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1118 B9<br />

TOUCH SCREENS: A PRESSING TECHNOLOGY<br />

Timothy Hoye (tmh60@pitt.edu) and Joseph Kozak (jpk54@pitt.edu)<br />

Abstract - In today’s society, the way in which we physically<br />

interact with electronic devices is changing how we focus<br />

our technological research. This change has led to many<br />

great advances, including the development of touch screen<br />

technology. Through the use of touch screen technology, the<br />

operator is given an alternative method of how he or she can<br />

interact with a device. This technology operates in three<br />

distinct ways: resistive systems, capacitive systems, and<br />

infrared systems. This paper will investigate, discuss, and<br />

compare these different technologies, focusing on the<br />

differences in application, aspects of sustainability, as well<br />

as the positive and negative qualities.<br />

Key Words – Capacitive, Infrared, Multi-<strong>Touch</strong>, Resistive,<br />

Sustainability, <strong>Touch</strong> <strong>Screens</strong><br />

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOUCH SCREENS<br />

Throughout the past century, technology has improved in<br />

many ways. The way in which humans interact with<br />

technology is one of the most important ways technology is<br />

changing. By using touch screen technology, the user is able<br />

to manipulate a digital environment by only the touch of<br />

their finger, or another input device, on the screen.<br />

Throughout this paper we will discuss the different<br />

technologies that make this possible: infrared, resistive, and<br />

capacitive touch screens, as well as their qualities in modern<br />

devices.<br />

<strong>Touch</strong> screen technology first entered the public eye in<br />

1971, with the invention of the Elograph, by Elographics,<br />

Inc [1]. This company was created to “produce Graphical<br />

Data Digitizers for use in research and industrial<br />

applications” [1]. This technology set the stage for many<br />

devices to come. One of the next devices to be invented was<br />

the HP-150, the first touch screen computer. Hewlett<br />

Packard invented this device in 1983 [2]. This technology is<br />

important because it “had infrared touch-screen capability,<br />

allowing for creation of ATM-like applications” [2]. These<br />

are two of the most important devices in the development of<br />

touch screen technology. As time progressed, touch screen<br />

devices have become increasingly more complex and<br />

sustainable, providing the user with greater accuracy and<br />

more features to improve the quality of life.<br />

INFRARED TOUCH SCREENS<br />

The first type of touch screen technology we shall discuss is<br />

based upon infrared light. There are two main infrared<br />

systems: a standard grid and an internal reflection system.<br />

These systems are very accurate; however, they require more<br />

space than other touch screen systems.<br />

Dr. Andrew Hsu, an expert on touch screen<br />

technologies, states that “IR (infrared) screens are among the<br />

most durable surfaces and can handle hostile environments,<br />

making them well suited for military applications”[3].<br />

Although we will not be focusing on the technology in terms<br />

of military applications, we can see that infrared touch<br />

screen technologies, while being the most durable surfaces,<br />

are also quite possibly the most versatile. This versatility<br />

comes from having two variant systems of infrared touch<br />

screen. The first system is similar to resistive systems, which<br />

will be discussed later, in that it consists of a two<br />

dimensional grid of infrared light.<br />

In this technology, infrared LEDs (light emitting<br />

diodes) are arranged on opposite sides of the unit underneath<br />

the glass. The diodes project infrared light into sensors<br />

located directly across from them. The sensors read the<br />

strength of the beams, and “when a user makes contact with<br />

the screen, the system measures the drop in the sensoroutput<br />

signal; this measurement allows the system to<br />

compute the location of the touch” [3]. This is to say that<br />

when the finger touches the screen, the infrared beams are<br />

obstructed by the user’s finger; however, some light<br />

continues to pass to the sensor. The sensors send the<br />

measurements of light to the operating system, which<br />

analyzes the data and recognizes where the user touched.<br />

This technology has multi-touch capability because the<br />

beams of light are never fully obstructed by the user’s touch.<br />

The second type of infrared system requires more<br />

space than the first. This system is based upon internal<br />

reflection; a beam of light is emitted from within the unit,<br />

hits the glass, and part of the beam exits through the lens<br />

while the other part goes back into the unit. Cameras are<br />

placed inside the unit and are calibrated to the standard<br />

reflection to the beams so that, “when objects such as fingers<br />

touch the surface, the light diffuses at the contact point,<br />

causing the acrylic’s internal-reflection pathways to change.<br />

A camera below the surface captures the diffusion and sends<br />

the information to image-processing software, which can<br />

read multiple touches simultaneously and translate them into<br />

a command” [4]. In the example stated, the screen is an<br />

acrylic screen rather than standard glass, allowing for a<br />

thinner lens that is just as durable, cheaper, and more<br />

resilient.<br />

Advances are being made in internal reflection systems<br />

to make the instruments much smaller. One of these<br />

advancements, called ThinSight, is “a thin form-factor<br />

interactive surface technology based on optical sensors<br />

embedded inside a regular liquid crystal display” [5].<br />

ThinSight will allow a row of circuitry that possesses<br />

hundreds of small infrared LEDs, similar to the emitters and<br />

sensors, used in standard infrared systems. These sensors<br />

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1118 B9<br />

and emitters are much smaller and would cover a much<br />

smaller area of the screen. Traditional internal reflection<br />

system only required four or five emitters and cameras.<br />

Thinsight technology is still in development; however, it is<br />

believed that these advancements could make infrared touch<br />

screen technology much smaller. The advancements would<br />

also cause the system to be more available for future<br />

consumer touch screen devices.<br />

FIGURE 1<br />

THINSIGHT TOUCH SCREEN INFRARED EMITTERS AND DETECTORS [5]<br />

Microsoft Surface<br />

As mentioned above, the Microsoft Surface is a great<br />

example of internal reflection infrared touch screens. In<br />

early 2001, “Steve Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and<br />

Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research began brainstorming<br />

