMITTERS AND DETECTORS [5]
Microsoft Surface
As mentioned above, the Microsoft Surface is a great
example of internal reflection infrared touch screens. In
early 2001, Steve Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and
Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research began brainstorming
concepts for an interactive table, beginning the
development of the Surface [6]. The process continued in
development until 2003 when the idea was presented to Bill
Gates, and 85 prototypes were created for developers on the
Surface Computing group, a group created in 2004 to solely
develop the Surface. In 2005, various prototypes were
created and analyzed, and eventually, in 2008, the Microsoft
Surface was on sale to the public for $12,500 or $15,000 [6].
The Surfaces technology uses multiple image sensors
around one side of the touch surface and IR backlights on
the other side. When a user places his finger on the surface,
intercepting the infrared beam, the device projects a shadow.
Using multiple cameras, the unit converts this shadow into a
touch point through triangulation [3]. As stated by Dr. Hsu,
the Surface uses a system of cameras and IR LEDs to
capture the image of the object touching the surface. The
Surface took a step forward with their technology,
developing a special motherboard to compute the data,
transmitted at 100 megabytes per second, from the cameras.
The board then divides the data into sections that decide
what is relevant and what is not. Relevant data is considered
to be any information from the cameras that has changed
since the last transmission. An example of that is the shadow
from the infrared light changing as someone touches the
screen.
This software is also revolutionary in that it detects and
distinguishes different types of touches. The Surface
categorizes touches into three sets: finger, blob, and tagged
objects. Fingers are given the ability to click on software
FIGURE 2
MICROSOFT SURFACE [6]
University of Pittsburgh
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FIGURE 4
PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN LAYERS [8]
FIGURE 3
TYPICAL 4-WIRE RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREEN [3]
Multi-Touch Technology
An important feature of capacitive touch screens is their
ability to recognize and calculate multiple touch points at
one time, commonly called multi-touch. Multi-touch
technology has been around since early research at the
University of Toronto in 1982 [4]. The uses of this
technology are very vast, allowing for greater humancomputer interaction. This technology is traditionally
associated with capacitive touch screens, but is not limited to
this technology. It can also be found in infrared touch
screens and is beginning to appear in resistive touch screens
[3]. Currently, multi-touch technology is being used with a
purpose similar to the function keys (Control, Alt, Option,
Command, etc.) on a standard keyboard. By adopting these
functions, the user is able to complete the same tasks as
before, but with one hand. With advances in hardware, multi
touch will allow multiple users to access the same device
simultaneously, like the Microsoft Surfaces capability of
300 plus touches. While the hardware is available to create
such devices, software implementation is holding back the
growth of multi touch.
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manipulate documents, images, and other files with motions
that feel like the task actually being completed, the user is
able to work more efficiently and with less specific training
or knowledge.
Apple recently announced their next step in the field of
touch screen technology: the iPad. Little is known about this
device, aside from general technical descriptions of what it
can do, and its 9.7-inch multi-touch display [9]. It can be
assumed that it operates very similarly to that of the iPhone
and iPod touch. This device was designed to browse the
web, read and send email, view photos, movies, listen to
music, play games, and read e-books, among many other
things [13]. With these tasks in mind, the iPad is creating a
new market for touch screen devices, much as the iPhone
changed the mobile phone industry. By integrating
innovative hardware, and creating arguably the most
intuitive user interface available, Apple continues to raise
the bar for all of their competitors in the consumer touch
screen industry.
Apple
Apple Corporation is a pioneer in the field of consumer
electronics. With their innovative designs, Apple products
have been setting new standards to which other technology
is compared. In 2007, Apple revealed the iPhone, changing
the face of telecommunications and touch screen technology
[10]. This device was revolutionary because it incorporated a
cell phone, iPod, and Internet communications device,
making it the only electronic device you need [11]. Apple
also created a version of this device to be the next generation
of iPod, called the iPod Touch or the iTouch. It is very
similar to the iPhone, except for the difference that it does
not have cell phone capabilities. For our purposes, these
devices will be described as interchangeable, because they
both rely on the same touch technology and the same userinterface [9].
