Resistive Touchscreens
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective solution Activated by any stylus Very accurate Low power requirements Liquids won't affect touch screen performance |
Polyester surface can be damaged Lower endurance (35 million touches) |
How Resistive Works
Capacitive Touchscreens
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Scratch resistant, durable surface High endurance (225 million touches) Very accurate Good optical clarity (88+% transmissivity) Liquids won't affect touch screen performance |
Does not work with gloved fingers or stylus |
How Capacitive Works
SAW Touchscreens
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Durable glass construction High optical clarity Activated by a finger, gloved hand, or soft tip stylus |
Moving liquids or condensation can cause false touches Solid contaminants create non-touch areas until removed Doesn't support drag or draw effectively |
How SAW Works
Which Touchscreen Is Right For Me?
| Application | Planar recommends |
|---|---|
| People with gloved hands need to interact with the touch screen monitor. | Resistive or SAW |
| I need a cost-effective monitor for my employees to use. | Resistive |
| The touch screen needs to be accurate. | Resistive, SAW, Capacitive |
| I need a monitor that will tolerate liquids on the screen. | Resistive or Capacitive |
| I need to install a monitor in an unattended environment. | SAW or Capacitive |
| I need the touch screen monitor to be as bright as possible. | SAW or Capacitive |
| I need a monitor that will be durable and scratch resistant. | SAW or Capacitive |
| I need a monitor that will withstand high levels of impact. | SAW or Capacitive |
Technology Comparison
| In addition to resistive and capacitive there are several other touch technologies which are available. Below is a list of the common touch technologies along with a comparison of the various features. | ||||
| Transmissivity | Input | Durability | Contaminants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistive (3M) | 82%-85% | Stylus Independent | Average | Unaffected |
| Capacitive (3M) | 88%+ | Human touch | High | Unaffected |
| SAW | 90%+ | Human touch or conductive stylus |
High | Liquids and contaminants may affect touch screen functionality |
| Infrared | 90%+ | Stylus Independent | High | LED receivers must be kept clean |
| NFI (3M) | 90%+ | Human touch or conductive stylus |
Very high | NA |
