1. NAME: OSHIOBUGIE MARY ONOSHIOAGIE MATRIC NO:13/SMS02/053 DEPARTMENT: ACCOUNTING TOPIC:THE RECENT ADVANCEMENTS AND APPLICATION IN TOUCHSCREEN TECHNLOGY

2. What’s a touch screen A touch screen is a device, which allows users to control a Personal Computer by simply touching the display screen by finger or pin. This type of input is suitable for a large number of computing applications. Most PC systems use a touch screen as easily as other input devices such as track balls or touch pads. Working of Touch Screen Touch screen has 3 main components: a touch sensor, a controller and a software driver. To make a complete touch input system, a touch screen is combined with a display and a PC or other device. 1) Touch screen censor A touch screen sensor is a glass plate having touch responsive surface. The touch sensor is positioned over a display screen so that the responsive area of the plate covers the maximum viewable area of the video screen. There are number of touch sensor technologies available in the market today, each using a different approach to detect touch input. The sensor has an electrical current or signal passing through it and touching the screen causes change in voltage or signal. 2) Controller The controller used in touch screen is a small PC card that interconnects between the touch sensor and the PC. Controller takes data from the touch sensor and converts it into information that PC can understand. The controller is useful to determine what type of interface/connection you will need on the PC. Integrated touch monitors are provided with an extra cable connection on the back for the touch screen. Controllers are available by connecting to a Serial/COM port (PC) or to a USB port (PC or Macintosh). 3) Software Driver The driver is software for the PC system that permits the touch screen and computer to work together. It tells operating system of computer how to interpret the touch event information that is sent from the controller. Today’s touch screen drivers are a mouse-emulation type driver. This makes touching the screen the same as clicking your mouse at the same location on the screen.

3. Uses of Touch Screen The touch screen is one of the simplest PC interfaces to use, making it the interface of choice for a large number of applications. Following are uses of touch screen. 1) Public Information Displays Tourism displays, trade show displays, Information kiosks and other electronic displays are used by large number of people that have little or no computing experience. The touch screen interface is easier to use than other input devices especially for novice users 2) Retail and Restaurant Systems In retail or restaurant environment, touch screen systems are easy to use so employees can get work done faster and also training time can be reduced for new employees. As input is present right on the screen, valuable counter space can be saved. Touch screens can be used in order entry stations, cash registers, seating, reservation systems and more. 3) Control and Automation Systems The touch screen device is useful in systems ranging from industrial process control to home automation. Valuable workspace can be saved by integrating the input device with the display. In real-time by simply touching the screen and with a graphical interface, operators can monitor and control complex operations. 4) Computer Based Training The touch screen interface is more user-friendly than other input devices. It can also more useful to make learning more fun and interactive, which can lead to a more beneficial training experience for both students and educators. 5) Assistive Technology The touch screen interface is very useful for those having difficulty using other input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. When touch screen used 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.

4. HP Series 100 HP-150 c. 1983, the earliest commercial touch screen computer. Interactive table, Ideen 2020 exposition, 2013. The IBM Simon Personal Communicator, c. 1993, the first touch screen phone.The IBM Simon Personal Communicator. Apple iPad, a tablet computer with a touch screeniPad

5. A touch screen is an electronic visual display that the user can control through simple or multi- touch gestures by touching the screen with a special stylus/pen and-or one or more fingers. Some touch screens use an ordinary or specially coated gloves to work while others use a special stylus/pen only. The user can use the touch screen to react to what is displayed and to control how it is displayed.The touch screen enables the user to interact directly with what is displayed, rather than using a mouse, touchpad, or any other intermediate device (other than a stylus, which is optional for most modern touch screens).Touch screens are common in devices such as game consoles, personal computers, tablet computers, and smart phones. They also play a prominent role in the design of digital appliances such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, and video games and some books (Electronic books).The popularity of smart phones, tablets, and many types of information appliances is driving the demand and acceptance of common touch screens for portable and functional electronics. Touch screens are found in the medical field and in heavy industry, as well as for automated teller machines (ATMs), and kiosks such as museum displays or room automation, where keyboard and mouse systems do not allow a suitably intuitive, rapid, or accurate interaction by the user with the display's content. Historically, the touch screen sensor and its accompanying controller-based firmware have been made available by a wide array of after-market system integrators, and not by display, chip, or motherboard manufacturers. Display manufacturers and chip manufacturers worldwide have acknowledged the trend toward acceptance of touch screens as a highly desirable user interface component and have begun to integrate touch screens into the fundamental design of their products.electronic visual displaymulti- touch gesturesmousetouchpadgame consolespersonal computerstablet computerspersonal digital assistants (PDAs)satellite navigationmobile phonesvideo gamesinformation appliancesheavy industryautomated teller machinesroom automationkeyboard mousesystem integratorsuser interface

