Touch screens in the computers have transformed the way we interact with them. From tablet to computer, touch screens increase productivity, and improve natural interaction and accessibility with the user. Earlier they were used only in industrial equipment but nowadays they are used in almost every handheld design. In this article, you can read and understand computer touch screens, their types, and brief explanations.

What is a touch screen on a computer?

A touch screen is a computer display that can be used as an input device. It can be used by touching fingers or a stylus pen rather than a pointing device like a mouse or keyboard. 

We can drag, tap, and swipe the screen. It is the best alternative to using a keyboard when interacting with the graphical user interface (GUI). 

Types of touch screens

There are several types of touch screens available in the market. It includes 

• Capacitive touch screen

• Resistive touch screen

• Infrared touch screen

• Surface Acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreen

• Optical imaging touchscreen

• Projected capacitive touchscreen

1. Capacitive touch screen

The capacitive touch screen uses electrostatic properties to interact with the computers. Bringing our finger near a capacitive touch screen will disturb the electrostatic field, detect the area, and proceed to find the touched location.

They are highly responsive, and touch-sensitive but can be affected by light and moisture. These screens support multi-touch gestures but these are expensive as compared to resistance touch screens. Capacitive touch screens are widely used in smartphones, tablets, and touch-enabled laptops.

2. Resistance touch screens

Resistance touch screens are pressure-activated. It means they detect pressure on the screen and respond to the pressure-detecting area. Resistance touch screens are composed of two thin and flexible layers coated with metallic layers. When pressure is applied, layers come in contact at the point of touch. 

Resistive touch can work with fingers, stylus, and gloves. They are cheap, have limited multi-touch capabilities, and have low clarity due to multiple layers. Resistive touch screens are widely used in ATMs, industrial control, and sales systems

3. Infrared touch screens

This screen uses an array of LEDs and photodetectors that are arranged on the edges of the screen. When a finger is touched on the screen, it interrupts the pattern of infrared waves and allows the system to detect the pointed area.

Infrared touch screens are cost-friendly, give 4k resolution, and have high clarity of touch detection, but one of the disadvantages is that dust and debris can block the infrared array and can damage the screen.

4. Surface Acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreen

SAW uses ultrasonic wave technology that creates an invisible grid in front of the screen. When we give input to the screen through finger touch, gloves, or the stylus, it interrupts the pattern of the waves. After this, the system detects the location and responds to the detected area. 

Surface acoustic wave touch screens have excellent image clarity, and have high resolution but it also has some disadvantages. It is vulnerable to outside contaminants and is more expensive than resistive and capacitive touch screens.

5. Optical imaging touch screens

Optical image touch screens use multiple sensors and light for the interaction on the screen which is usually made up of glass. When a user touches the screen with a finger or an object, it interrupts one or infrared beams. The optical sensors monitor the interruption and calculate the exact location. This system is also able to detect multiple interruptions and still can detect exact points and respond to each detection.

Users can do multiple tasks on it such as switching applications, zooming in and zooming out, and drawing pictures on the screen. Optical imaging touch screens can handle multi-touch gestures.

Intensive light can damage such screens. Also if the screen has not been adjusted properly, accuracy concerns can occur. These screens are widely used in large interactive displays and conference rooms. 

6. Projected capacitive touch screens

Projective capacitive touch screens can be said to be an updated version of capacitive touch screens with a grid of conductive wire layered between glasses. This technology makes it more durable and allows it to be used in harsh environments. It can still detect multiple touch gestures and provides improved image quality but it is more expensive than other touch screens and is widely used in smartphones, tablets, and automotive touch screens.

FAQs

Which type of computer uses touch screens?

Smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices use touch screens as interactive displays. Nowadays laptops and computer monitors also come with touch screen technology making it more interactive and easy to use. Remember that a computer is just a system of having a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and CPU. smartphones, tablets, PCs, and laptops are included in the form of computers. 

How can we use touch screens?

We can interact with touch screens using our fingers but touch screens can also operate if you are wearing gloves except the capacitive touch screen as it needs a conductive object to operate. Touch screen can also be used with a stylus pen making its use more comfortable especially when drawing pictures on the screen.

Why are capacitive touch screens easier to use than resistive touch screens?

Capacitive touch does not require pressure input to interact with the screen. Instead, they use the electrical properties of the human body for the interaction. Also, they are more responsive than resistive touch screens and allow multiple touch gestures. 

Which touchscreen technology is best for use?

Projected capacitive touch screens are best for use. This is because it doesn't need any electrical properties of the human body like resistive and capacitive touch screens. Resistive touch screens are inexpensive but no longer in use. Infrared ray touch screens are prone to errors and optical imaging touch screens are not suitable for use in intensive light. So projected capacitive touch screens are widely in use.

Conclusion 

Touch screens make the user's interaction with the computer effective. Each type of touch screen has its weaknesses and strengths. The choice of touch screen usually depends upon your cost, clarity, output demanded, durability, and specific requirements of the application. Industries are still working on touchscreen technology to enhance user experiences. 

For more information read the article: Interactive Projector vs Interactive Display