Resistive touchscreens are becoming candidates for multi-touch applications ranging from cellphones to cameras to automotive GPS units. A new breed of multi-touch is enabling resistive to move into this space, which up until now, has been dominated by capacitive tech.
Resistive touchscreens are becoming candidates for multi-touch applications ranging from cellphones to cameras to automotive GPS units. A growing new breed of multi-touch screens and controllers are enabling resistive to move into the multi-touch space, which has, up until now, been dominated by capacitive technology.
Multi-touch was popularized by the advent of such Apple products as the iPhone and iPad, which employ the technology to enable users to do two-finger manipulations, such as pinch, pull, rotate, flick, swipe, and scroll gestures for movement of onscreen pictures or data. All of the Apple products, however, have used capacitive technology.
Several vendors are now saying that's changing. Fujitsu rolled out multi-touch resistive screens in 2010, and Touch International has also introduced a multi-touch resistive panel.
By moving to resistive, design engineers could enable users of small electronic products to do two-finger manipulations, not only with bare hands, but also with a glove, pen cap, or corner of a credit card - they have the ability to detect a wider range of things. Resistive also offers fast tracking, low power consumption, and light force requirements. Engineers say it could be particularly useful in automotive GPS applications during cold weather, when users want to touch the screen with a gloved hand
Vendors say the new resistive systems could enable touchscreens to move into more harsh environments and new applications, including car navigation, medical monitors, and industrial control systems.