A touch screen is simply the integration of an output and input device into a touch sensitive surface. Typically the touch screen is typically layered above an internal LED light of an integrated data processing system. The screen may be LCD or LED AMOLED or LCD screen while the system is generally either a smartphone tablet, or laptop. This type of unit is also referred to as an interactive display system or an Ippy panel. Touch screens are very common in use in tablet computers and smartphone applications.
The difference between capacitive and resistive touch screen technologies lies in the implementation and operation of the mechanism. Capacitive screen technology requires the user to gently tap the display with a finger to move the cursor across the surface. When the finger is released, the process stops and the screen goes into a rest state until another touch is detected. This is in contrast to assistive technology, which has no moving parts and works with a constant pressure from the finger for continuous operation.
Capacitive touch screen hardware operates with a small amount of electrical charge, which is supplied to the finger and the corresponding area on the device. When a finger is touched, a slight push on the finger releases a bit of electrical charge and the sensor detects this as a touch. Since the amount of electrical charge released per touch is very small, the result is a very responsive system that is smooth in operation. Unfortunately this type of system also has a few disadvantages.
Touch screen technology was first developed for touch pads used in computers and other types of electronic devices. However, it soon found its way into mobile devices such as cell phones, handheld gaming consoles, video game consoles, and high-end digital cameras where touch screen functionality makes it an attractive option. The finger monitors developed for use with portable devices are also touch screen and operate with a small amount of electrical charge. The problem with most touch screen monitors is that they can only detect a very small range of touch input. The monitor does not recognize whether the finger is pressing the screen or brushing against it, therefore it has no way to tell if the user is pressing the right button, or if a more precise motion such as tapping is required.
capacitive touch screens have a far larger range of detection and allow users to provide much greater control over how their fingers interact with the device. Capacitive touch screens operate with a small amount of electrical charge and provide a very smooth and responsive interactive experience. The finger monitors available on the market to work with a fairly large range of touch input. Many also incorporate other types of media players such as iPods, other music systems and even camera’s. The advantage of using this type of display for high touch sensitivity is that it provides a much greater degree of control than capacitive touch displays.
A drawback to capacitive touch screens is that the information displayed is not always clear and images can appear distorted when touched at an angle. They can also be very sensitive to certain touch gestures and as a result they can be difficult to use for applications requiring fine control. The response time for these types of laptops is generally poor. Most touch screen laptops have a delay of around 10 milliseconds between the touch and the image being displayed.
The best touch screen laptop screens are made from tempered glass. This makes the screen much less sensitive to pressure and therefore allows for a greater range of interaction. Tempered glass is far harder and thicker than regular glass and because it is thicker it makes for a sturdier product. It is this increased strength that allows touch screens to operate at such a fast speed and with such accuracy.
Another drawback to standard touch screens is that they are sensitive to finger movement. If a finger is placed on one area of the screen, then another finger is also able to touch the same area. This then results in a double image of what is initially displayed. Touching multiple areas of the display means that there is a double image. For example, if two fingers are touched on the top and bottom of the screen then a selection of two different pictures will be displayed.