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Suggestions for Reliable Touch Screen Displays?

Posted by Cliff on from the lleave-the-rodent-let-your-fingers-do-the-talking dept.

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?"

4 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Quality does matter! by jptechnical · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Speaking from experience working with both food service companies and small mailbox etc. type stores, you will suffer if you get the cheapest available.

    Biggest problem was inaccuracy or under sensitivity (the sense screen far enough off the display that viewing angle made it a pain to calibrate) and it just wearing out from use.

    In the case of the small post office place, they decided that the amount of typing made the touchscreen a bad option since it was difficult to say the least for typing.

    What kind of industry is this for? Is a mouse or trackball surface mounted out of the question? I know that the mouse/trackball is real short money.

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    Boredom's not a burden anyone should bear.
  2. Re:Different types of touchscreens by crisco · · Score: 4, Interesting
    3M Dynapro demos their NFI touchscreens with spraypaint, stickers and stuff glued to the panel and it still works. NFI is a variant of capacitive technology and looks like it works well.

    Our product uses resistive from 3M and works well enough, although occasionally someone gouges the screen hard enough to start ripping the resistive layers of plastic out.

    --

    Bleh!

  3. Touchscreen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Depending on the operating system you use, the touch supplier will provide you with the driver to interface your touchscreen. The best solution for you is a capacitive toughtouch solution which has impact resistance for vandalism and can be sealed for moister and water. SAW will not handle that,

  4. don't do what my gym did! by morcheeba · · Score: 2, Interesting

    My gym has a fancy touchscreen thingy to track your workouts. I suspect that they used a capactive touchscreen* because if you get a tiny drop of sweat on the screen, it stops working. I guess they didn't really test their kiosks in actual gyms. Maybe that was intentional so that people would wipe up after themselves.

    (* I don't know what the actual technology is, I just know these screens have this problem)

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    HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets