Touch Screens

Seminar Report

ABSTRACT
TOUCH SCREEN
First computers became more visual, then they took a step further to
understand vocal commands and now they have gone a step further and
became TOUCHY, that is skin to screen.
A touch screen is an easy to use input device that allows users to
control PC software and DVD video by touching the display screen. A touch
system consists of a touch Sensor that receives the touch input, a Controller,
and a Driver. The most commonly used touch technologies are the Capacitive
& Resistive systems. The other technologies used in this field are Infrared
technology, Near Field Imaging & SAW (surface acoustic wave technology).
These technologies are latest in this field but are very much expensive.
The uses of touch systems as Graphical User Interface (GUI) devices
for computers continue to grow popularity. Touch systems are used for many
applications such as ATMs, point-ofsale systems, industrial controls, casinos
& public kiosks etc. Touch system is basically an alternative for a mouse or
keyboard.
The market for touch system is going to be around $2.5 billion by 2004.
Various companies involved in development of touch systems mainly are
Philips, Samsung etc. Even touch screen mobile phones have been
developed by Philips.

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Contents
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. How Does a Touch screen Work?
4. Comparing Touch Technologies.
5. Information Kiosk Systems.
6. Software, Cables, and Accessories.
7. Touch screen Drivers.
8. Applications.
9. Advantages over other pointing devices.
10. Conclusion.

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INTRODUCTION
A type of display screen that has a touch-sensitive transparent panel
covering the screen. Instead of using a pointing device such as a mouse or
light pen, you can use your finger to point directly to objects on the screen.
Although touch screens provide a natural interface for computer
novices, they are unsatisfactory for most applications because the finger is
such a relatively large object. It is impossible to point accurately to small
areas of the screen. In addition, most users find touch screens tiring to the
arms after long use.
Touch-screens are typically found on larger displays, in phones with
integrated PDA features. Most are designed to work with either your finger or
a special stylus. Tapping a specific point on the display will activate the virtual
button or feature displayed at that location on the display.
Some phones with this feature can also recognize handwriting written on the
screen using a stylus, as a way to quickly input lengthy or complex
information
A touchscreen is an input device that allows users to operate a PC by simply
touching the display screen. Touch input is suitable for a wide variety of
computing applications. A touchscreen can be used with most PC systems as
easily as other input devices such as track balls or touch pads. Browse the
links below to learn more about touch input technology and how it can work
for you.

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HISTORY OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY

A touch screen is a special type of visual display unit with a screen which
is sensitive to pressure or touching. The screen can detect the position of the
point of touch. The design of touch screens is best for inputting simple
choices and the choices are programmable. The device is very user-friendly
since it 'talks' with the user when the user is picking up choices on the screen.
Touch technology turns a CRT, flat panel display or flat surface into a
dynamic data entry device that replaces both the keyboard and mouse. In
addition to eliminating these separate data entry devices, touch offers an
"intuitive" interface. In public kiosks, for example, users receive no more
instruction than 'touch your selection.
Specific areas of the screen are defined as "buttons" that the operator
selects simply by touching them. One significant advantage to touch screen
applications is that each screen can be customized to reflect only the valid
options for each phase of an operation, greatly reducing the frustration of
hunting for the right key or function.
Pen-based systems, such as the Palm Pilot and signature capture
systems, also use touch technology but are not included in this article. The
essential difference is that the pressure levels are set higher for pen-based
systems than for touch.
Touch screens come in a wide range of options, from full color VGA and
SVGA monitors designed for highly graphic Windows or Macintosh
applications to small monochrome displays designed for keypad replacement
and enhancement.
Specific figures on the growth of touch screen technology are hard to come
by, but a 1995 study last year by Venture Development Corporation predicted
overall growth of 17%, with at least 10% in the industrial sector.
Other vendors agree that touch screen technology is becoming more
popular because of its ease-of-use, proven reliability, expanded functionality,
and decreasing cost.

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HOW DOES A TOUCHSCREEN WORK?

A basic touchscreen has
three

main

components:

touch sensor, a controller, and

a

software

driver.

