Although touchscreens might all look the same, they differ in their structure and design. And even if you&#;re unfamiliar with the technology itself, we&#;re guessing you&#;ve probably used it at some point recently. From smartphones and tablets to retail kiosks and video game consoles, touchscreen tech crops up in our lives more than we may realise.
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Generally, most touchscreens are powered by two main types of technology: infrared (IR) and projected capacitive (PCAP). But how exactly do these display types differ?
Here, we&#;ll explore the differences between IR and PCAP, and take a look at how they may be better suited to the needs of certain industries based on factors like cost and practical applications.
Infrared, IR touch technology or IR is the most widely used touch technology in commercial interactive displays, and for good reason. It boasts a high degree of accuracy and is lower in cost compared to other available technologies.
How does IR work?
IR uses a collection of infrared light emitters and receivers which are hidden along the edges of the display using the technology. These emitters send infrared light across the surface of the display, above the glass, to the receivers, in order to form an invisible grid.
When a finger, pen or other object touches the surface of the display, the receivers will detect an interruption in the light being received. Because of the grid pattern, the display is then able to determine the location of the finger, pen or object on the surface, registering it as a touch point.
While IR can recognise up to 40 touch points, many current large interactive flat panels that use infrared technology are configured to recognise up to 20 touch points. This allows several people to interact with the display at the same time.
The advantages of IR
This disadvantages of infrared
When would infrared be best suited for?
As long as they aren&#;t placed outside, IR displays can provide state-of-the-art performance and an incredible image display for businesses on a budget. However, they lack water and liquid resistance, so we wouldn&#;t recommend installing them in places such as restaurants and kitchens where spillages are likely to occur.
Also known as PCAP, most would be familiar with projected capacitive technology without even realising it thanks to its ubiquity in things like smartphones and tablet devices. It&#;s less common, however, in interactive flat panels, which tend to be the preserve of higher end tech.
How does PCAP work?
PCAP uses a conductive grid between a glass protective cover and an LCD panel. When a finger touches the panel &#; which has an electrostatic charge applied across it &#; it causes a change to the grid&#;s electromagnetic field, which the display then recognises as a touch point.
Capacitive touch is highly accurate, and by recognising up to 100 touch points, it allows more people to interact with the technology at the same time.
The advantages of PCAP
The disadvantages of PCAP
When would PCAP best be suited for?
If cost isn&#;t an issue, then PCAP&#;s strong functionality makes it suitable for a range of different businesses.
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Touch screens are found everywhere from our smartphones to self-serve kiosks at the airport. Given their many uses, it should come as no surprise that there are several touch monitor types. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and is suited to specific tasks.
Continue reading to learn more about touch monitor types and how they&#;re used. Or discover Viewsonic&#;s touchscreen displays here.
Did you know that touch panel technology was invented in the 60s?
That&#;s right. Long before your precious smartphone entered the market in the late 00s, touch panels had already been an established technology for nearly 4 decades.
Despite the panels&#; simplicity of use, the underlying technology is more complex than it appears, with 4 different touch panel types in existence.
Before we get to that, let&#;s back up.
It&#;s quite possible that you&#;re not clear on exactly what a touch panel is, what the touch panel types are, or how they&#;re applied in your daily life, beyond that of your smartphone. For that and more, we&#;re here to help.
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What Are Touch Panels?
Quite simply, touch panels, which are also known as touchscreens or touch monitors, are tools that allow people to operate computers through direct touch. More specifically, via the use of internal sensors, a user&#;s touch is detected, then translated, into an instructional command that parlays into visible function.
The Different Touch Panel Types
Delving deeper into the technical side of things, touch panels are not as cut-and-dry as they may seem. In fact, the way they sense and react to touch can widely differ based on their inherent designs. As such, there are 4 touch panel types in regular use &#; Resistive, Optical Imaging, Projected Capacitive, and Infrared. Below, we&#;ll dig into their specifics, which include their advantages, disadvantages, and real-life product applications.
