Further evidence of the amazing growth in use of touch screens comes in a recent report into the rapidly expanding market for touch controller ICs.
According to market research firm IHS iSuppli, 2.4 billion touch controller ICs will be shipped in 2015, a staggering 277% increase on the 865 million shipped in 2010. And the same report suggests that 1.7 billion units will be shipped in 2012, a 28% jump over 2011.
The paper credits Apple for ‘almost single-handedly’ igniting the market for touch with the launch of the iPhone in 2007 and points out that the overall number of devices and appliances using some form of touch is set to reach 1.06 billion units this year, nearly double from 514.9 million units only two years ago.
While the majority of the ICs are likely to be deployed in mobile phones, tablets and consumer devices, it is clear that the use of touch screens in non-consumer applications – for example industrial systems or medical devices – is also set to grow rapidly as companies seek to replicate the ‘iPhone experience’ in other areas of life.
Of course the economics and the practicalities of deploying touch in these lower volume (and offer harsher environment) applications can differ to the consumer market, but the goal of optimising the touch experience for the user remains the same.