concepts for an interactive table”, beginning the<br />

development of the Surface [6]. The process continued in<br />

development until 2003 when the idea was presented to Bill<br />

Gates, and 85 prototypes were created for developers on the<br />

Surface Computing group, a group created in 2004 to solely<br />

develop the Surface. In 2005, various prototypes were<br />

created and analyzed, and eventually, in 2008, the Microsoft<br />

Surface was on sale to the public for $12,500 or $15,000 [6].<br />

The Surface’s “technology uses multiple image sensors<br />

around one side of the touch surface and IR backlights on<br />

the other side. When a user places his finger on the surface,<br />

intercepting the infrared beam, the device projects a shadow.<br />

Using multiple cameras, the unit converts this shadow into a<br />

touch point through triangulation” [3]. As stated by Dr. Hsu,<br />

the Surface uses a system of cameras and IR LED’s to<br />

capture the image of the object touching the surface. The<br />

Surface took a step forward with their technology,<br />

developing a special motherboard to compute the data,<br />

transmitted at 100 megabytes per second, from the cameras.<br />

The board then divides the data into sections that decide<br />

what is relevant and what is not. Relevant data is considered<br />

to be any information from the cameras that has changed<br />

since the last transmission. An example of that is the shadow<br />

from the infrared light changing as someone touches the<br />

screen.<br />

This software is also revolutionary in that it detects and<br />

distinguishes different types of touches. The Surface<br />

categorizes touches into three sets: finger, blob, and tagged<br />

objects. Fingers are given the ability to click on software<br />

application buttons, paint across the screen, and further<br />

interact with the Surface. Blobs are generic objects that are<br />

given a circular or oval reading with a major and minor axis.<br />

Blobs include inanimate objects like paper or other pieces of<br />

technology like smart phones or cameras [7]. Microsoft<br />

products, like the Microsoft Zune music player, can interact<br />

with the Surface just by laying Zune upon the top of the<br />

screen. Multiple Zunes can interact with one another using<br />

the Surface as an intermediary, transferring songs from one<br />

to another. Cameras and phones can also perform similar<br />

tasks with contacts, pictures, maps, and many other pieces of<br />

data. Microsoft has been “initially selling Surface to<br />

Starwood Hotels for guest check in, Harrah’s Entertainment<br />

for video gambling, and T-Mobile for providing customers<br />

with technical information about the company’s mobile<br />

phones” [4]. The Surface allows for the use of tagged items,<br />

specific to where the device is located. Tagged items could<br />

include gambling chips at a Harrah’s Casino or an electric<br />

keycard at a Starwood Hotel. The tagged items give the<br />

Surface very specific data, which includes the facing<br />

direction of the object as well as electric data on the tagged<br />

item itself [7].<br />

FIGURE 2<br />

MICROSOFT SURFACE [6]<br />

Through previous advances in touch screen<br />

technology, Microsoft took a step forward in infrared<br />

systems with their Surface. The Surface’s starting price is<br />

$12,500. This high cost makes the Surface inaccessible to<br />

personal consumers, and is therefore marketed toward<br />

corporations or companies.<br />

RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREENS<br />

Resistive touch screen systems are the most common type of<br />

touch screen technology in today’s market. These devices<br />

are used in many applications, such as cell phones, handheld<br />

games, GPS navigation devices, and even some digital<br />

cameras [3].<br />

The resistive touch screen technology operates in a<br />

very simple way. These screens are built using two layers of<br />

the conductive material Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), separated<br />

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1118 B9<br />

by a small gap of air [3]. The bottom layer is generally on<br />

glass, and the top on a flexible material, often plastic [8].<br />

When the user presses down on the top ITO layer, it<br />

physically bends to make contact with the bottom ITO layer,<br />

changing the resistance of the two layers [8]. A typical<br />

resistive touch screen uses 4 wires, 2 of them on each panel.<br />

As seen in Figure 3, each panel corresponds to a different<br />

axis. These perpendicular axes allow the computer to take<br />

the measurements of the change in resistance from each<br />

panel, and calculate the position of the touch point from its<br />

X and Y components [3].<br />

due to the slight electromagnetic charge contained in the<br />

human body [8]. These changes in capacitance are measured<br />

and calculated as touch points in a very similar way to<br />

resistive touch screens, by using the X and Y components.<br />

FIGURE 4<br />

PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN LAYERS [8]<br />

FIGURE 3<br />

TYPICAL 4-WIRE RESISTIVE TOUCH SCREEN [3]<br />

CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREENS<br />

Capacitive touch screens are very important within the field<br />

of touch screen technology. In the early 1990s, this<br />

technology made its initial appearance into the touch screen<br />

market in laptop computers, as touch pads [3]. Recently,<br />

capacitive popularity has grown, as it has become one of the<br />

leading technologies used in touch screen devices. In 2001,<br />

it began appearing in consumer devices, such as MP3-<br />

players and smart phones [3]. This increase in attention is<br />

likely due to the effectiveness of its design, its use of multitouch<br />

technology, and the popularity of Apple products<br />

using this technology: iPod <strong>Touch</strong>, iPhone and most recently<br />

