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Suggestions for Reliable Touch Screen Displays?
seigniory asks: "I'm looking to put about 20 touchscreen displays into operation as information kiosks in low-traffic areas (i.e. private waiting rooms, not malls). The application is written, but is mouse-driven, so a conversion to touch screen is necessary. At present, I'm imagining a 12-15" LDC with active-matrix, but will entertain other suggestions. Without much experience with the quality and durability of most touchscreen solutions, or the 'gotcha's' of converting an existing app to touchscreen, I'm at a loss as to where I should begin. I can't start the touchscreen w/o the actual screen, and I don't have a ton of money to play with yet, so I can't afford to waste money trying to find my ideal solution. Searches for 'LCD Touchscreen Display Reviews' has turned up not much more than ads. What experiences or advice can Slashdot offer?"
I had two kiosks at an outdoor location and the enclosure is *key*! I understand that you are doing it internally, but the enclosure is typically tied to a touchscreen of some sort, and that often will limit your options. Or, atleast provide guidance.
Our touchscreens required a special driver in windows and then simply behaved as a mouse. We had a real problem with text entry however.. we were using a special kiosk browser with pop-up screen, but people found it very difficult to use. A nice enclosure with an attached keyboard and trackball would have helped things dramatically.
"No matter what technology you choose for the displays, I would suggest having a box of cleaning wipes near the screen - preferably the kind that have Clorox or some other strong antiseptic in them."
While a very good point, it's not that good an idea, as this is exactly the over-use of antiseptics that has led to the evolution of resistent bacterial and viral strains. The downside is I don't have a suggestion apart from reviving the old saw of 'washing your hands' when you come into contact with public areas.
Oddly Draconis
Too cynical to live, too stubborn to die.
Your point about the overuse of antimicrobials like triclosan is correct, but I am not talking about antimicrobials - I am talking about "Nuke'm till they glow, shoot them in the dark, and and let $DEITY sort them out" antiseptics, like sodium hypoclorite, hydrogen peroxide, Lysol, and the like.
Nothing short of an extremophile will survive those to engender resistance.
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