Touch screens are display touchstones

Tag : Tin Oxide

iSuppli Corp has predicted global shipment revenue for the leadingtouch-screen technologies will rise to $4.4 billion by 2012, upfrom $2.4 billion in 2006.
“Catalysed by Apple Inc.’s iPhone, sales of touchscreens using projected-capacitive technology are growingdramatically,” said Jennifer Colegrove, senior analyst foremerging displays at iSuppli.
“Projected capacitive touch screen technology is more durableand has better transmittance than the more commonly used resistivetechnology. More touch-screen manufacturers are developing andcommercialising this type of screen. Furthermore, the averagepricing gap between the capacitive and resistive display types isdwindling, making the technology more attractive.”
Resistive is the most commonly used touch screen technology in themarketplace.
Although it is not very durable and has poor transmissivity,resistive’s low price and responsiveness to both finger andstylus touch has made it the No.-1 touch screen technology in termsof unit shipments during the last few years.
However, the resistive market now is suffering a shortage of IndiumTin Oxide (ITO) film used to make such screens due to productionexpansions among several major manufacturers and limited numbers ofITO film suppliers.
With several large manufacturers expanding capacity, other types oftransparent conductive materials such as conductive polymer, carbonnanotube and Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO) have an entry opportunitynow. In fact, Fujitsu Ltd. already has started using conductivepolymer for some of its resistive-type touch screens.
Since the iPhone proved that multi-touch technology can be portableand affordable, multi-touch has become the hot topic in theindustry. Many providers of alternative touch-screen technologieshave announced multi-touch capabilities, such as the opticalimaging camera-based touch screens offered by touch screen designerand developer NextWindow Ltd. Other examples include IR TouchSystems Technology Co. Ltd’s infrared touch screen andStantum Inc.—formerly named JazzMutant—which hasoffered a multi-touch music controller since 2004.
Tactile feedback technology is finding usage in increasing numbersof touch-screen devices. The technology delivers a physicalsensation similar to that of pressing a physical button. Tactilefeedback is the differentiating factor for some new mobile phones,such as the Motorola Rokr E8.
Although resistive is the dominant touch-screen technology formobile phones, projected capacitive and infrared began to penetratethe wireless handset segment in 2007. Technological variationsbeing commercialized on mobile phones in 2008 and 2009 includesensor-in-pixel or in-cell touch, bending wave from Elo/TycoElectronics, and polymer waveguide from RPO Inc.
Retail, kiosk, public signage, financial, e-book and medicalapplications are adopting more touch-screen monitors to accommodateconsumer preferences for intuitive and easy user interfaces.Consumers want this kind of ease of use when they check out at agrocery store, or check in at an airport. Such touch-screenmonitors reduce labour costs for stores or for other institutions.
Despite the total of eight distinct, commercialized touch-screentechnologies, ie resistive, surface capacitive, projectedcapacitive, surface acoustic wave, infra red, bending wave, activedigitiser, optical imaging, even more novel touch-screen approacheshave been invented. These include new touch technologies fromN-trig, Sony, Sharp, TMD and Samsung. Several companies recentlyhave announced plans to commence touch-screen manufacturing.Furthermore, several mergers and acquisitions have occurred,launching new participants into the market.
For the touch-screen market, with more than 100 suppliers, inexcess of 300 OEM/integrators and a wealth of technologicalalternatives, fascinating times are ahead.
Touch Screens: The Right Touch for High Growth