the iPad. [9].<br />

Projected Capacitive <strong>Touch</strong> <strong>Screens</strong><br />

The design of projected capacitive touch screens is<br />

somewhat similar to that of resistive touch screens, in that<br />

they both utilize 2 layers of ITO, with perpendicular<br />

conductive measuring strips on the ends of each layer [8],<br />

which are encased between two glass layers (See Figure 4).<br />

This “grid,” formed by the perpendicular conductive layers,<br />

projects the electric field through the top layer of glasshence<br />

the name projected capacitive touch screens [8].<br />

Because of this projection, when the user touches the top<br />

layer of glass it “changes the measured capacitance values of<br />

the electrodes closest to it” [3]. This change in capacitance is<br />

Surface Capacitive <strong>Touch</strong> <strong>Screens</strong><br />

Surface capacitive is another form of capacitive touch<br />

screen technology. The primary difference between surface<br />

capacitive and projected capacitive is that surface capacitive<br />

uses only one ITO surface [3]. This layer calculates touch<br />

points using principles that are very similar to projected<br />

capacitive touch screens, in that touch points are observed<br />

by changes in capacitance if the ITO layer in the touch<br />

screen. However, these touch points are measured in a very<br />

different way. The computer measures the change in<br />

capacitance from each corner of the ITO layer, and with<br />

these 4 separate measurements, the X and Y coordinates of<br />

the touch point are calculated [3].<br />

Multi-<strong>Touch</strong> <strong>Technology</strong><br />

An important feature of capacitive touch screens is their<br />

ability to recognize and calculate multiple touch points at<br />

one time, commonly called multi-touch. “Multi-touch<br />

technology has been around since early research at the<br />

University of Toronto in 1982” [4]. The uses of this<br />

technology are very vast, allowing for greater humancomputer<br />

interaction. This technology is traditionally<br />

associated with capacitive touch screens, but is not limited to<br />

this technology. It can also be found in infrared touch<br />

screens and is beginning to appear in resistive touch screens<br />

[3]. Currently, multi-touch technology is being used with a<br />

purpose similar to the function keys (Control, Alt, Option,<br />

Command, etc.) on a standard keyboard. By adopting these<br />

functions, the user is able to complete the same tasks as<br />

before, but with one hand. With advances in hardware, multi<br />

touch will allow multiple users to access the same device<br />

simultaneously, like the Microsoft Surface’s capability of<br />

300 plus touches. While the hardware is available to create<br />

such devices, software implementation is holding back the<br />

growth of multi touch.<br />

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Apple<br />

Apple Corporation is a pioneer in the field of consumer<br />

electronics. With their innovative designs, Apple products<br />

have been setting new standards to which other technology<br />

is compared. In 2007, Apple revealed the iPhone, changing<br />

the face of telecommunications and touch screen technology<br />

[10]. This device was revolutionary because it incorporated a<br />

cell phone, iPod, and Internet communications device,<br />

making it the only electronic device you need [11]. Apple<br />

also created a version of this device to be the next generation<br />

of iPod, called the iPod <strong>Touch</strong> or the i<strong>Touch</strong>. It is very<br />

