Learn About Touchscreens

What is it?

It is an input device that captures user input from surface movement on the display, then sends them to your computer. It allows users to navigate graphical user interfaces (GUI) with ease. Touchscreens can be built in displays, or purchased as a separate display. Some tablets can be plugged to your computer to provide a touchscreen for your computer. There are mainly 2 types of touchscreens used in PCs:

• Capacitive

  Most common in modern touchscreens. It works by simply touching, with no force needed. It can detect up to 10 fingers at the same time. It will not work if you are wearing insulating gloves.

• Resistive

  Most common in old touchscreens. It requires force touching to register user inputs. Cannot detect more than one finger at a time.

How does it work?

Touchscreens work by doing the following (over simplified) steps:

1. Capture movement
2. Send data to computer

Look for

• Surface Feel

  Check how comfortable the surface feels

• Precision

  Check how precise is it in tracking your movement

• Multi-Touch Gestures

  Check the multi-touch gestures it can do

• Stylus Support

  Check if it is compatible with a stylus

  Stylus can make handwriting and drawing much easier as well as more precise.

• Input Refresh Rate

  Check the input refresh rate

• Compatibility

  Check compatibility with your computer ports and OS

Avoid

• Resistive Touchscreens

  Avoid resistive Touchscreens

  Most modern touchscreens are capacitive touchscreens. Unlike resistive touchscreens, they support multi-touch, and are much easier to register user input. Because resistive touchscreens need force pressure to register, while capacitive touchscreens need only touching without force.

• Plastic Surface

  Avoid plastic touchscreens

  They will be easily scratched.