FIGURE 5
APPLE IPHONE [9]
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SUSTAINABILITY
One definition of sustainability is the improvement of the
quality of life by making life more enjoyable and less
burdensome. Touch screen technology fits within this
definition very well. Touch screen devices make life more
enjoyable by creating a fun and intuitive user interface. This
is a reason that the iPhone, iPod Touch, and similar devices
are so successful. By allowing the user to operate the device
in many different ways, the devices are more versatile and
create a better interface for many applications. With a better
interface, the devices become more enjoyable to use, and
allow for other applications of the device.
Sustainability also pertains to making life less
burdensome. Touch screens are very sustainable because of
the vast amount of applications that can be done on one
device. This can be seen very easily in the iPhone and
Microsoft Surface. Before the iPhone, many people carried
around a cell phone, iPod, and PDA. With the
implementation of a versatile touch screen, the iPhone and
other touch screen devices are able to do the tasks of all
three of these devices. This is because of the adaptability of
the interface. The Microsoft Surface is similar to the iPhone
because it makes many applications available to the user.
Users are able to transfer contact information, calendars,
pictures, etc. with just the touch of a finger. The
sustainability aspects of both of these devices show the
importance of these technologies. These devices improve the
quality of life for the user by simplifying everyday tasks and
making them more enjoyable for the user.
University of Pittsburgh
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[5]Izadi, Shahram, et al. "ThinSight: A Thin Form-Factor Interactive
Surface Technology." Association for Computing Machinery.
[6]"The Origins of Microsoft Surface". www.microsoft.com.
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Pages/Product/Origins.aspx. Accessed 3
March 2010.
[7]"The Microsoft Surface Vision System". www.microsoft.com.
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9707395. Accessed 3 March 2010.
[8] Gray, Tony. Projected Capacitive Touch Screen Technology. Ocular,
Inc. Accessed 3 March 2010.
[9] Apple.com. www.Apple.com. http://www.apple.com. Accessed 3
March 2010.
[10] Walker, Geoff. The Apple iPhones Impact on the Touch-Panel
Industry. Information Display 5/07. Accessed 3 March 2010.
[11]"Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone". www.Apple.com.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/01/09iphone.html. Accessed 3 March
2010.
[12] Walker, Geoff. Touch and the Apple iPhone. Veritas et Visus.
Accessed 3 March 2010.
[13]"Apple Launches iPad". www.Apple.com.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27ipad.html. Accessed 3 March
2010.
[14]Jones, Willie D. Touch Screens with Feeling IEEE Spectrum May.
2009: 15. Accessed 3 March 2010.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
Aguilar, R.N., and G.C.M. Meijer. "Fast interface electronics for a resistive
touch screen." Proceedings of IEEE SENSORS 2002. 2002.
Hill, Anthony. "Touch screen technologies: Their advantages and
disadvantages; the guidelines offered will point you toward the best touch
technology for your application needs." Control Solutions, September 2002:
24.
Hoggan, Eve, Topi Kaaresoja, Pauli Laitinen, and Stephen Brewster.
"Crossmodal Congruence: The Look, Feel and Sound of Touchscreen
Widgets." ICMI. 2008. 157-164.
Kim, Hong-Ki, et al. "Transparent and flexible tactile sensor for multi touch
screen application with force sensing." Solid State Sensors, Actuators and
Microsystems Conference. 2009. 1146-1149.
Loviscach, Jorn. "Two-Finger Input with a Standard Touch Screen."
Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informatik, October 7-10, 2007: 169-172.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Luis Bon and Rowoli ScottEmuakpor for their guidance in this project. We also thank
those at the Engineering Library, Writing Center, and those
involved in the Freshman Engineering Writing Program who
have helped us with our research and in editing this project.
We would additionally like to thank our peers in the
Freshman Engineering Program, especially the SPACE
Floors, for their support and assistance with the editing and
revisions necessary to completing this project.
REFERENCES
[1]Company history from Elographics to Elo TouchSystems, 1971 present - Elo TouchSystems - Tyco Electronics. www.elotouch.com.
http://www.elotouch.com/AboutElo/History/default.asp. Accessed 3 March
2010.
[2]The HP-150. www.columbia.edu.
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/hp150.html. Accessed 3 March 2010.
[3]Hsu, Andrew. "Choosing a touch technology for handheld-system
applications." EDN, January 8, 2009: 40-44.
[4]Nichols, Steven J. Vaughan New Interfaces at the Touch of a Fingertip
IEEE Society August. 2007: 12-15.
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