A touch screen or capacitive touch screen is simply the amalgamation of an input and output electronic device. Essentially, it is a surface that detects physical touch or pressure input and then responds by translating this into computer-like commands. Often, the touch screen is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an LED screen while the device is often a pen, finger, or touch screen pad. Capacitive or sensitive touch screen displays are those where the screen is actually made up of millions of tiny pores which react to pressure. Capacitive touch screens can respond to even extremely low levels of pressure such as a feather pen.
While the earliest touch screen technology was based upon the principle of placing one’s fingers on the display to detect a touch, modern technologies have improved the system to the point where a capacitive display is made up of many thousands of tiny pores that are sensitive to either positive or negative pressure. Touch screen technology has become more advanced in recent years and has now reached the point where the actual surface of the screen – the touch screen – consists of many thousands of crystalline devices called resistive elements that combine to make a fully capacitive surface. Each of these elements are different in size, thickness, electrical conductivity, chemical composition, and so forth and so it is possible to find several different types of resistive screen protectors for use with any type of touch screen phone. Depending upon what the phone being used is to do and what it is made for, the resistive screen protector needed will vary.
Touch screen protectors come in several different forms including conductive, non-conductive, and electromagnetic. A Conductive protector has a metallic shell that surrounds a thin, wafer like touch screen layer. Because touch screen protection works via a surface tension between the touch and the conductive layer, it is important that the screen be charged of a sufficient level to make contact with the touch. The actual electrical charge depends upon the thickness of the film covering the touch screen and can range from a very low resistance to high resistance. Non conductive protectors work in the same basic way, but do not include the metal layer that forms the conductive shell. Electromagnetic protectors are the most efficient as they work via an electrical field to reduce or eliminate the effects of any RF or electronic interferences.
Glass is one of the most popular materials that is used in touch screen protectors. The reason glass has become such a popular material is that it is highly durable and scratch resistant. Not only does it work well for the consumer, but also for professionals. For example, glass works great for surgical instruments because it allows for clear viewing even when there is a lot of blood, and it allows the surgeon to see exactly what he is doing. Glass also works extremely well in LCD touch screens because it has a high density, meaning that it can provide many thousands of points of contact with finger pressure.
In order for capacitive touch screens to operate properly, they must have a charge Couple. A charge Couple is a series of dual Conductive film elements that form a virtual barrier around the screen. Each individual element forms an electrical charge that keeps the capacitance from being reduced by external interferences. Since the capacitance is sensitive to changes in physical pressure, it is important that this physical barrier exists.
Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages that affect the operation of this type of touch screen protector. One of the primary disadvantages is that they block the view of the image clarity. If you look at the screen with your naked eye, it looks clear and is not impaired by the obstructions on the screen. With the capacitive technology, however, the images are projected through a thin plastic layer that makes the image clearer, but still prevents it from being viewed clearly. This is a problem that can only be overcome by increasing the thickness of the display to the point where all three layers are seen.
Capacitive touch screen monitors also have some drawbacks in that they are much more sensitive to touch than other technologies. For instance, when you are using a mouse, the screen is constantly in touch mode. If you are not watching a movie or doing any other activity, then you are essentially just moving your finger on the screen. When you do this repeatedly, the tiny nerves in your finger start to fire and cause a sensation that is very similar to a pinching of your finger against a screen. This may sound bad, but it is much like touching a slinky rabbit or a soft toy.
As we mentioned earlier, capacitive technology relies on electrical impulses to detect finger motion. If you attempt to use one of these monitors while washing your hands, you will find that the electrical impulses will prevent you from seeing the screen. This is because the electrical signals are too strong. They are simply absorbed by your hand.