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An in-depth look at the basics of touch panel technology, benefits, and characteristics.
One of the technologies facilitating this transition is touchscreen technology. Most of us are familiar with it. After all, if you own a smartphone, then you likely interact with a touchscreen on a daily basis.
The usefulness and practicality of touchscreen technology is undeniable. So much so, in fact, that businesses have realized the benefits of adopting the technology. However, despite its simplicity for end users, there is more to this tech than meets the eye.
Ahead, we’ll take a look into why it’s a good idea to invest in touch monitor technology and discuss the potential of touch screen monitors to benefit your business. To understand this potential, we need to dive into the different types of touchscreen technology.
When it comes to touch screen technology, there are a number of different types of technologies on the market, each with its own set of characteristics.
Resistive, optical, projected capacitive, and infrared are four of the most common touch screen technologies. Each has different applications and can support your business in a meaningful way. For example, if you’re looking to a build and deploy touch screen solutions for a public space such as a outdoor shopping center, it would be useful to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different touch screen technologies in order to choose the right one for your application. There are panels that are optimal for creating monitors that your customers can easily read and interact with when in bright sunlight. Other types of panels are preferable for touch screen applications that need to resist harsh outdoor weather conditions. Below is an outline of the characteristics commonly associated with each of these technologies.
Resistive touch technology can be found in an array of applications, including touch monitors and car navigation systems. Resistive panels are pressure sensitive, which means they use pressure placed directly on the screenas a means of detecting commands.
Resistive touch screens are generally single-point-touch displays and are typically less than 20 inches in size.
Unlike other touch technologies, resistive touch panels are covered by two layers of transparent electrode film separated by spacers. This pressure-based input method means that resistive panels can be operated with just about any type of touch, including finger, stylus, and even gloved touch.
Because of these layers of film, the transmittance of light is not as strong as with other types of touch technology. Resistive touch panels are also known for being the most durable touch panel technology because pressure needs to be applied to the screen.
Pros of resistive touch:
Limitations of resistive touch:
Optical imaging touch technology uses infrared cameras and light to detect touch input. Touch detection accuracy on optical imaging touch displays can vary based on the components used.
Optical imaging touch panels are multi-touch and typically range from 19 – 100 inches in size. Since touch recognition on these devices works by way of imaging, any form of touch, whether it be finger, stylus, gloved touch, etc. can be used to input commands.
Light transmittance on optical imaging touch screens tends to be very good because there are no obstructing coatings used over the screen itself. In addition, optical touch displays tend to last for a long time because the light touches associated with this tech variant do not generally result in wear and tear.
Optical touch is the technology often used for larger screen touch applications.
Pros of optical imaging touch:
Limitations of optical imaging touch:
Projected capacitive touch is the touch technology commonly used for making smartphones. If you use an iPhone then you’re already familiar with using projective capacitive touch.
Projected capacitive touch is typically used on smaller touchscreens and is known for highly precise touch recognition and speedy response times. Projected capacitive touch panels are capable of multi-point touch and are usually less than 32 inches in size.
Since projected capacitive touchscreens detect touch commands by way of electrical currents, it is more challenging to make larger sized projected capacitive touch panels than it is to make smaller ones. Unlike resistive touch technology, projected capacitive touch panels can function with input from a finger or conductive pen, but not gloved touch.
The light transmittance of projected capacitive touch panels is very good, as is touch detection accuracy. In addition, the glass and plastic coatings on projected capacitive touch panel displays are generally very durable and dust resistant.
Pros of projected capacitive touch:
Limitations of projected capacitive touch:
Infrared touch technology uses light beam interruption to detect touch commands. In infrared touch displays, infrared beams are organized in a grid over the panel itself and touch points are calculated when the beams are interrupted.
Infrared touch screens are capable of multi-point touch and can be found in sizes ranging from 20 – 150 inches. Commands can be inputted on an infrared touch panel by way of a finger touch, a thick stylus, or gloved touch, though touch detection accuracy can vary based on the internal components used.
Infrared touch panels tend to have good light transmittance and are quite durable, however sunlight can cause glare and reflection, negatively impacting the user experience.
