The type of technology we have these days amazes me, especially the technology that we as average individuals can afford to own. One of these types of technologies that really fascinates me is the touch screen. From iPhones to iPads to the Microsoft Surface, the fact that mouses are becoming more and more out of the picture and technology is becoming more and more personal is awesome.
Touch screens make complicated processes easier for people to complete, as these monitors simply display just as much information as needed to complete the task. Touch screen devices are input devices. There are three basic types of touch-screen monitors: resistive, capactive, and surface acoustic wave.
Resistive systems are made up of two layers one that is a conductive layer and another that is a resistive metallic layer. An electrical current runs through these layers and the two layers make contact when you touch the screen. The computer then figures out the coordinates of the area where the layers make contact, and then a special driver translates this information to the operating system. Capactive systems are made up of a layer that is full of electrical charge that is transferred to the user when they touch the screen, thus lessening the electrical charge on the spot of touch on the capactive layer. A surface acoustic wave system uses sound waves within the surface of the screen that are interrupted when you touch the screen.
According to HowStuffWorks.com, that while the resistive system is the cheapest, its picture clarity is the lowest of the three. The capactive system has better clarity than the resistive, but the surface acoustic wave has the best and is also the most expensive.
I can agree with you about the new technology thats going on in the world thats more personal for the average person, it really is amazing how little it cost to create these things and how much we pay though.
ReplyDeleteI got my first touch screen phone last year, and I see the intent of it is to simplify one's life. However, I miss my old phone. I find the touch screen is temperamental. On more than one occassion my phone has dialed random numbers or connected me to the internet. I do however love the touch screen on my iPod Touch. I believe there is a time when technology is effective, but I do believe sometimes it is for show. I want the most effecient product out there for me, and now I know that means I don't need a touch screen phone.
ReplyDeleteTouch screen phones make you feel like you are using some kind of space phone. I definitely believe that this is the future because it makes user interfaces so much more intuitive and easy to use. The only thing I don't like about touch screens is texting on them. There's just something about hitting an actual button that gives me the feeling of response and satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteI have a touch screen phone, and I really don't like it. it's just something about pressing a screen, and it also not accurate. I might be very wrong about other touch screen technology, but my touch screen cell phone is not that great.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not use touch screens often. I generally find them to be unreliable, especially in phones. Do not get me wrong, a touch screen device looks cool and may very well be the way of the future. I personally find that when it comes to a phone or a computer I prefer to use buttons, until the technology gets better at least. On another note I enjoyed the brief explainations of the differnt technologies used to create touch screens. I found it very informational, and taught me a few things that I did not know about touch screen technology.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. I'm glad someone decided to post about this, because I've always been curious as to how exactly touch screens work. In response to what a lot of posters are saying about touch screen phones, I completely agree. that's just more breakable area. If you break the screen on a regular phone, it's still usable. Break a touch screen and you just lost yourself a phone.
ReplyDeleteI really happen to love touch screens. I think that they are such a good idea and I hope that they keep making them better and better.
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