similar to the iPhone, except for the difference that it does<br />

not have cell phone capabilities. For our purposes, these<br />

devices will be described as interchangeable, because they<br />

both rely on the same touch technology and the same userinterface<br />

[9].<br />

manipulate documents, images, and other files with motions<br />

that feel like the task actually being completed, the user is<br />

able to work more efficiently and with less specific training<br />

or knowledge.<br />

Apple recently announced their next step in the field of<br />

touch screen technology: the iPad. Little is known about this<br />

device, aside from general technical descriptions of what it<br />

can do, and its 9.7-inch multi-touch display [9]. It can be<br />

assumed that it operates very similarly to that of the iPhone<br />

and iPod touch. This device was designed to browse the<br />

web, read and send email, view photos, movies, listen to<br />

music, play games, and read e-books, among many other<br />

things [13]. With these tasks in mind, the iPad is creating a<br />

new market for touch screen devices, much as the iPhone<br />

changed the mobile phone industry. By integrating<br />

innovative hardware, and creating arguably the most<br />

intuitive user interface available, Apple continues to raise<br />

the bar for all of their competitors in the consumer touch<br />

screen industry.<br />

PROS AND CONS<br />

FIGURE 5<br />

APPLE IPHONE [9]<br />

The iPhone and i<strong>Touch</strong> both use a projected capacitive<br />

touch screen, and are often used as examples in comparing<br />

projected capacitive technology to other touch screen<br />

technologies [10]. The patent application for this system is<br />

where most of our knowledge of the screen is from. It<br />

describes two different types of touch technology, selfcapacitance<br />

and mutual capacitance [12]. Self-capacitance is<br />

“a simple passive array of 2436 sensing electrodes in a<br />

single plane” [12]. Mutual capacitance, on the other hand,<br />

works much more like other capacitive touch screens. By<br />

setting two layers on top of each other, aligning the<br />

measuring strips perpendicular to each other, and calculating<br />

the touch point based on the X and Y coordinate of the<br />

touch, greater accuracy is achieved [10]. Another<br />

technologically relevant aspect of the iPhone is its use of<br />

multi-touch input, which allows for 15 touches at a time<br />

[12]. It is with this technology that the iPhone and iPod<br />

touch revolutionized the touch screen industry.<br />

These devices are important to the development of<br />

touch screen technology, because of their superior user<br />

interface (UI). There are six main functions of the iPhone’s<br />

touch screen: “Single tap to select or activate something,<br />

double tap to change the display format, drag and drop to<br />

move something, a stroke (“swipe” or “flick”)<br />

up/down/left/right to scroll, “pinching” two fingers together<br />

to shrink something,” and “spreading” two fingers apart to<br />

enlarge something” [10]. These intuitive controls have set a<br />

new precedent for all user interfaces. By being able to<br />

The two types of infrared systems are internal reflection and<br />

infrared grid. Infrared grids systems are reliable and can be<br />

manufactured inexpensively into appropriate sizes. Due to<br />

the grid of lasers and sensors, users do not need to press<br />

fully down on the screen putting less wear on screen<br />

increasing the life expectancy of the unit. The grid also<br />

increases the precision of the users touch.<br />

Internal reflection systems are large systems because<br />

of the space required for cameras to accurately measure the<br />

shadow produced by the infrared LEDs. The large space<br />

required for larger instruments does make internal reflection<br />

devices the most accurate touch screen technology. Units<br />

like the Microsoft Surface, the leading internal reflection<br />

device, are also able to increase their multi-touch capabilities<br />

to 300 plus touches.<br />

Resistive touch screen technology is the cheapest of<br />

the different types of touch screens; however, there are a few<br />

drawbacks. The first problem with this technology is the<br />

flexibility of the top layer of screen. This causes the ITO<br />

coating to crack due to the continual stretching and<br />

retracting of the flexible later [3]. This wear also relates to<br />

the air gap between the ITO layers. This gap allows dirt and<br />

dust to collect between the two conductive surfaces, making<br />

the display appear dirty. Additionally, these devices are “less<br />

than ideal for harsh environments,” due to the fact that they<br />

are vulnerable to temperature and humidity changes, which<br />

would affect the accuracy of the touch screen [3]. This is not<br />

to say that they do not perform consistently under standard<br />

conditions. One benefit of this technology is that the user is<br />

able to use his or her finger or a stylus as input devices [3].<br />

Overall, resistive touch screens perform very well,<br />

considering that they are the cheapest of the different touch<br />

screens.<br />

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Capacitive touch screens are very common in many<br />

