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Appendix
Touchscreen Technology
Touchscreen: The first touchscreen was created by adding a transparent surface to a
touch-sensitive graphics digitizer and sizing it to fit a computer monitor. The purpose was to
increase the speed data could be entered into a computer.
with little or no computer experience can instantly work with complex software programs,
without even being aware they're doing it. And computers can go to work A touchscreen
is the simplest, most direct way for a person to interact with a computer. Though it is a
relatively new technology — brought to market in the 1970s by Elo TouchSystems — the
basic way users interact with a touchscreen is age-old: You point to what you want. It's
intuitive for virtually every child and adult in the world today.
How Does touchscreen system Works?
Most of the technologies discussed here operate on the principle of dividing the screen
image area into a predetermined grid (dependent upon screen size and resolution
capabilities). Touching one of the quadrants, of the menu selection, causing a subroutine
to execute in the same manner as typing the command at the prompt line or you would with
a mouse.
There are Five basic elements make up a complete touchscreen system:
The touchscreen itself.
n
A computer (typically a PC) whose display is fitted with the touchscreen.
n
A controller card, which drives the touchscreen and converts each touch into
n
coordinates.
A software driver program, which communicates between the controller card and the
n
computer's operating system.
Application-development software, which enables developers of touch programs to
n
build their own applications and/or customize existing touch applications.
Companies in a broad cross-section of industries have successfully harnessed the power of
a touchscreen for a wide variety of applications. Airlines use them to simulate aircraft
cockpits and train their pilots to fly. Realtors u se them to put full-color images of homes for
sale a fingertip away from home buyers. Greeting card companies use them to let
customers create their own one-of-a-kind cards. Restaurants use them to simplify their
point-of-sale terminals. Medical schools us e them to teach student nurses how to respond
to crisis situations. Touch is used in areas like industrial environments, In hospitals, In
retail locations, At tourist destinations and In schools.
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With a touchscreen, people
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