6. History of touch screen technology The prototype [1] x-y mutual capacitance touch screen (left) developed at CERN [2][3] in 1977 by Bent Stumped, a Danish electronics engineer, for the control room of CERN’s accelerator SPS (Super Proton Synchrotron). This was a further development of the self-capacitance screen (right), also developed by Stumped at CERN [4] in 1972. [1]CERN [2][3]Super Proton Synchrotronself-capacitance screen [4] E.A. Johnson described his work on capacitive touch screens in a short article which is published in 1965 [5] and then more fully—along with photographs and diagrams—in an article published in 1967. [6] A description of the applicability of the touch technology for air traffic control was described in an article published in 1968. [7] Frank Beck and Bent Stumped, engineers from CERN, developed a transparent touch screen in the early 1970s and it was manufactured by CERN and put to use in 1973. [8] This touch screen was based on Bent Stump's work at a television factory in the early 1960s. A resistive touch screen was developed by American inventor G. Samuel Hurst who received US patent #3,911,215 on Oct. 7, 1975. [9] The first version was produced in 1982. [10] [5] [6] [7]CERN [8] [9] [10] In 1972, a group at the University of Illinois filed for a patent on an optical touch screen. [11] These touch screens became a standard part of the Magnavox Plato IV Student Terminal. Thousands of these were built for the PLATO IV system. These touch screens had a crossed array of 16 by 16 infrared position sensors, each composed of an LED on one edge of the screen and a matched phototransistor on the other edge, all mounted in front of a monochrome plasma display panel. This arrangement can sense any fingertip-sized opaque object in close proximity to the screenUniversity of Illinois [11]MagnavoxPLATO IVinfraredLEDphototransistor

7. . A similar touch screen was used on the HP-150 starting in 1983; this was one of the world's earliest commercial touch screen computers. [12] HP mounted their infrared transmitters and receivers around the bezel of a 9" Sony Cathode Ray Tube (CRT).HP-150 [12]infraredtransmittersSonyCathode Ray Tube other than throttle, transmission, braking and steering) from mechanical or electro-mechanical systems with solid state alternatives wherever possible the early 1980s General Motors tasked its Delco Electronics division with a project aimed at replacing an automobile's non essential functions (i.e. le. The finished device was dubbed the ECC for "Electronic Control Center", a digital computer and software control system hardwired to various peripheral sensors, servos, solenoids, antenna and a monochrome CRT touch screen that functioned both as display and sole method of input. [13] The EEC replaced the traditional mechanical stereo, fan, heater and air conditioner controls and displays, and was capable of providing very detailed and specific information about the vehicle's cumulative and current operating status in real timesolid stateGeneral MotorsDelco Electronics digital computersoftwareperipheralsensorsservos solenoidsantennamonochrome [13]stereoair conditionerreal time. The ECC was standard equipment on the 1985-1989 Buick Riviera and later the 1988- 89 Buick Reatta, but was unpopular with consumers partly due to technophobia on behalf of some traditional Buick customers, but mostly because of costly to repair technical problems suffered by the ECC's touch screen which being the sole access method, would render climate control or stereo operation impossibleBuick RivieraBuick ReattatechnophobiaBuick

8. –. [14] [14] Multi-touch technology began in 1982, when the University of Toronto's Input Research Group developed the first human-input multi-touch system, using a frosted-glass panel with a camera placed behind the glass. In 1985, the University of Toronto group including Bill Buxton developed a multi-touch tablet that used capacitance rather than bulky camera-based optical sensing systems (see History of multi-touch). Multi-touch technologyHistory of multi-touch In 1986 the first graphical point of sale software was demonstrated on the 16-bit Atari 520ST color computer. It featured a color touch screen widget-driven interface. [15] The ViewTouch [16] point of sale software was first shown by its developer, Gene Mosher, at Fall Comdex, 1986, in Las Vegas, Nevada to visitors at the Atari Computer demonstration area and was the first commercially available POS system with a widget-driven color graphic touch screen interface. [17] Sears et al. (1990) [18] gave a review of academic research on single and multi- touch human–computer interaction of the time, describing gestures such as rotating knobs, swiping the screen to activate a switch (or a U-shaped gesture for a toggle switch), and touch screen keyboards (including a study that showed that users could type at 25 wpm for a touch screen keyboard compared with 58 wpm for a standard keyboard); multitouch gestures such as selecting a range of a line, connecting objects, and a "tap-click" gesture to select while maintaining location with another finger are also described.In c. 1991-1992, the Sun Star7 prototype PDA implemented a touch screen with inertial scrolling. [19] In 1993, the IBM Simon - the first touch screen phone - was released.An early attempt at a handheld game console with touch screen controls was Sega's intended successor to the Game Gear, though the device was ultimately shelved and never released due to the expensive cost of touch screen technology in the early 1990s. Touch screens would not be popularly used for video games until the release of the Nintendo DS in 2004. [Atari 520ST [15]ViewTouch [16]Gene Mosher [17] [18]multi- touchhuman–computer interactionSunPDAinertial scrolling [19]IBM Simonhandheld game consolecontrolsSegaGame GearNintendo DS

9. The past present and future of touch It's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, touch screen technology could only be found in science fiction books and film. These days, it's almost unfathomable how we once got through our daily tasks without a trusty tablet or Smartphone nearby, but it doesn't stop there. Touch screens really are everywhere. Homes, cars, restaurants, stores, planes, wherever—they fill our lives in spaces public and private. It took generations and several major technological advancements for touch screens to achieve this kind of presence. Although the underlying technology behind touch screens can be traced back to the 1940s, there's plenty of evidence that suggests touch screens weren't feasible until at least 1965. Popular science fiction television shows like Star Trek didn't even refer to the technology until Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted in 1987, almost two decades after touch screen technology was even deemed possible. But their inclusion in the series paralleled the advancements in the technology world, and by the late 1980s, touch screens finally appeared to be realistic enough that consumers could actually employ the technology into their own homes. inclusion This article is the first of a three-part series on touch screen technology's journey to fact from fiction. The first three decades of touch are important to reflect upon in order to really appreciate the multitouch technology we're so used to having today. Today, we'll look at when these technologies first arose and who introduced them, plus we'll discuss several other pioneers who played a big role in advancing touch. Future entries in this series will study how the changes in touch displays led to essential devices for our lives today and where the technology might take us in the future. But first, let's put finger to screen and travel to the 1960s.

11. 1960;the first touch screen Historians generally consider the first finger-driven touch screen to have been invented by E.A. Johnson in 1965 at the Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern, United Kingdom. Johnson originally described his work in an article entitled "Touch display—a novel input/output device for computers" published in Electronics Letters. The piece featured a diagram describing a type of touch screen mechanism that many smart phones use today—what we now know as capacitive touch. Two years later, Johnson further expounded on the technology with photographs and diagrams in "Touch Displays: A Programmed Man-Machine Interface," published in Ergonomics in 1967.first"Touch display—a novel input/output device for computers" 1970s: Resistive touch screens are invented Although capacitive touch screens were designed first, they were eclipsed in the early years of touch by resistive touch screens. American inventor Dr. G. Samuel Hurst developed resistive touch screens almost accidentally. The Berea College Magazine for alumni described it like this: described To study atomic physics the research team used an overworked Van de Graff accelerator that was only available at night. Tedious analyses slowed their research. Sam thought of a way to solve that problem. He, Parks, and Thurman Stewart, another doctoral student, used electrically conductive paper to read a pair of x- and y- coordinates. That idea led to the first touch screen for a computer. With this prototype, his students could compute in a few hours what otherwise had taken days to accomplish.

12. Hurst, however, had other ideas. "I thought it might be useful for other things," he said in the article. In 1970, after he returned to work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Hurst began an after-hours experiment. In his basement, Hurst and nine friends from various other areas of expertise set out to refine what had been accidentally invented. The group called its fledgling venture "Demographics," and the team discovered that a touch screen on a computer monitor made for an excellent method of interaction. All the screen needed was a conductive cover sheet to make contact with the sheet that contained the X- and Y-axis. Pressure on the cover sheet allowed voltage to flow between the X wires and the Y wires, which could be measured to indicate coordinates. This discovery helped found what we today refer to as resistive touch technology (because it responds purely to pressure rather than electrical conductivity, working with both a stylus and a finger).Demographics, As a class of technology, resistive touch screens tend to be very affordable to produce. Most devices and machines using this touch technology can be found in restaurants, factories, and hospitals because they are durable enough for these environments. Smartphone manufacturers have also used resistive touch screens in the past, though their presence in the mobile space today tends to be confined to lower-end phones.a diagram of a second generation accucurved touch screen from elotouch is shown below.

14. Technologies There are a variety of touch screen technologies that have different methods of sensing touch. [18] [18] Resistive A resistive touch screen panel comprises several layers, the most important of which are two thin, transparent electrically-resistive layers separated by a thin space. These layers face each other with a thin gap between. The top screen (the screen that is touched) has a coating on the underside surface of the screen. Just beneath it is a similar resistive layer on top of its substrate. One layer has conductive connections along its sides, the other along top and bottom. A voltage is applied to one layer, and sensed by the other. When an object, such as a fingertip or stylus tip, presses down onto the outer surface, the two layers touch to become connected at that point Resistive touch is used in restaurants, factories and hospitals due to its high resistance to liquids and contaminants. A major benefit of resistive touch technology is its low cost. Additionally, as only sufficient pressure is necessary for the touch to be sensed, they may be used with gloves on, or by using anything rigid as a finger/stylus substitute. Disadvantages include the need to press down, and a risk of damage by sharp objects. Resistive touch screens also suffer from poorer contrast, due to having additional reflections from the extra layers of material (separated by an air gap) placed over the screen. [21]resistive [21] Surface acoustic wave Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology also uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the touch screen panel. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. This change in the ultrasonic waves registers the position of the touch event and sends this information to the controller for processing. Surface acoustic wave touch screen panels can be damaged by outside elements. Contaminants on the surface can also interfere with the functionality of the touch screen.Surface acoustic waveultrasoniccontroller

15. capacitive A capacitive touch screen panel consists of an insulator such as glass, coated with a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide (ITO). [citation needed] As the human body is also an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the screen's electrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance. Different technologies may be used to determine the location of the touch. The location is then sent to the controller for processing.insulator glassconductorindium tin oxidecitation neededelectrostaticcapacitancecontroller Unlike a resistive touch screen, one cannot use a capacitive touch screen through most types of electrically insulating material, such as gloves. This disadvantage especially affects usability in consumer electronics, such as touch tablet PCs and capacitive smart phones in cold weather. It can be overcome with a special capacitive stylus, or a special-application glove with an embroidered patch of conductive thread passing through it and contacting the user's fingertip.resistive touch screen The largest capacitive display manufacturers continue to develop thinner and more accurate touch screens, with touch screens for mobile devices now being produced with 'in-cell' technology that eliminates a layer, such as Samsung's Super AMOLED screens, by building the capacitors inside the display itself. This type of touch screen reduces the visible distance (within millimetres) between the user's finger and what the user is touching on the screen, creating a more direct contact with the content displayed and enabling taps and gestures to be more responsive. mobile devicesSuper AMOLEDtaps and gestures. Capacitive touch screen of a mobile phone

16. Surface capacitance In this basic technology, only one side of the insulator is coated with a conductive layer. A small voltage is applied to the layer, resulting in a uniform electrostatic field. When a conductor, such as a human finger, touches the uncoated surface, a capacitor is dynamically formed. The sensor's controller can determine the location of the touch indirectly from the change in the capacitance as measured from the four corners of the panel. As it has no moving parts, it is moderately durable but has limited resolution, is prone to false signals from parasitic capacitive coupling, and needs calibration during manufacture. It is therefore most often used in simple applications such as industrial controls and kiosks. [22]voltage conductorcapacitorcontrollercapacitancecapacitive couplingcalibrationkiosks [22]

17. Projected capacitance Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT; also PCAP) technology is a variant of capacitive touch technology. All PCT touch screens are made up of a matrix of rows and columns of conductive material, layered on sheets of glass. This can be done either by etching a single conductive layer to form a grid pattern of electrodes, or by etching two separate, perpendicular layers of conductive material with parallel lines or tracks to form a grid. Voltage applied to this grid creates a uniform electrostatic field, which can be measured. When a conductive object, such as a finger, comes into contact with a PCT panel, it distorts the local electrostatic field at that point. This is measurable as a change in capacitance. If a finger bridges the gap between two of the "tracks", the charge field is further interrupted and detected by the controller. The capacitance can be changed and measured at every individual point on the grid (intersection). Therefore, this system is able to accurately track touches. [23] Due to the top layer of a PCT being glass, it is a more robust solution than less costly resistive touch technology. Additionally, unlike traditional capacitive touch technology, it is possible for a PCT system to sense a passive stylus or gloved fingers. However, moisture on the surface of the panel, high humidity, or collected dust can interfere with the performance of a PCT system. There are two types of PCT: mutual capacitance and self-capacitance. etching electrodes [23] Mutual capacitance This is a common PCT approach, which makes use of the fact that most conductive objects are able to hold a charge if they are very close together. In mutual capacitive sensors, a Back side of a Multitouch Globe, based on Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology

18. capacitor is inherently formed by the row trace and column trace at each intersection of the grid. A 16-by-14 array, for example, would have 224 independent capacitors. A voltage is applied to the rows or columns. Bringing a finger or conductive stylus close to the surface of the sensor changes the local electrostatic field which reduces the mutual capacitance. The capacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be measured to accurately determine the touch location by measuring the voltage in the other axis. Mutual capacitance allows multi-touch operation where multiple fingers, palms or styli can be accurately tracked at the same time. capacitorvoltagemulti-touch Self-capacitance Self-capacitance sensors can have the same X-Y grid as mutual capacitance sensors, but the columns and rows operate independently. With self- capacitance, the capacitive load of a finger is measured on each column or row electrode by a current meter. This method produces a stronger signal than mutual capacitance, but it is unable to resolve accurately more than one finger, which results in "ghosting", or misplaced location sensing..

19. Infrared grid Infrared sensors mounted around the display watch for a user's touch screen input on this PLATO V terminal in 1981. The monochromatic plasma display's characteristic orange glow is illustrated. An infrared touch screen uses an array of X-Y infrared LED and photodetector pairs around the edges of the screen to detect a disruption in the pattern of LED beams. These LED beams cross each other in vertical and horizontal patterns. This helps the sensors pick up the exact location of the touch. A major benefit of such a system is that it can detect essentially any input including a finger, gloved finger, stylus or pen. It is generally used in outdoor applications and point of sale systems which can not rely on a conductor (such as a bare finger) to activate the touch screen. Unlike capacitive touch screens, infrared touch screens do not require any patterning on the glass which increases durability and optical clarity of the overall system.infraredLEDphotodetectorpoint of saleconductorcapacitive touch screens Dispersive signal technology Introduced in 2002 by 3M, this system uses sensors to detect the piezoelectricity in the glass that occurs due to a touch. Complex algorithms then interpret this information and provide the actual location of the touch. [24] The technology claims to be unaffected by dust and other outside elements, including scratches. Since there is no need for additional elements on screen, it also claims to provide excellent optical clarity. Also, since mechanical vibrations are used to detect a touch event, any object can be used to generate these events, including fingers and stylus. A downside is that after the initial touch the system cannot detect a motionless finger.3Mpiezoelectricity [24]