consumer devices. Although there are two different types of<br />

capacitive touch screens, their performance is very similar,<br />

with the exception that projected capacitive touch screens<br />

are a little more accurate than surface capacitive touch<br />

screens, but this difference is relatively negligible. An<br />

important feature of this technology is its use and application<br />

of multi-touch gestures. This is because less force is required<br />

to maintain a “touch point”, making dragging and zooming<br />

items much easier. However, a drawback of this technology<br />

is that you can only touch the screen with your finger. This<br />

means that stylus and gloves, depending on their thickness,<br />

will not work with this technology [8]. Another drawback is<br />

the cost of the screen. These screens are more expensive<br />

than resistive touch screens [3]. Overall, capacitive touch<br />

screens are very effective in their current uses.<br />

Resistive and capacitive technologies are very similar,<br />

but also have several important differences. One of these<br />

differences is in durability and the need for calibration. In<br />

resistive touch screens, due to the deformation and warping<br />

of the ITO layer, the screens performance will be changed.<br />

This change creates a need to recalibrate the screen [8]. This<br />

problem, however, is not found in capacitive touch screens.<br />

This is because the ITO layers are less susceptible to<br />

damage. Additionally, this is capable “because the system<br />

can self-calibrate for environmental changes and is better<br />

able to adapt to environmental issues than resistive<br />

technology” [3]. Infrared devices also have the capability to<br />

self-calibrate for scratches because the sensors only react<br />

when something changes on the screen. A sensor would<br />

initially react to a scratch however, once the device is in rest<br />

it would read the new dimensions of the screen to be<br />

standard.<br />

This difference has a large impact on the use of each<br />

of the devices. Since capacitive and infrared devices do not<br />

need to be calibrated, they are more accurate than resistive<br />

devices after some wear. This difference between capacitive<br />

and resistive also increases because the ITO layers in<br />

resistive devices deteriorate over time. Capacitive touch<br />

screens are, therefore, more accurate and more durable than<br />

resistive touch screens.<br />

Another difference between the types of touch screens<br />

is the type of input devices allowed. In both resistive and<br />

infrared systems, you can use nearly any object to create a<br />

touch point. The only limitation on resistive systems is that<br />

the object needs to be somewhat pointed. This means that<br />

these touch screens allow for the use of fingers, a stylus,<br />

and, in infrared devices, just about any other object. This is a<br />

great benefit over capacitive touch screens, where a user can<br />

only use a finger to create touch points. The flexibility of<br />

using a stylus or finger allows for greater accuracy, and also<br />

allows the technology to be used in varied ways.<br />

The main difference between touch screen<br />

technologies is size and cost. Infrared touch screens are by<br />

far the biggest of the touch screen technologies. They are<br />

also more expensive than resistive and capacitive touch<br />

screens [3]. The size of resistive and capacitive touch<br />

screens is relatively similar, due to the similar nature of their<br />

technologies. However, there is quite a difference in price<br />

between these touch screens. Capacitive touch screens are<br />

more expensive than resistive touch screens because the<br />

systems of circuitry and measurement are more complex [3].<br />

It is with these differences in mind that we discuss the<br />

applications of these technologies. Infrared touch screens are<br />

best suited to devices like the Microsoft Surface, which<br />

require a very large touch screen. While resistive and<br />

capacitive screens have the potential to be this size, they do<br />

not perform as well as the infrared technology. This is<br />

because infrared technology uses sets of infrared LEDs and<br />

either cameras or sensors to detect the changes. Having a<br />

large capacitive or resistive system would require a large<br />

amount of wire throughout the screen; wires of that size<br />

would increase the chance for malfunction in detection, as<br />

well as wear and tear.<br />

Capacitive touch screens are best suited for high end,<br />

portable electronic devices, and devices that need to perform<br />

consistently in many conditions. This is because of its<br />

durability, accuracy, multi-touch support and ease, and its<br />

aesthetically pleasing appearance.<br />

Finally, resistive touch screens are best suited for<br />

mobile applications, in which conditions will be consistent.<br />

SUSTAINABILITY<br />

One definition of sustainability is the improvement of the<br />

quality of life by making life more enjoyable and less<br />

burdensome. <strong>Touch</strong> screen technology fits within this<br />

definition very well. <strong>Touch</strong> screen devices make life more<br />

enjoyable by creating a fun and intuitive user interface. This<br />

is a reason that the iPhone, iPod <strong>Touch</strong>, and similar devices<br />