1. Resistive Touch
Resistive touch panels are cost-effective variants that detect commands by way of pressure placed on the screen. This pressure sensitivity is generally limited to single-point touch, with a 20-inch maximum screen, which is fine for many usage cases. These range from styluses to fingertips. As a result, if used correctly, resistive touch panels will remain functional even if a water drop has landed on the screen.
As a result of this versatility, however, many will find that resistive touch panels are less durable than their competitors. Moreover, with its reliance on single-point touch, this touch panel type is not actually capable of multi-touch functionality. Regardless, resistive touch panels are often found in grocery stores, where stylus-based signatures are typically required after credit card purchases.
2. Infrared Touch
Some like it hot and some don&#;t. Infrared touch panels definitely fall into the latter category. By setting up a grid of infrared beams across the panel, which may be up to 150-inches, touch is detected by way of this panel&#;s disruption.
Although infrared touch panels are durable and support multi-touch functionality, it does possess one potential drawback. Depending on where you sit, literally.
Despite infrared implying heat, infrared touch panels actually perform rather poorly in it, particularly in direct sunlight. In those circumstances, the infrared light beams can be disrupted by the sun&#;s rays, as opposed to your fingers. As such, be sure to place your infrared touch panel device in an appropriately dark location.
3. Optical Imaging Touch
Light, and the disruption thereof, is not just a great way to produce a shadow, but also to design a touch panel type. To take advantage of this principle, optical imaging touch panels are designed to sense touch through infrared cameras and the disruption of light strips. This can be achieved through any input you want, across its 100-inch maximum size, from gloves to bare hands, and beyond.
All in all, optical imaging touch panels are just about the most versatile option the touch-based world can offer. From durability to multi-touch, and universal input prospects, the possibilities may truly be endless. Although its only disadvantage may be its non-compact design, common applications of optical imaging touch panels include certain varieties of interactive whiteboards.
4. Projected Capacitive Touch
If you identify with the phrase, &#;go with what you know&#;, then projected capacitive touch panels are the touch panel type for you. For now, you can guess where you know it from.
By way of their electrical-based touch detection, Projected Capacitive touch panels are known for their high precision and high-speed response times. What&#;s more is that they possess multi-touch functionality and can be used within small, compact, yet expensive, devices. Due to their underlying technology, it has proven challenging to scale up to larger sizes. Figured it out yet?
Assuming you haven&#;t, or would like to enjoy the gratified feeling associated with being right, allow us to reveal where you interact with projected capacitive touch panels on a daily basis &#; Smart Phones! What&#;s more is that they&#;re not alone, with tablet computers and GPS devices also utilizing projected capacitive touch screens.
Touch Panel Types in the Professional World
It would be a mistake to assume that the applications of all these touch panel types are limited to that of consumer-level devices, or even those that have been previously mentioned. Really, these touch panel types can be found throughout everyday life and in a variety of industries.
What&#;s more is that in many of these industries, these touch panel types are used less to market products to consumers, and more to sell solutions to businesses. Whether it be in regards to finance, manufacturing, retail, medicine, or education, there is always a need for touch-based solutions. In conjunction with the so-called &#;Internet-of-things&#;, these touch-based solutions play a key role in practices related to industry 4.0.
In practice, these solutions largely offer a form of personnel management. In hospitals, stores, or banks, for instance, these touch panel types can be used to answer basic questions, provide product information, or offer directions, based on the user&#;s needs. When it comes to manufacturing, on the other hand, these solutions enable employee management in the possible form of workplace allocation or attendance tracking.
At the end of the day, touch panels are here to stay. In the four decades since their inception, the level of adoption this technology has experienced is remarkable. They transform how we teach in classrooms and collaborate with colleagues.
Although you may not have been clear on the specific details of each touch panel type, we hope that you are now. This knowledge will absolutely serve you well, particularly if you&#;re interested in ViewSonic&#;s selection of touch-based solutions.
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