There’s already a capacitive touchscreen in just about everyone’s pocket. As the touchscreen technology used in almost every smartphone, everyone is familiar with it. Capacitive touchscreens offer multi-touch functionality, for example, pinching a screen to zoom in or out. Capacitive touchscreens also provide a better visual experience and are more responsive to touch than resistive touchscreens. The big difference in the technology is that capacitive touchscreens register the electrical charge of human skin. Resistive touchscreens register pressure applied by your finger pressing two layers of electrically conductive material together. The point of contact is read by the device.
But smartphones aren’t the only place that capacitive touchscreens are used and will be used in the future. The technology is spreading even further. If you want to learn about capacitive touchscreen applications, see how they’re being used right here:
PoS Terminals – At restaurants and retail stores, touchscreen PoS terminals are now dominating. They’re faster and more intuitive to use than older cash registers. One of the big issues with capacitive touchscreens in heavily-used applications like PoS terminals is durability. That’s why quality construction and resistance to scratches and abrasion are important features to look for. One company that makes scratch and abrasion-resistant touchscreens for PoS terminals is A D Metro.
Kiosks – Whether they’re information kiosks or self-serve checkouts, kiosks are also making better use of touchscreen technology. Interactive information kiosks that use capacitive touchscreens give users a more fluid experience that will help them find the information they need. From malls to QSR to government service centres, self-serve kiosks help organizations cut costs and improve the user experience.
Gaming – Gaming applications have been some of the earliest adopters of touchscreen technology. As gaming applications shift toward capacitive touchscreens, they’re able to support more complex games and reduce the lag-time that occurs between touching the screen and the contact registering. Better and more responsive capacitive touchscreens are bringing better gaming experiences to users.
Industrial Automation – As factory floors become increasingly automated, the control panels and computer interfaces workers use to collect data, monitor machine tools, and run quality control need to become more sophisticated and easier to use. Capacitive touchscreen applications are playing a big role on the factory floor with the implementation of Industry 4.0, the next industrial revolution brought about by increased automation, comprehensive data collection, machine learning, and cyber-physical systems. Industry 4.0 means that automated systems will begin to make decentralized decisions. In order to keep up with unprecedented data collection, capacitive touchscreens will need to make their way into manufacturing. Talk to a touchscreen company like A D Metro for capacitive touchscreens tough enough for industrial use.
These are just some of the applications that touchscreens are changing. Though they’re already found everywhere, you can expect capacitive touchscreens to become even more common in the coming years. Faster and more intuitive interfaces are changing everyday life. They can save businesses and organizations money while making your everyday errands faster and more convenient.
