According to PC Magazine a touch screen is, "a display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus” while according to the English dictionary touch screen is defined as “an input/output device that allows the users to interact with the computer by touching the display screen”. It is widely used on ATM machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car navigation systems, medical monitors and industrial control panels, the touch screen became wildly popular on handhelds after Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007." The touch screen is one of the easiest to use and most intuitive of all computer interfaces, a touch screen allows users to navigate a computer system by touching icons or links on the screen.

Pictures of touch screen gadgets

History of touch screen technology Before one must know about the recent advancement and applications in touch screen technology, one must know about the history of touch screen technology. First touch screen to be a capacitive touch screen invented by E.A. Johnson at the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern, UK, around In 1971, a "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. The Elograph was selected by Industrial Research as one of the 100 Most Significant New Technical Products of the Year 1973.

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 a resistive touch screen technology, the most popular touch screen technology in use today. Siemens Corporation financed an effort by Elographics to produce the first curved glass touch sensor interface, which became the first device to have the name "touch screen" attached to it. In 1983, the computer manufacturing company, Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP-150, a home computer with touch screen technology. The HP-150 had a built in grid of infrared beams across the front of the monitor which detected finger movements. However, the infrared sensors would collect dust and require frequent cleanings. The nineties introduced smart phones and handhelds with touch screen technology. In 1993, Apple released the Newton PDA, equipped with handwriting recognition; and IBM released the first smart phone called Simon, which featured a calendar, note pad, and fax function, and a touch screen interface that allowed users to dial phone numbers. On February 24, 1994, the company officially changed its name from Elographics to Elo Touch Systems.

In 1996, Palm entered the PDA market and advanced touch screen technology with its Pilot series In 2002, Microsoft introduced the Windows XP Tablet edition and started its entry into touch technology. In 2007, Apple introduced the king of smart phones, the iPhone, with nothing but touch screen technology.iPhone

The Recent Advancement in Touch Screen Technology Ever since the release of the iphone by Apple in 2007, touch screens have experienced a resurgence sparking innovation and advances in technology. Since then, the technology hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Touch screens are fast becoming the wave of the future, and the momentum doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. As software engineers continue to push for the most user-friendly interfaces, your fingers are quickly becoming the most powerful tools around you. Mobile phones are increasingly integrating touch screens. Tablet computers like the iPad are the new must-have technology. Remotes, cameras, e-readers and car navigation units are all moving to touch screen interfaces as well. Meanwhile, your phone buttons, keyboard, mouse and other electronics are increasingly becoming the leftovers of a past generation. But there are several advancements coming that may make touch screens even easier to use, and thus even more common in everyday devices. Here’s a look at some features to expect:

Pressure Detection Some touch screens currently do offer pressure sensitive technology. However, these features are not 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.) This is not a true indication of pressure, but there technologies on the horizon that may soon solve that. Using force sensing resistors and piezoelectric actuators behind a LCD touch screen, companies like Sony are testing devices that measure the amount of pressure exerted on a specific location on the screen. Using different amounts of pressure to manipulate the screen would not only require less buttons, but allow for more features on every screen. On a computer or e-reader for example, this technology would allow a user to scroll faster or slower depending on the firmness of his or her touch. On a music player, one could browse through songs at their own pace based on pressure. Hover Awareness Perhaps an extension of the pressure sensitive touch screen is the fact that eventually, you may not even have to make contact with a touch screen to get a reaction. Mitsubishi and Cypress are among the technology experts who have unveiled ‘hover detection’ demos. These screens can not only react when the panel is touched, but can also detect when a finger is near the surface. This so called “mouse-over” function will make touch screen technology seem almost magical. It would also increase usability. Certainly there would be a time and place for this function, as you wouldn’t want it reacting to you simply because you happen to be near the screen. But much like a mouse arrow hovering over an icon, holding your finger over a link could open up a pop-up or small preview of that page. If you wanted to enter that link, then you could simply move your finger down slightly and press the screen.

Touch Sensitivity Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of a touch screen is that the user has to look at what they are pushing in order to be accurate. This is the reason some people prefer a regular keyboard over a touch screen. The grooves of the keyboard allow the user to feel where their hand or fingers are without taking a glance down. But touch screens may soon be able to do the same. Tactile feedback may soon help users feel where they are on the screen, allowing them to maneuver without even looking at the screen. For example, as you glide over the screen, some buttons may feel smooth while others give a rough sensation. Using pulses of electric current on the surface, Toshiba and others already have this type of solution in the works. By differentiating the feel of icons, users would be able to find the appropriate button by using only their sense of touch. The technology can even be transferred to the keyboard, where rough sensations could divide each key from another. Beyond regular usability, offering feedback by touch would allow the visually impaired to use these gadgets more easily. It’s not a far stretch from Braille technology, just transferred to the new generation of consumer electronics. This technology is certainly coming, 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 usability of many common products.

Recent applications in touch screen technology Touchscreens 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. Here are the different types of touch screens and their applications in the touch screen technology. Resistive touchscreens – Resistive touchscreens are made from glass coated with metal sheets that provide conductivity. Current passes between the layers, and when someone touches the display and pushes the layers together the change in current allows the computer to calculate the location on the screen. In general resistive screens tend to be the most stylus-friendly type of touchscreen. Some manufacturers have made resistive screens that are more finger-friendly, but for the most part they work best with a stylus.These types of screens are cost- effective, can operate with a pointing device like a pen and are useful for handwriting recognition. Unfortunately they only provide about 75% clarity and don’t offer multi-touch functionality.

Capacitive touchscreens – Composed of an indium tin oxide sheet that retains electrical charge, capacitive touchscreens offer easy finger driven navigation and multi-touch capability. The Indium tin oxide provides a continuous current across the screen. When an end user touches the screen their finger absorbs some of the electrical charge, giving the computer something to work with to calculate the location on the screen. People love capacitive touchscreens because they’re easy to use, provide multi-touch functionality and transmit 90% of the light from the screen making them easier to use in direct sunlight. Most of the newer smartphones and tablets, i.e. iPad, XOOM, Galaxy, use capacitive touchscreens. The downside is you can’t use your fingernail or a stylus on the screen and they’re typically more expensive.

CAPACITIVE RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN TOUCHSREEN

Surface wave – Surface wave technology uses ultrasonic waves to determine touch inputs. Waves flow invisibly from the edge of the display and over the surface of the touchscreen. Touch from a user’s finger absorbs the ultrasonic wave and allows the computer to determine the location of the touch. Surface wave touchscreens are superior to both capacitive and resistive touchscreens in image clarity, resolution, light transmission and accuracy. But they can’t be completely sealed, making them useful in only less harsh environments. Infrared (IR) touchscreen – IR touchscreens use infrared sensors along the edges of the screen to sense warmth, i.e. heat generated by the user’s finger. The computer registers the heat on a grid that allows the computer to calculate the location. These touchscreens are durable, but much slower than other touchscreen technologies.