20. Development The development of multipoint touch screens facilitated the tracking of more than one finger on the screen; thus, operations that require more than one finger are possible. These devices also allow multiple users to interact with the touch screen simultaneously. With the growing use of touch screens, the marginal cost of touch screen technology is routinely absorbed into the products that incorporate it and is nearly eliminated. Touch screens now have proven reliability. Thus, touch screen displays are found today in airplanes, automobiles, gaming consoles, machine control systems, appliances, and handheld display devices including the Nintendo DS and multi-touch enabled cellphones; the touch screen market for mobile devices is projected to produce US$5 billion in 2009. [26]marginal cost Nintendo DS [26] TapSense, announced in October 2011, allows touch screens to distinguish what part of the hand was used for input, such as the fingertip, knuckle and fingernail. This could be used in a variety of ways, for example, to copy and paste, to capitalize letters, to activate different drawing modes, and similar. [27][28] [27][28] Ergonomics and usage Touch screen Accuracy Users must be able to accurately select targets on touch screens, and avoid accidental selection of adjacent targets, to effectively use a touch screen input device. The design of touch screen interfaces must reflect both technical capabilities of the system, ergonomics, cognitive psychology and human physiology.ergonomicscognitive psychologyhuman physiology

21. These types of touch screens are highly dependent on the size of the users fingers, so their guidelines are less relevant for the bulk of modern devices, using capacitive or resistive touch technology From the mid-2000s onward, makers of operating systems for smart phones have promulgated standards, but these vary between manufacturers, and allow for significant variation in size based on technology changes, so are unsuitable from a human factors perspectiveoperating systemssmart phoneshuman factors Much more important is the accuracy humans have in selecting targets with their finger or a pen stylus. The accuracy of user selection varies by position on the screen. Users are most accurate at the center, less so at the left and right edges, and much less accurate at the top and especially bottom edges. The R95 accuracy varies from 7 mm in the center, to 12 mm in the lower corners. [ Users are subconsciously aware of this, and are also slightly slower, taking more time to select smaller targets, and any at the edges and cornersR95 [ Hand Position, Digit Used & Switching Users of handheld and portable touch screen devices hold them in a variety of ways, and routinely change their method of holding and selection to suit the position and type of input. There are four basic types of handheld interaction: Holding at least in part with both hands, tapping with a single thumb. Holding with one hand, tapping with the finger (or rarely, thumb) of another hand.

22. Use rates vary widely. While two-thumb tapping is encountered rarely (1-3%) for many general interactions, it is used for 41% of typing interaction. [41] [41] In addition, devices are often placed on surfaces (desks or tables) and tablets especially are used in stands. The user may point, select or gesture in these cases with their finger or thumb, and also varies the use. [42] [42] Comb Holding the device in one hand, and tapping with the thumb from that hand. Holding with two hands and tapping with both thumbs. inked with Hap tics Touch screens are often used with hap tic response systems. A common example of this technology is the vibratory feedback provided when a button on the touch screen is tapped. Hap tics are used to improve the user's experience with touch screens by providing simulated tactile feedback, and can be designed to react immediately, partly countering on-screen response latency. Research from the University of Glasgow Scotland [Brewster, Cohan, and Brown 2007 and more recently Hogan] demonstrates that sample users reduce input errors (20%), increase input speed (20%), and lower their cognitive load (40%) when touch screens are combined with haptics or tactile feedback [vs. non-haptic touch screens].hap tic "Gorilla arm" Extended use of gestural interfaces without the ability of the user to rest their arm is referred to as "gorilla arm." [43] It can result in fatigue, and even repetitive stress injury when routinely used in a work setting. Certain early pen-based interfaces required the operator to work in this position for much of the work day [43]

23. The Evolution of the Touch screen Touch screens are the input device of today. They’re everywhere – ATMs, gas pumps, desktops and (of course) our pockets. The touch screen is an intuitive, elegant and effective interface whose usefulness in the modern information society is shown by its prevalence in the world around us. Because they seemed to explode into our everyday lives, it seems like touch screen technology must have undergone some radical technical revolution in the last few years – a breakthrough of some kind that moved touch inputs from science fiction to science fact. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Although the multi-touch devices that currently fill our lives were made possible by recent innovations in materials and circuit miniaturization, the thinking behind touch screen technologies has been evolving through the science and tech communities for more than 45 years. Since the first finger-driven touch screen was invented in 1965 by E.A. Johnson of the Royal Radar Establishment in the United Kingdom, a loose-knit community of researchers, scientists, university faculty, engineers and inventors have worked on taking the clumsy and crude (at the time) input method and refining it into the precise method of interacting with tech devices we have today. Quickly our fingers are becoming the most powerful tools for consumer electronic use.Phones are increasingly integrating touch screens, and every major U.S. carrier offers a touch screen device. Tablet computers like the Apple iPad will only become more popular in the next few years. Remotes, cameras, e-readers, and car navigation units all feature touch screens as well. Meanwhile, your phone buttons, keyboard, mouse, and other electronics are increasingly becoming outdated technology

