Are you tired of using a keyboard and mouse to control your business’s computers? In the past, this was the only way to control a computer. Over the past decade, however, there’s been a growing demand for touchscreen monitors. These monitors live up to their namesake by supporting touch commands, allowing users to control the connected computer or device by tapping icons on the monitor. But if you’re thinking about buying one or more touchscreen monitors for your business, there are a few things you’ll need to consider.
First, consider the size when choosing a touchscreen monitors. You’ll probably discover that touchscreen monitors are available in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from just a few inches to 52 inches (and larger). If you’re going to install it in a conference room, for example, perhaps a larger touchscreen monitor would work best. But if you’re going to use it in individual workstations, a smaller monitor will likely suffice.
All touchscreen monitors support touch commands. However, they way in which they identify these commands varies depending on the touch technology powering it. Most touchscreen monitors use either resistive or capacitive touch technology. Resistive touchscreen monitors contain multiple layers separated by an inert “spacer” layer of air or gas. When touched, the upper and bottom layers make contact, thereby allowing the monitor to identify the point of touch. Capacitive touchscreen monitors identify touch by measuring changes in capacitance.
In addition to size and touch technology, you should also consider the aspect ratio when choosing a touchscreen monitor. Aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the monitor’s width to its height. 4:3 was once the dominant aspect ratio for monitors, but most modern monitors — including touchscreen ones — now use an aspect ratio of 16:9.
Check to see what type of ports the touchscreen monitor has and where those ports are located. If you want to connect peripherals to it, you’ll need the appropriate ports, such as an HDMI port. If the touchscreen monitor doesn’t have the necessary port, you won’t be able to use your desired peripheral with it. So, always check to see what type of ports it has and where they are located.
Of course, price is something else to consider when choosing a touchscreen monitor. Some touchscreen monitors cost just $150 to $200, while others cost several thousand dollars. Before buying a touchscreen monitor, determine exactly how much you are willing to spend and stick with this budget.
You interact with a touch screen monitor constantly throughout your daily life. You will see them in cell phones, ATM’s, kiosks, ticket vending machines, manufacturing plants and more. All of these use touch panels to enable the user to interact with a computer or device without the use of a keyboard or mouse. But did you know there are several uniquely different types of Touch Screens? The five most common types of touch screen are: 5-Wire Resistive, Surface Capacitive touch, Projected Capacitive (P-Cap), SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave), and IR (Infrared).
We are often asked “How does a touch screen monitor work?” A touch screen basically replaces the functionality of a keyboard and mouse. Below is a basic description of 5 types of touch screen monitor technology.
The advantages and disadvantages of type of touch screen will help you decide which type touchscreen is most appropriate for your needs:
5-Wire Resistive Touch is the most widely touch technology in use today. A resistive touch screen monitor is composed of a glass panel and a film screen, each covered with a thin metallic layer, separated by a narrow gap. For instance, when a user touches the screen, the two metallic layers make contact, resulting in electrical flow. The point of contact is detected by this change in voltage.
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Surface Capacitive touch screen is the second most popular type of touch screens on the market. In a surface capacitive touch screen monitor, a transparent electrode layer is placed on top of a glass panel. This is then covered by a protective cover. When an exposed finger touches the monitor screen, it reacts to the static electrical capacity of the human body. Consequently, some of the electrical charge transfers from the screen to the user. This decrease in capacitance is detected by sensors located at the four corners of the screen, allowing the controller to determine the touch point. Surface capacitive touch screens can only be activated by the touch of human skin or a stylus holding an electrical charge.
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Projected Capacitive (P-Cap) is similar to Surface Capacitive, but it offers two primary advantages. First, in addition to a bare finger, it can also be activated with surgical gloves or thin cotton gloves. Secondly, P-Cap enables multi-touch activation (simultaneous input from two or more fingers). A projected capacitive touch screen is composed of a sheet of glass with embedded transparent electrode films and an IC chip. This creates a three dimensional electrostatic field. Therefore, when a finger comes into contact with the screen, the ratios of the electrical currents change and the computer is able to detect the touch points. All our P-Cap touch screens feature a Zero-Bezel enclosure.
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SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) touch screen monitors utilize a series of piezoelectric transducers and receivers. These are positioned along the sides of the monitor’s glass plate to create an invisible grid of ultrasonic waves on the surface. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. This allows the receiving transducer to locate the touch point and send this data to the computer. SAW monitors can be activated by a finger, gloved hand, or soft-tip stylus. SAW monitors offer easy use and high visibility.
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IR (Infrared) type touch screen monitors do not overlay the display with an additional screen or screen sandwich. Instead, infrared monitors use IR emitters and receivers to create an invisible grid of light beams across the screen. This ensures the best possible image quality. When an object interrupts the invisible infrared light beam, the sensors are able to locate the touch point. The X and Y coordinates are then sent to the controller.
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We hope you found these touch screen basics useful. TRU-Vu provides industrial touch screen monitors in a wide range of sizes and configurations. This includes UL60601-1 Medical touch screens, Sunlight Readable touch screens, Open Frame touch screens, Waterproof touch screens and many custom touch screen designs. You can learn more by viewing TRU-Vu Touchscreens or call us at 847-259-2344. To address safety and hygiene concerns, see our article on “Touch Screen Cleaning and Disinfecting“.
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