Seminar

On
Touch Screen
Technology
Content

 What are Touch Screens?

 History and Development
 Why use Touch Screen
 Elements of a Touchscreen System
 Touch Screen Technologies
 Application of Touch Screens 
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Conclusion
What are Touch Screens?

 It is the most user friendly input device

used to interface with a PC.
 The user touches the screen to select
options presented on it, where associated
hardware and software locate that touch.
History and Development

 In 1971 Dr. Sam Hurst, founder of

Elographics developed the first touch opaque
sensor “Elograph” at the University of
Kentucky.
 In 1974 He developed the first real touch
screen.
 In 1977, Elographics developed the five-wire
resistive technology then with the backing of
Siemens Corporation, developed a curved
glass sensor called the touch screen.
 The new transparent technology, AccuTouch
was later developed by the founders of
Elographics, Dr. Hurst and Bill Colwell.
Why use Touch Screens?
 Enable first-time users to interface with
computers instantly, without any training.
 Eliminate operator errors because users
make selections from clearly defined
menus.
 Eliminate keyboards and mice, which
many novice users find difficult to use.
 Rugged enough to stand up to harsh
conditions where keyboards and mice can
be damaged.
 Provide fast access to all types of digital
content.
 Ensure that no space is wasted since the
input device is completely integrated into
the monitor.
How does a Touch screen Work?

Main touch screen components:

 Touch sensor
 Controller
 Software driver
Touch sensor

 A touch screen sensor is a clear glass panel with a

touch responsive surface which is placed over a
display screen so that the responsive area of the
panel covers the viewable area of the display screen.

 The sensor generally has an electrical current or

signal going through it and touching the screen
causes a voltage or signal change. This voltage
change is used to determine the location of the
touch to the screen
 Controller
 The controller is a small
PC card that connects
between the touch
sensor and the PC. It
takes information from
the touch sensor and
translates it into
information that PC can
understand.
Software Driver

 The driver is a software that allows the touch

screen and computer to work together. It tells the
operating system how to interpret the touch event
information that is sent from the controller.

 Most touch screen drivers today are a mouse-

emulation type driver. This makes touching the
screen the same as clicking your mouse at the
same location on the screen.
 Touch Screen Technologies

 Resistive
 Capacitive
 Resistive Touch Screens

 Made of a glass panel with a coating of uniform resistivity on

which a voltage is applied. A polyester cover sheet is tightly
suspended over the top of the glass, separated from it by small,
transparent insulating dots.
 The cover sheet has a hard, durable coating on the outer side and
a conductive coating on the inner side.
 With a light touch, the conductive coating makes
electrical contact with the coating on the glass.
  The voltages at the point ofcontact are the analog
representation of the position touched. The controller
digitizes these voltages and transmits them to the
computer for processing.
Advantages of Resistive
 High Resolution and Accuracy
 Fast Response
 Pressure-activated by finger or gloved hand with a very light
touch
 Durable hard-coat front surface can be nonglare treated for    
reflection control or polished for maximum clarity
 Touchscreens and controllers are safety agency-approved
components,so certification of your system is easier
Disadvantages of Resistive
 80 % Clarity
 Resistive layers can be damaged by a sharp object
 Capacitive Touch screen
There are 2 types of capacitive touch screens:

Surface capacitive
-consists of a uniform conductive coating on a glass panel
on which a low voltage is evenly applied fromthe corners.
-The touch location is measured from the ratio of the
current flow from the corners
Advantages:
 Durable surface material
 High endurance (~255 million touches)
 Very accurate
 Good optical quality

Disadvantages:
 Triggered only by bare finger or active stylus
Application of Touch Screens 
 Informational kiosks
 Trade show displays
 Museum / tourism displays
 Point-of-sale terminals
 Restaurant systems
 Employee time clocks
 Industrial process controls
 World Wide Web access kiosks
 Home automation systems
 Casino and other gaming systems
 Computer access for the physically disabled
Pros & Cons

 Direct pointing to the  Low precision by using

objects. finger
 Fast  User has to sit or stand
closer to the screen
 Finger or pen is usable (No
cable required)  The screen may be covered
more by using hand
 No keyboard necessary
 No direct activation to the
 Suited to: novices,
selected function
application for information
retrieval etc
 Conclusion
 Touch systems represent a rapidly growing
subset of the display market.
 The majority of touch systems include touch
sensors relying on vacuum-deposited
coatings, so touch coatings present
opportunity for suppliers of vacuum coatings
and coating equipments.
 Touch sensor manufactures currently require
thin films in the areas of transparent
conductors, optical interference coating and
mechanical protective coatings.
Thanks
-18261A0464(A.Poojith)