What is Touch Screen

3 November

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You might have used those small kiosks in the retail store which have flashy screens and you just have to touch the option on the screen to get the detail information. These are touch screen kiosks. Touch screen is an input output device which helps you to operate a computer by touching the computer monitor.

The touch screens are of four types:

Resistive touch screen.
Infrared touch screen.
Captive touch screen.
Surface wave touch screen.

The surface wave touch screen monitors work on the ultrasonic waves. These waves flow on the computer monitor when the screen is touched at specific points. The waves get absorbed and processed by the computer so that the necessary information is displayed on the screen. These monitors are used at specific places but are sensitive to dust contamination.

Infrared touch screen is of two types. One form uses infrared sensors arranged vertically and horizontally so as to form a grid pattern. While the other form works on infrared or thermal waves. The infrared screens are commonly used in military. The resistive touch screen monitor has a thin coat of a metal which is both electrically conductive and resistive. When any person touches the screen then the changes in the electric current are detected and the information is then processed by the computer on this basis. These monitors are most commonly used but are with low quality of clarity as compared to other type of touch screens and also get damaged quickly.

In contrast to these the captive touch screen is coated with idium tin oxide. This oxide is responsible for continuous flow of a weak current on the screen. When the computer screen is touched at the touch pads there is a variation in the current flow which is detected and processed by the computer. These screens are most resistive against dust and other damages hence most widely used. These screens also give high level of clarity as compared to resistive touch screen monitors.

Uses
Although the technology is in use since 1970s, but it is more widely used now as public information displays in trade shows, point of purchase in a retail store, in restaurants as order entry points, in railways for giving information to the passengers about the seating and reservation and the train inquiry. It is commonly used in ATMs and in industrial applications as automation control devices.

The use can also be extended as assistive technology to give assistance to those who find it difficult to operate the computer. The uses are many. All is required is a small touch screen hardware to be attached to the commonly used computers.

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