Touchscreen

Touchscreen, also known as a tactile screen or touch display, is a computer display or monitor that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus. Touchscreens allow users to interact directly with what is displayed, rather than using a mouse, keyboard, or other input device. It is an input device that can be used to interact with a computer, like a tablet computer, mobile device, ATM machine, or even a smart refrigerator.

The technology used in touchscreen technology has changed over the years, from simple mechanical switches or buttons to more advanced capacitive, surface acoustic wave, and infrared technologies. Capacitive touchscreens are the most common, utilizing a conductive input surface with a voltage detected when touched. This technology is often used in smartphones, tablets, all-in-one computer systems, and interactive kiosks.

Surface acoustic wave touchscreens are composed of transducers and reflectors that create and detect ultrasonic waves passed over the surface. These are often used in larger displays such as those found in airports for flight information or in public buildings for directories.

Infrared touchscreens are made with an array of infrared beams that use photocell receivers to detect when a user’s finger or other object interrupts the light beams. Infrared touchscreens are often lower cost and often the most durable type of touchscreen.

Touchscreens are often found in commercial settings, such as retail stores, where customer input is needed in addition to other types of input, such as barcode scanners. In recent years, touchscreens have also become popular in consumer applications like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.

The popularity of touchscreens has led to the development of specialist software and hardware to reduce the need for a mouse or keyboard, particularly for large-scale, multi-touch applications. Modern touchscreen displays are typically surrounded by additional hardware, such as speakers, cameras, or haptic feedback systems, to provide a more complete user experience.

Touchscreens remain an essential input device in computer systems, and continue to be an area of ongoing research and innovation in the hardware and software space.