The

touchscreen is an input device,

so it needs to be combined with
a display and a PC or other
device to make a complete
touch input system.
1. Touch Sensor
A touch screen sensor is a clear glass panel with a touch responsive
surface. The touch sensor/panel is placed over a display screen so that the
responsive area of the panel covers the viewable area of the video screen.
There are several different touch sensor technologies on the market today,
each using a different method to detect touch input. The sensor generally has
an electrical current or signal going through it and touching the screen causes
a voltage or signal change. This voltage change is used to determine the
location of the touch to the screen.
2. Controller
The controller is a small PC card that connects between the touch sensor and
the PC. It takes information from the touch sensor and translates it into
information that PC can understand. The controller is usually installed inside
the monitor for integrated monitors or it is housed in a plastic case for external
touch

add-ons/overlays.

The

controller

determines

what

type

of

interface/connection you will need on the PC. Integrated touch monitors will
have an extra cable connection on the back for the touchscreen. Controllers
are available that can connect to a Serial/COM port (PC) or to a USB port (PC
or Macintosh). Specialized controllers are also available that work with DVD
players and other devices.
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3. Software Driver
The driver is a software update for the PC system that allows the touchscreen
and computer to work together. It tells the computer's operating system how
to interpret the touch event information that is sent from the controller. Most
touch screen drivers today are a mouse-emulation type driver. This makes
touching the screen the same as clicking your mouse at the same location on
the screen. This allows the touchscreen to work with existing software and
allows new applications to be developed without the need for touchscreen
specific programming. Some equipment such as thin client terminals, DVD
players, and specialized computer systems either do not use software drivers
or they have their own built-in touch screen driver.
Touchscreens

Add-ons

and

Integrated Touchscreen Monitors

We offer two main types of
touchscreen
touchscreen

products,
add-ons

and

integrated touchscreen monitors.

Touchscreen

add-ons

are

touchscreen panels that hang

over

an

existing

computer

monitor. Integrated touchscreen

monitors are computer displays that have the touchscreen built-in. Both
product types work in the same way, basically as an input device like a mouse
or trackpad.

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USES OF TOUCH SCREEN

The touch screen is one of the easiest PC interfaces to use, making it the
interface of choice for a wide variety of applications. Here are a few examples
of how touch input systems are being used today:
Public Information Displays
Information kiosks, tourism displays, trade show displays, and other
electronic displays are used by many people that have little or no computing
experience. The user-friendly touch screen interface can be less intimidating
and easier to use than other input devices, especially for novice users. A
touchscreen can help make your information more easily accessible by
allowing users to navigate your presentation by simply touching the display
screen.
Retail and Restaurant Systems
Time is money, especially in a fast paced retail or restaurant
environment. Touchscreen systems are easy to use so employees can get
work done faster, and training time can be reduced for new employees. And
because input is done right on the screen, valuable counter space can be
saved. Touchscreens can be used in cash registers, order entry stations,
seating and reservation systems, and more.
Customer Self-Service
In today's fast pace world, waiting in line is one of the things that has
yet to speed up. Self-service touch screen terminals can be used to improve
customer service at busy stores, fast service restaurants, transportation hubs,
and more. Customers can quickly place their own orders or check themselves
in or out, saving them time, and decreasing wait times for other customers.
Automated bank teller (ATM) and airline e-ticket terminals are examples of
self-service stations that can benefit from touchscreen input.
Control and Automation Systems
The touch screen interface is useful in systems ranging from industrial
process control to home automation. By integrating the input device with the
display, valuable workspace can be saved. And with a graphical interface,
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operators can monitor and control complex operations in real-time by simply

touching the screen.
Computer Based Training
Because the touch screen interface is more user-friendly than other
input devices, overall training time for computer novices, and therefore
training expense, can be reduced. It can also help to make learning more fun
and interactive, which can lead to a more beneficial training experience for
both students and educators.
Assistive Technology
The touch screen interface can be beneficial to those that have
difficulty using other input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. When used
in conjunction with software such as on-screen keyboards, or other assistive
technology, they can help make computing resources more available to
people that have difficulty using computers.
Take a look at how one of our customers, CHI Centers, Inc., has
developed a system that allows non-verbal individuals to communicate using
a PC and touchscreen display: http://www.chicenters.org/patty.html
And many more uses...
The touch screen interface is being used in a wide variety of
applications to improve human-computer interaction. Other applications
include digital jukeboxes, computerized gaming, student registration systems,
multimedia software, financial and scientific applications, and more.

