Characteristics of touch screen technology:

First of all, it is important to know that the resistive touch screen technology is based on technology much older than that which characterizes capacitive displays: the first prototype of resistive technology dates back to 1995.

The resistive touchscreen bases its operation on an electrical resistance: pressing the screen creates contact between two conductive electricity layers. 

The device tracks the contact coordinates of the contact communicating the data to the operating system. Adopt this type of screen all the touchscreen terminals of Nokia but also many other phones.

The capacitive touchscreen generates a flow of electrons across the surface of the display: when a capacitive object, like human fingers, touches the screen the flow of electrons distorts. 

The device, through sensors positioned in each corner of the display, detects the distortion and assigns the coordinates of the touch. This is why it is not possible to use inanimate objects such as nibs on capacitive screens.

Characteristics of Resistive Screens:

Consisting of two layers of plastic material, separated by a space. Each of these superimposed layers has the inner surface covered with a conductive material. When a contact is created between two layers, electricity is conducted. The system tracks the contact coordinates and translates them accordingly.

This technology is the most economical and therefore the most used, as well as the least performing. In fact, the screen is not completely translucent and is affected by its brightness and quality.

It is also the least long-lived, with the passage of time the resistive screens are more subject to a loss of reactivity than the capacitive ones.

Characteristics of Capacitive Screens:

Composed of glass screen panels covered with a thin layer of metal oxide on the outside. A voltage is applied to the four corners of the panel to create a uniform electric field over the entire surface of the screen due to the metal oxide. 

When the finger touches the screen, the electric field changes and the on-screen coordinates are detected by measuring the voltage drop at the point touched.

Relatively more resistant, although more prone to scratches and abrasions that can make them less sensitive, the image quality is relatively superior for clarity and brightness, thanks to greater transparency.

The merit is the widespread use of touch-screen devices, i.e. touch-sensitive screens. Would you like to learn more about how this technology works? If your answer is yes, know that you are in the right place at the right time! Get in touch with us Membrane Keypad and Screen Panels.