are so successful. By allowing the user to operate the device<br />

in many different ways, the devices are more versatile and<br />

create a better interface for many applications. With a better<br />

interface, the devices become more enjoyable to use, and<br />

allow for other applications of the device.<br />

Sustainability also pertains to making life less<br />

burdensome. <strong>Touch</strong> screens are very sustainable because of<br />

the vast amount of applications that can be done on one<br />

device. This can be seen very easily in the iPhone and<br />

Microsoft Surface. Before the iPhone, many people carried<br />

around a cell phone, iPod, and PDA. With the<br />

implementation of a versatile touch screen, the iPhone and<br />

other touch screen devices are able to do the tasks of all<br />

three of these devices. This is because of the adaptability of<br />

the interface. The Microsoft Surface is similar to the iPhone<br />

because it makes many applications available to the user.<br />

Users are able to transfer contact information, calendars,<br />

pictures, etc. with just the touch of a finger. The<br />

sustainability aspects of both of these devices show the<br />

importance of these technologies. These devices improve the<br />

quality of life for the user by simplifying everyday tasks and<br />

making them more enjoyable for the user.<br />

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1118 B9<br />

THE FUTURE OF TOUCH<br />

For now, the latest developments in touch screen technology<br />

include what is considered as an interactive touch screen—it<br />

is perceived that the screen shapes itself allowing a user to<br />

click a button. A. Peshkin and J. Edward Colgate, professors<br />

at Northwestern University, are at the forefront of this<br />

innovation. The Tactile Pattern Display, TPaD, has a small<br />

devise, piezoelectric ceramic disc that vibrates the outer<br />

most layer of glass. The vibrations through the glass create a<br />

small layer of air between the user’s finger and the screen<br />

itself. This changes the coefficient of friction between the<br />

finger and screen making it appear that the glass itself has<br />

changed. Peshkin and Colgate explain that, “the entire plate<br />

vibrates, so the amount of friction is the same all over the<br />

TPaD’s surface at any given time. But because the<br />

oscillations are modulated as your finger’s position changes,<br />

the device fools you into thinking that there are varying<br />

amounts of friction at different locations. The prototype uses<br />

optical sensors to keep track of your finger’s position. The<br />

friction reduction can be switched on and off so quickly<br />

(within about 4 milliseconds on average) that the pitch of<br />

virtual bumps or dips can be made far finer than what a<br />

fingertip can discern” [14].<br />

The TPaD is still in the prototype phase of<br />

development; however, it is a step forward with human<br />

interaction with technology. How far and how fast touch<br />

screen technology develops is only limited to the funding<br />

and resources available. Expect to be interacting with your<br />

devices more and more as advances are made in technology.<br />

TOUCH SCREENS AND CONSUMERS<br />

Moving towards the future, consumers will continue to see<br />

