Touchscreen Technology: VDC-Whitepaper

Whitepaper
Touchscreens
Technologies, Applications
© Competence Centre for Virtual Reality and Cooperative Engineering w. V. – Virtual Dimension Center (VDC)
Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Kfm. Christoph Runde
Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) Fellbach
Auberlenstr. 13
70736 Fellbach
www.vdc-fellbach.de
Technologies, Applications

Content History Examples of applicationTechnologies Literature & SourcesContent
Overview
History
Technologies
Examples of areas of application
Literature & Sources
Content

History – Technologies
1974 First transparent touch display
(Dr. Sam Hurst)
1979 Capacitive touchscreen (3M)
1982 Resistive touchscreen (Elo Touch
Systems)
History – Products (extract)
1993 Apple Newton (PDA)
1996 Palm Pilot (PDA)
2002 Windows XP Tablet Edition
2004 Nintendo DS
2007 Apple IPhone, Microsoft Surface
History
1984 Multitouch display (Bob Boie, Bell
Labs)
2007 Apple IPhone, Microsoft Surface
2008 Google Android
2010 Apple IPad

Technology 1: Resistive Touchscreens
Functionality
Position detection by resistance measurement of
electrically conductive layers, which are
connected by pressure on the display.
Construction methods
Schematic representation (VISAM)
Technologies
Construction methods
o Four-/Eight – Wire
Time division, diminishing precision due to
mechanical stress
o Five-/Six-/Seven – Wire
Avoiding diminishing precision by measurement
between the lower and an additional inner layer
Schematic representation (Wikipedia)

Technology 1: Resistive Touchscreens
Advantages
o Simple & inexpensive construction
o Operable with any object
o High resolution
o Insensitive to dirt
Technologies
Disadvantages
o Mechanical stress (pressure)
o Difficult operation by strong pressure on the
display
Example input via pen (Wikipedia)
HTC Compact (T-Mobile/HTC)

Technology 2: Capacitive Touchscreens
Functionality
Metal oxide coated display whereby an
applied voltage at the corners creates an
electric field. Position determination by
current measurement (discharge cycle).
Technologies
Other construction:
Two orthogonally superimposed strips:
sensor & driver. Finger over the crossing
point changes the capacity.
Schematic representation
(VISAM)

Technologie 2: Capacitive Touchscreens
Advantages
o Only touch necessary, without pressure
o Clear display
o Low sensitivity to mechanical damage
Technologies
Disadvantages
o Can only be operated with a bare finger or a
special stylus
o Higher price
Apple IPhone
(Apple Inc., Image: Engadget.com)

Technology 3: Inductive Touchscreens
Functionality
The input device contains a coil which is
exposed to the inductive field of the
touchscreen. This determines the X/ Y
position, the distance and the tilt angle of
the input device.
Technologies
the input device.
Inductive graph tablet
(mybamboo.eu)

Technology 3: Inductive Touchscreens
Advantages
o Operable only with appropriate input devices
o Possibility to detect the inclination and
distance of the input device
Technologies
Disadvantages
o Special input devices necessary
Graph tablet
(Aiptek)

Technology 4: Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Touchscreens
Functionality
Structure-borne sound waves spreading in a
planar manner on the surface. Touching the
surface changes the amplitude, which is
measured for position detection.
Technologies
Advantages
o Vandalism-proof, as damage to the upper
layer does not cause any impairment
o Clear display (no grid)
Schematic representation (Planar Systems, Inc.)

Technology 5: Optical Touchscreens
Functionality
Light curtain (e.g. infrared) for detecting
the position. Tracking the input devices
through cameras.
Technologies
Advantages
layer does not cause any impairment
Schematic representation (Planar Systems, Inc.)

Technology 6: Dispersive Signal
Functionality
Sensors on a glass substrate on the back of
the screen measure the vibrations that
occur when touched.
Technologies
Advantages
layer does not cause any impairment Schematic representation (touchscreenmagazine.nl)

Technology 7: Virtual Touchscreens
Functionality
Projector projects vertical picture on the
work surface. Infrared sensors track the
inputs on the work surface
Technologies
Advantages
o Absolutely vandalism-proof, because there
is a spatial separation between the work
surface and the projector, as well as the
infrared sensors
o Flexible work surface in terms of size and
location
Schematic representation (touchscreenmagazine.nl)

Multitouch
Technology
Capacitive or optical touchscreens that can
capture multiple inputs simultaneously.
Advantages
Technologies
Advantages
o Detection of gestures (zoom, rotate, ...)
o Multi-user capable (parallel)
Multi user scenario (University Duisburg)

PC replacement
Benefits of application
o Direct writing via stylus
o One-hand operation
Examples of application RIM Playbock
Examples of application
o Tablet PCs
e.g. Apple IPad, Motorloa Xoom,
RIM Playbook,…
HP Elitebook Tablet - PC
(Hewlett-Packard)
RIM Playbock
(Blackberry/RIM)

Input devices
o Direct writing and drawing via stylus
o Additional functions through multi-touch
gestures
o Graph tablets
o Touchpads (Notebooks)
Touchpad (Synaptics)
Wacom Cintq (Wacom)

Communication
o Easy to use (internet, apps, games)
o One-hand operation
o Customizable user interface (design,
operation)
o Different languages
o Smartphones
e.g. Apple IPhone, Samsung Galaxy S,
HTC Desire,…
Diverse smartphones
(AreaMobile.de)

Industry/ Economy
o Visualization of objects with possibility of
interaction
o Easy one-hand operation and control of
complex systems Logistics handheld (Casio)
o Maintenance
o Logistics handhelds
o Control industrial plants
Application in maintenance (Armor)

General information
o Easy handling
o One - hand operation
o Display size
Operation navigation device (TomTom)
o Navigation devices
o Terminals
e.g. Microsoft Surface
Operation navigation device (TomTom)
Microsoft Surface (Microsoft)

Information Trade/ Marketing
o Easy operation through interaction
o International by adjusting the language of
the control elements
o Cash machines
o Ticket vending machines
o Kiosk systems/ terminals (trade fairs,
museums, department stores, ...)
Ticket vending machine (Deutsche Bahn)
Kiosk system
(Wikipedia)

Multimedia & Entertainment
o Easy handling
o One - hand operation
o Different languages
Car – Multimedia System
(Sony)
o Car Multimedia
o MP3-/ Videoplayer
o Game consoles
Nintendo DS
(Nintendo)

Current issues
Touchscreen steering wheel
Control of vehicle systems such as radio,
navigation device and air conditioning via a
steering wheel that has a touch screen. Touchscreen steering wheel prototype
(n-tv.de, Image: Tina Döring)
„Windows 8“ - interface
„Windows 8“ - interface
New interface especially for touchscreen devices. Division into tiles and
support of multitouch gestures.
Windows 8 interface & tiles
(heise.de)
Windows 8 handling
(heise.de)

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Touch-Screen
http://www.medien.ifi.lmu.de/lehre/ws0607/mmi1/essays/Susanne-Keck.xhtml
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet-PC
http://www.planar.com
http://www.visam.de
http://www.visam.de
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Die-Touch-Oberflaeche-von-Windows-8-
1254290.html
http://www.n-tv.de/auto/Wischen-wechselt-Radiosender-article3572276.html

Thank you very much for your interest!
You are interested in this topic and you are looking for contact persons/
implementation partners? Please contact us.
© Competence Centre for Virtual Reality and Cooperative Engineering w. V. – Virtual Dimension Center (VDC)
Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) Fellbach
Auberlenstraße 13
70736 Fellbach
www.vdc-fellbach.de

Touchscreen Technology: VDC-Whitepaper

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