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COMPARING TOUCHSCREEN AND

DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES
We offer a variety of touchscreen and display solutions. If you are not
sure which type of touch product would work best for your application, then
the information below may be helpful. Follow the links below for information
on the different types of touch screen and display technologies that we offer.
Comparing Touch Technologies
There are several touch input technologies on the market, including
Resistive, Capacitive, and Surface Acoustic Wave. Follow this link to find out
about the different touchscreen technologies that we offer, how they work, and
what applications they are best suited for.
Comparing Conventional CRT and Flat Panel LCD Monitors
What type of display is best for you? Follow this link for a brief
comparison of conventional CRT type monitors with today's newer flat panel
LCD monitors
Touch Screen
A special thanks goes to Jason Ford of Elo Touch Systems, the
company whose founder invented touch screen technology, for providing the
following historical information.
In 1971, the first "touch sensor" was developed by Doctor Sam Hurst
(founder of Elographics) while he was an instructor at the University of
Kentucky. This sensor called the "Elograph" was patented by The University
of Kentucky Research Foundation. The "Elograph" was not transparent like
modern touch screens, however, it was a significant milestone in touch screen
technology.
In 1974, the first true touch screen incorporating a transparent surface
came on the scene developed by Sam Hurst and Elographics. In 1977,
Elographics developed and patented five-wire resistive technology, the most
popular touch screen technology in use today. On February 24, 1994, the
company officially changed its name from Elographics to Elo TouchSystems.
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Touch screens are devices that allow a user to provide input to a

computer or electronic system by making physical contact or near-contact
with the system's display. Most often seen in Automated Teller Machines
(ATMs), information kiosks, and other public computers, touch screens are
also widely used in computer graphics and animation. They also play a role in
assistive technology for users with special needs.

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TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Touch screens consist of a display component, typically a liquid crystal display
(LCD) or CRT covered or surrounded with a transparent sensor device that
allows the screen to detect the contact or proximity of an object. There is a
wide variety of sensor devices. Some devices are not entirely transparent or
create glare that makes the screen behind the device hard to see. The
amount of pressure or types of contact needed to detect a touch varies from
device to device. Devices also vary widely in accuracy (determining exactly
where the touch occurred), durability (reliability with repeated use or in
inclement circumstances), expected lifetime (time before failure of the device
or parts of it), and response time (how long it takes the screen to detect a
touch).

Many punched-card ballots could not be counted during the 2000 U.S.
Presidential election because the holes were not adequately punched. As
lawmakers looked into voting reforms, some recommended touchscreen
voting machines, which allow voters simply to touch the candidate's name.
A 4-wire resistive (pressure sensitive) screen is made of two thin
sheets separated by a grid of plastic dots. Each sheet, though clear, conducts
electricity. When the user touches the screen, the sheets contact each other
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only at the spot where the user touched it. The screen measures the amount
of electricity flowing between the two sheets to determine where the user
touched. The term "4-wire" comes from the four wires used to provide and
measure the currents on the screen. These are the cheapest and most
common touch screens. A 5-wire screen increases durability by adding a
sheet so that the surface touched by the user is not one carrying the currents.
An 8-wire screen is the same as 4-wire screens except that it uses an extra
set of wires to measure the currents and has increased durability.
Capacitive screens use a single thin sheet. The screen is connected
to electric oscillators. A signal of a specific frequency is broadcast through the
sheet creating an oscillating electric field around it. When the user comes
near the screen with a conductive object, such as a finger, the electric field is
changed, which changes the signal in the sheet. The screen can determine
the location of the conductive object by measuring the signal in the sheet.
Although these screens are much clearer and transparent than those covered
with resistive sheets, they lose accuracy over time and do not detect the
presence of non-conductive objects, such as gloved fingers.
Wave interruption screens send a wave of some kind over the
surface of the screen. When the user puts a finger into the wave, the screen
can detect where the interference occurred. An infrared screen has a row of
infrared lights along two adjacent sides. The opposite sides have infrared
detectors. When the light wave is interrupted by a finger, the screen can
determine where the interruption is by measuring which detectors went into
the shadows. With surface acoustic wave (SAW) screens, an inaudible sound
wave is "played" over the surface of the screen. A finger near the screen will
absorb some of the sound wave, even if it is gloved, and the screen can
determine the location by the change in frequency and strength of the sound
wave. With near-field imaging, an object changes the frequency and strength
of an electric (radio) wave. As with capacitive screens, the object interfering
with the wave must be capacitive. Unlike with capacitive screens, the object
can be covered with thin non-conductive covering, like a glove.
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FASTPOINT TOUCHSCREENS

