Touch Screen Technology: Types, Selection Guide, Pros & Cons

This article explores the fundamentals of touch screen technology, including a comparison of different touch screen panel types, methods employed in touch screen technologies, and a selection guide to help you choose the right touch screen panel (TSP) for your needs. It also delves into the advantages and disadvantages of touch screens.

Definition

A touchscreen is a human-machine interface that is activated by the user, either with a stylus or with single/multi-finger touch on the panel where specific functions are displayed. Touch input can instantly provide audio/visual feedback to the user to confirm the choice made.

The beauty of this touch screen technology is that users can directly interact with the device without the need for a mouse or keyboard. The touch screen contains an independent X-Y coordinate system calibrated to the display matrix. The touch point is determined by an embedded computer by X-Y coordinates of the touch point.

Touchscreens are commonly found in devices such as smartphones, PCs, laptops, TVs, game consoles, iPads, and electronic voting machines. The widespread adoption of touch screen technology is due to the availability of touch sensors and firmware developers.

Characteristics of an Ideal Touch Screen

An ideal touch screen should possess the following characteristics:

• It should not degrade the image on the display panel.
• It should have a resolution equal to the video display.
• Activation should be independent of the nature of styli and gloved/non-gloved fingers.
• It should be capable of providing feedback to the user.
• It should have a modular architecture.
• It requires precise control and selection of targets.
• It should withstand harsh environmental conditions such as moisture, pressure, grease, dust, vibration, etc.

Comparison Between Touch Screen Technologies

Here’s a look at the different types of touch screen technologies used for sensing touch:

• Resistive technology
• Capacitive technology
• Capacitive Projected technology
• Infrared grid technology
• SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) based

The selection of the proper touch screen technology depends on the specific application and specifications of each. All touch screens comprise two parts: a screen overlay and an information-processing controller.

The latest touch screen technologies include optical touch screens and near-field imaging touch screens. Single-touch technology is often used in ATM machines, while multi-touch technology is used in smartphones.

Selection Guide to Buy Touch Screen Panel (TSP)

Consider the following factors when selecting the right touch screen panel (TSP) for your use:

• Touch type
• Screen Size
• Accuracy of touch
• Touch screen resolution
• Response time
• transmission/clarity
• Life expectancy
• Resistance to scratch, chemical, dust, and grease
• Ergonomics
• Environment

Advantages and Disadvantages of Touch Screen Panels

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of touch screen technology:

Advantages

• It is a simple and user-friendly technology.
• It does not require a mouse or keyboard.
• A wide variety of touch screen options are available to suit different needs.
• It can withstand shock and vibration.
• It can withstand chemical or oil vapors.
• The technology is immune to nearby electric or magnetic fields.
• It is scratch-resistant, leading to a longer lifespan.

Disadvantages

• It’s not always easy for elderly individuals to learn this technology, often leading to accidental touches and the opening of unwanted functions.
• Capacitive surface-type touch screens do not support touch with gloves.
• Capacitive and projected capacitive screens do not support the use of a soft-tip stylus.
• Touch screen technology is still evolving, and it will take some time for cost-affordable devices to become widely available for common use.