Pros of infrared touch:
Limitations of infrared touch:
| Resistive | SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) | Optical Imaging | Projected Capacitive | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmissivity |  |  | | | |
| Durability | | | | | |
| Handwriting |  | | | | |
| Accuracy |  | |  | | |
| Typical Display Size | <20” | <20” | 19-100” | <32” | 20-150” |
| Multi-Touch? | not typically, but some demonstrated | not typically, but some demonstrated | yes | yes | yes |
| Input Method |  or stylus | or soft tip pen | anything | or conductive pen | or thick stylus |
| Challenges | needs forceful touch but no sharp objects | rain, dust contamination | dust contamination, strong light source >500 lux or >840 nm wavelength | can’t use with thick gloves | sunlight, contamination wide bezel |
| Application | for basic touch with 1 point gesture | for basic touch with 1 point gesture | Medium to large size, indoor touch | For best user experience | Large size, e-whiteboard |
excellent/yes
good
fair
okay
varies
Ideal for high durability, 1-point-touch, glove and hand writing support
Ideal for high image clarity, higher touch sensitivity, support multi-touch events
Ideal for multi-touch support, durability and sensitivity, and gesture control
Ideal for high image clarity, high durability with glove support
As we have outlined, there has been a strong shift towards touch panel technology, with more and more businesses adopting touch panels every year. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a business today that isn’t implementing some form of touch panel technology.
The reason for this is that businesses are realizing just how advantageous touch panel technology can be, thanks to their simple to use interface and ability to increase productivity and improve customer experiences Industries using touch panel technology include:
Just how are these industries implementing touch screen technology? Let's discuss a few examples of how touch panels are being used today.
Touch panel tech puts the power controlling your display at your fingertips, resulting in faster display operations. In business settings, this reduction in time can give way to a multitude of benefits including shorter queue times and faster service for your customers. Moreover, these benefits can create a domino effect of positive outcomes, including higher customer satisfaction, better customer experiences, and greater brand loyalty from your customers.
Since the introduction of touchscreen smartphones, the use of touch technology has become nearly universal. As such, everyone has become a master. In this case, this technology’s benefit is two-fold; it’s easy to implement and it’s faster for employees to operate. Easy implementation will enable employees to begin using the technology immediately without a learning curve, thus enabling faster operations.
Because touch panels are so versatile in the ways they can be implemented, they possess the ability to positively affect the user experience. Displaying engaging content for consumer interaction, for instance, is a good way to elevate your business above the competition.
Beyond employee interactions, touch panels can be beneficial to customers. Therein, touch panel technology allows users to serve themselves. This functionality can be useful for mall or hotel information services and restaurant meal selection, to name just a few applications. This allows employees more time to focus on higher priority tasks and allows customers to take ownership of their own experience.
Inherently, touchscreens must be able to withstand constant physical interaction. With durability and limited replacement in mind, touch panel producers aim for the greatest possible lifespans and accidental damage prevention.
Non-touch panels often require additional peripherals for operation. Implementation of touch technology eliminates the need for these accessories and, through its faster operation, results in a more streamlined workspace.
Touch panel technology can increase efficiency in the workplace by, for example by reducing queue times. This efficiency increase translates into bottom line benefits by allowing employees to service more customers, thereby enhancing the customer experience.
Digitizing your workflow with touch panel technology can reduce costs by eliminating office supply expenditures. Touch displays also can reduce storage costs by eliminating the need for physical document storage.
As a rule of thumb, any type of touch screen technology you choose should have the following characteristics:
As we discussed above, there are different types of touch technology to choose from, each with a different set of characteristics and capabilities. While one type of touch technology may be able to do more than another, it may not always be the most economical choice to go for the most comprehensive technology, unless your particular application calls for it. When looking into implementing touch panel technology, your starting point should be to first consider your needs:
Another way to look into selecting the right solution for your business is to consider your business objectives:
ViewSonic offers an array of touch screen monitor and digital signage products that cater to specific applications. Whatever your objectives for implementing touch panel technology, our customer service representatives are available to consult with you on where and how touch technology may be beneficial for your business. Once you’ve decided to implement touch, we can help you develop a custom package tailored to your specific needs.
See why many of today’s leading international and domestic corporations use ViewSonic touch screen monitors and digital signage to improve their workflow. Our touch solutions are easy to use, easy to implement, and let you digitize your business workflow to improve your bottom line.
Get in touch with one of our representatives for a free consultation; we’ll help you decide the best way to improve your business with our touch panel solutions.