Many PC users are turning their attention to the slim, lightweight flat
screen LCD monitors and away from the heavy, space-consuming CRT
monitor. Expanding FastPoint's family of products is a line of high quality,
space-saving LCD touch screen monitors.
Superior design and technology make FastPoint touchscreens the
ideal input device for home, office, and industrial use. Partnering with 3M,
FastPoint Technologies employs 8-wire resistive technology as the mainstay
of their touch screen monitors. Not only does this allow for outstanding display
clarity and maximum readability, but it also ensures optimal performance and
high durability. X/Y axis linear movement is maximized for touch accuracy
while problems, such as spacer dots and Newton rings, endemic to other
touchscreen technologies are eliminated. Touchscreen manufacturing is
domestically performed with the highest of quality assurance controls to
enhance scratch and contaminant resistance and to reduce mechanical
problems and user operating costs. Light (averaging 10 lbs) and slim, our
touchscreens reduce desktop space requirements and decrease the need for
impractical keyboard and mouse interaction.

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APPLICATIONS
Public computer systems are often designed around a touch screen,
which is often the only visible component. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
are the most common application, but falling prices for touch screen
technology are making it available for other applications such as museum
exhibits, ticket sales in airports and movie theaters, and public information
kiosks. Touch screens are ideal for these applications because they provide
input and output capabilities. They are often the only part of the system
contacted by the user and are sturdier than many other input devices because
they have no moving parts. These qualities make touch screen-based
systems easy and inexpensive to maintain and repair.
Touch screens are used, like mice, as pointing devices. Instead of
moving a mouse to activate and relocate the cursor, the user touches the
screen to position the cursor. For specifying precise location, a touch screen
often works with a stylusa device like a pencil that has a rubber or plastic
point. The user modifies what is seen on the screen by touching it, rather than
by manipulating a cursor or other on-screen component with a mouse,
keyboard, or joystick. Touch screens are invaluable to artists who have been
trained to use pencils, brushes, and other implements that effect change
wherever they touch the canvas.
Touch screens have revolutionized personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Older PDAs required the user to enter data using an extremely small
keyboard. Modern PDAs consist almost entirely of a touch screen, which
makes them substantially smaller and easier to use because the user can
"write" information directly into the device.
In the late twentieth century, companies began to integrate touch
screen technology with dry-erase boards (wall-mounted surfaces that allow
the user to write with markers and erase the markings with a cloth). With
these devices, whatever a user writes on the board can be simultaneously
recorded and saved in a computer file.
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ADVANTAGES

Touch screen enables people to use computers with out any training.

This technology is simple and user friendly

This is becoming more popular because of its ease of use , proven

reliability, expended functionality and decreasing cost.

Touch screen virtually eliminates operator errors, because users

selecting from clearly defined menu.

Touch screen provides fast access to any and all type of digital media.

It ensures that no space is wasted as the input device is completely

integrated into monitor.

Touch screen provided sufficient security.

Text can be displayed on variety of languages depending upon user

needs.

The touch screen interface can be updated with simple software

changes.

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DISADVANATGES

Althogh user friendly, touch screen can not be used to enter large
amount of data

This technology has not found in real world applications because system
designers have not carefully considered how the system will function.

Another failure of the industry has been not getting fast enough
processing behind the buttons

A touch screen system will cost about two or three times of the amount
of an existing keyboard display.

Touch screen and monitors together are expensive ranging from two and
half times the price of a standard computer.

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CONCLUSION
Touch screen technology is a developing subject now adays. It is not
big as other markets todays. In foreign countries, people uses this
technology on

many applications,

such

as

supermarkets,

public

information systems etc. With in a few years this technology becomes

more and more popular because of increasing functionality, decreasing
cost and higher user acceptance. Hence poosibilities of touch screens
technology become virtually endless.

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REFERNCES

www.microtouch systems.com

www.elotouchscreens.com

Chip Magazine, Feb 2002

www.wikeypedia.com/touch screen

www.seminarsonly.com

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