How to select the right touch screen technology

  As touch screens continue to grow in popularity as a part of user interface systems, choosing the right touch screen technology is becoming a critical design decision. Each type of touch screen, resistive or projected capacitive (PCAP), offers a host of different advantages. Given the wide variety of touch screen options out there, how do you select the one that provides the optimal user experience?

  Six things to consider when choosing a touch screen technology

  In this blog, we’ll be going over six key questions you should be asking at the onset of your product development phase that will help you select the ideal touch screen technology for your next project.

  1) What is the intended use of the device?

  The first step is to specifically define what the device will be used for, as this can dictate which touch screens are feasible. For instance, will your display be used for a military application where it may be subject to harsh conditions, or is the screen intended for an inexpensive toy where durability may not be a huge concern? Both situations would require screen technologies with different functionality, durability, input registration, and pricing. Once you’ve narrowed down the intended use for the display, the next step is to figure out which functionalities are necessary.

  2) Which touch features are required?

  On your device, will users only need to select single inputs with one finger? If so, a standard 4-wire resistive touch screen may be a perfect option, as its simple construction handles this without adding much cost. However, if users need to zoom, scroll, or activate features with multiple touch points, that will narrow the selection down to screens with multi-touch functionality, such as a projected capacitive (PCAP) or a resistive multi-touch screen (RMTS).

  3) How will the touch screen be activated?

  Given the different ways that touch screens register inputs, the way that the screen will be activated is an important consideration. Will the user be wearing gloves or using another object (such as a pencil or stylus) to touch the screen? If so, specific types of touch screens might be necessary for those inputs to be registered. While the sensitivity of a projected capacitive touch screen can be adjusted to register certain styluses and gloves, the object used must be able to disrupt the capacitive field. For applications where other input devices can be used, a resistive touch screen is a more optimal choice as it can register inputs from nearly any object.

  4) What is the environment in which the touch screen will be used?

  Another crucial factor to consider is where the touch screen will be activated. Will it be subject to harsh cleaning agents in a medical setting? Will it be used in an industrial environment, where it may be subject to repeated impacts? If durability or cleanability is a critical concern, PCAP technology is ideal given that damage to the cover glass doesn’t alter its ability to register inputs correctly. For gentler environments, resistive screens may meet performance requirements without adding additional cost.

  5) What is the price point?

  While the cost of PCAP touch screens continues to go down as the technology becomes more popular, resistive touch screens still tend to be the cheaper option. If you are looking for a touch screen for a simple toy, game, or other inexpensive application, anything more than a simple 4-wire resistive touch screen may add unnecessary cost to the device. However, in the case of a computer, smartphone, or other expensive application that requires a high-end look and feel, a projected capacitive screen may be worth the additional cost.

  6) How many actuations does the touch screen need to handle?

  Different touch screen constructions are rated for different numbers of actuations. A 4-wire or 8-wire resistive touch screen may be optimal for a device that only needs to remain accurate for a few thousand actuations, whereas a 5-wire touch screen is a better choice if the device will require significantly more usage. However, if a display needs to handle millions of actuations, a projected capacitive screen would be ideal as it can maintain its accuracy over nearly infinite inputs.

  While these questions are a great start, this is far from an exhaustive list of variables to consider when deciding on the optimal touch screen technology. To discuss your project needs and to talk about custom solutions, schedule a consultation with our experts.