24. –. But many upcoming advances may make touch screens even easier to use, and thus even more common in devices you use every day. Soon high-quality touch screen interfaces will make their way into PCs, tablets, phones, cameras, and other devices. Tactile Feedback Perhaps the biggest detriment to touch screens in the past was that users had to constantly look at what they were pushing to be accurate. This is much of the reason many people will prefer a regular keyboard over a touch screen. The grooves of the keyboard allow the user to feel where each key is without taking a glance down. However, this is no longer the case. Now touch screen products can provide tactile feedback, and soon you won’t have to rely on visual cues from your phone or computer. For example, as you glide over the screen, some buttons may feel smooth while others offer a rough sensation This technology will be able to differentiate touches and change the overall user experience. Soon, tactile feedback on touch screens will be able to differentiate textures and simulate actual computer or phone keyboards to show the difference from one key to another. Tactile feedback will have a major benefit for touch screens on dashboards and consoles inside automobiles. Users will be able to provide input on touch screens in the car without taking their eyes off the road.

25. Sensitive To Pressure Some touch screens offer pressure-sensitive technology now. However, they aren’t very accurate due to the fact that they measure pressure by surface area (i.e., as you push hard, more of your finger covers the screen). But this is not a true indication of pressure, something that could be on the horizon in touch screens. Using force-sensing resistors and piezoelectric actuators behind an LCD touch screen, companies like Sony are bringing this closer to reality. Using different amounts of pressure to manipulate the screen not only would require fewer buttons, it also would provide increased control on every screen. On a computer or e-reader, for example, this technology would allow a user to scroll down a page faster by pushing a little harder. On a music player, users could browse through songs faster or slower depending on pressure. Hover Detection Perhaps with an extension of the pressure-sensitive LCD, eventually users may not even have to make contact with a touch screen. Mitsubishi and Cypress are among the brands that have unveiled “hover detection” demonstrations. These screens would react when the panel is touched as well as gauge how near or far away a finger is from the surface. This so called “mouse-over” function will make touch screen technology seem almost magical. that link, then they could simply move their finger down slightly and press the screen.

26. Infrared Microsoft has championed touch screen technology by using infrared light detection. The company has applied for a patent for “light induced shape memory” for its product, the Surface. The technology uses the varying wavelengths to change the topography layer, enabling it to expand, contract, or feel rough or smooth. The surface provides a rich touch and visual experience in HD from start to finish. Dual Screen Products with touch screen capabilities also often offer the technology on dual screens. The Acer Iconia is a small netbook that offers a full touch screen experience where Web pages can flow from one screen to another. It also uses gesture memory to track movements to open Web sites or apps when it recognizes the movement. The Iconia can run two separate apps or act as a screen and keyboard, all on touch screen technology..So What’s Next? The technology is certainly being developed, so it’s only a matter of time before touch screens make their way into more everyday products and activities. With the increased functionality of these new advances, touch screens can improve the quality of many common products. The classic chalkboard has also been replaced by projectors in most schools and offices. Next are smart whiteboards that pull up slides and other saved projects at the swipe of a finger.ATMs are a common touch screen example that will soon be transferred to other public places. Kiosks or information centers in the mall will help customers get to where they are going quicker than the usual billboard that requires a long scan to find “E-7” on a map. In Japan, touch screen vending

27. machines are already in use. They can even come with cameras that recognize gender and age to recommend beverage selections. It also stores your image and purchase history for your next visit. Our mobile devices may have been among the first to utilize the functionality of a touch screen, but they certainly won’t be the last. Technology is advancing every day, and with it, incredible power at your fingertips Examples The following examples for touch screen devices and applications are taken from various sources on the Internet.For advertising, product information As public information systems, for example, in museums, as city guides Kiosks are typically embedded in some sort of cabinet, so that they can stand alone. They are built for rugged environments and simple point-and-click interaction Information Systems Touch screen devices can be used for advising customers or clients. This can happen together with a consultant like a physician or a salesman, or the users do this alone.Often it is hard to separate information systems from kiosk systems. Here, we understand information systems as systems, which are not specifically embedded into cabinets POs Applications POs applications (point-of-sale) are touch screens that are used in combination with a cash register or similar devices.

28. BENEFITS OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY. Space and Mobility Standard computer systems that require a mouse and keyboard for operation take up more space than touch screen devices. Touch screen devices thus can be used with greater ease in areas where a user does not have a lot of room to place a computer system. Speed The fact that icons can be used with touch screens greatly increases the speed at which the user can manipulate the system applications. It takes far less time for the brain to process an image than it does to read an entire sentence of text, so users can go through the application processes in a matter of seconds and be on their way faster. Improves Accessibility Touch screens have the potential to be more comfortable for the user. Impaired individuals can use touch-screen technology, especially those who find using a mouse or keyboard difficult. For example, touch screens often organize information in a clear and simplified way, so visually- impaired individuals can operate them. Easy User Interface One of the major benefits of touch screens is the overall ease of use. Since the act of touching is instinctive, touch-screen devices are relatively simple to operate

29. Saves time – Fumbling with a mouse and keyboard isn’t always the easiest thing to do and touch screen technology can help. I sometimes use my finger to navigate the touch screen on my laptop instead of a mouse. I find that using my finger often works better than a mouse to reposition my cursor, access an open application or scroll through a web page. It’s not a big thing, but it improves my experience and makes things easier to access. Sanitary – Often overlook, but never out of the mind of healthcare providers, is the unsanitary conditions created by a mouse and a keyboard. They’re a great place to harbor germs collected on the hands of everyone that’s touches them. Washing one’s hands before and after using them is a successful strategy for fighting the spread of germs, but this simple solution isn’t always utilized to its logical end. On the other hand, touch screens can be easily cleaned as part of a routine schedule. Potential to save money – Full touch screen technology requires no keyboard or mouse, which both cost money and have to be replaced. Of course this only makes sense if the touch screen technology does not exceed the cost of a typical monitor. We’re not there yet, but we’re headed in the right direction. With that said, not all touch screens are created equal. Let’s have a quick look at the different types of touch screens in use today.

30. The failings of a touch screen PC There are still considerable drawbacks though - for starters the software for multi-touch just isn't there, which is admittedly something I didn't realize at first. Just like "HD Ready" TVs supporting HD inputs, Ablation's monitor supports multi-touch but the software just isn't there to make use of it. Microsoft may have made the touch screen interface a native part of Windows 7, but it's still only single finger that emulates a mouse. There's no "make a selection box with two fingers" unfortunately. Thinking you'll be able to get a Microsoft Surface any time soon is not really going to happen. Unfortunately while we've been spoiled by a multitude of smart phones, mainstream PC software has yet to catch up.One immediate disadvantage to using a touch screen for a HTPC is that you need to get off your arise to use it. So, yes, you can dump the mouse and keyboard but you can't Go-Go Gadget extend your arms. Plus, you can get the Hippo Remote app that uses VNC to control your mouse over Wife on your Smartphone. That's a lot cheaper than buying a touch screen and cybernetic arms.Although a kitchen will probably benefit the most from a PC without a keyboard or mouse, none of the screens we've seen are waterproof, so now for these rooms are a no-go area.A touch screen with a thin-client would be cheaper and could be rolled out around the house; it could integrated into a home management setup. Unfortunately, that requires more considerable investment and even more specialist softwareGo-Go GadgetHippo Remote app.

31. The application of touch screen technology Touch screen technology has been around since the early 1970’s. In fact Doctor Sam Hurst is credited with the first “touch sensor” back in 1971 while at the University of Kentucky. Touch screens have been used in many different devices over the years including ATM machines, cash registers in grocery stores, diagnostic tools in automobile repair shops, and of course in computers. Even with their widespread use it wasn’t until recently that touch screens caught on as a viable user interface for everyday use The growth of touch screen use in the consumer market is driving their use in healthcare in much the same way. Familiarity is creating acceptance. This is especially true in healthcare systems where touch screen technology is being used in lobbies to provide patients with easy access to information, in radiology where physicians use it to manipulate images, by nurses to adjust settings on ventilators and other medical devices, and of course by physicians using tablets to view electronic health records and patient specific information.