the growth of the touch screen industry, due to extensive<br />

engineering advancements in user interfaces. The ability to<br />

physically touch a screen is easier than searching for a<br />

specific key in a sea of buttons. Society, for these reasons,<br />

has found touch screens to be the future of many devices.<br />

The social norm of today includes walking down the street<br />

surfing the web on an iPhone or sifting through music on an<br />

iPod <strong>Touch</strong>. No additional buttons are necessary, just the<br />

small, portable device in one’s pocket until needed. Society<br />

will continue to see the development of touch screen<br />

technology as human-device interaction is perfected.<br />

[5]Izadi, Shahram, et al. "ThinSight: A Thin Form-Factor Interactive<br />

Surface <strong>Technology</strong>." Association for Computing Machinery.<br />

[6]"The Origins of Microsoft Surface". www.microsoft.com.<br />

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Pages/Product/Origins.aspx. Accessed 3<br />

March 2010.<br />

[7]"The Microsoft Surface Vision System". www.microsoft.com.<br />

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9707395. Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

[8] Gray, Tony. “Projected Capacitive <strong>Touch</strong> Screen <strong>Technology</strong>”. Ocular,<br />

Inc. Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

[9] “Apple.com”. www.Apple.com. http://www.apple.com. Accessed 3<br />

March 2010.<br />

[10] Walker, Geoff. “The Apple iPhone’s Impact on the <strong>Touch</strong>-Panel<br />

Industry”. Information Display 5/07. Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

[11]"Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone". www.Apple.com.<br />

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/01/09iphone.html. Accessed 3 March<br />

2010.<br />

[12] Walker, Geoff. “<strong>Touch</strong> and the Apple iPhone”. Veritas et Visus.<br />

Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

[13]"Apple Launches iPad". www.Apple.com.<br />

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27ipad.html. Accessed 3 March<br />

2010.<br />

[14]Jones, Willie D. “<strong>Touch</strong> <strong>Screens</strong> with Feeling” IEEE Spectrum May.<br />

2009: 15. Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

ADDITIONAL SOURCES<br />

Aguilar, R.N., and G.C.M. Meijer. "Fast interface electronics for a resistive<br />

touch screen." Proceedings of IEEE SENSORS 2002. 2002.<br />

Hill, Anthony. "<strong>Touch</strong> screen technologies: Their advantages and<br />

disadvantages; the guidelines offered will point you toward the best touch<br />

technology for your application needs." Control Solutions, September 2002:<br />

24.<br />

Hoggan, Eve, Topi Kaaresoja, Pauli Laitinen, and Stephen Brewster.<br />

"Crossmodal Congruence: The Look, Feel and Sound of <strong>Touch</strong>screen<br />

Widgets." ICMI. 2008. 157-164.<br />

Kim, Hong-Ki, et al. "Transparent and flexible tactile sensor for multi touch<br />

screen application with force sensing." Solid State Sensors, Actuators and<br />

Microsystems Conference. 2009. 1146-1149.<br />

Loviscach, Jorn. "Two-Finger Input with a Standard <strong>Touch</strong> Screen."<br />

Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informatik, October 7-10, 2007: 169-172.<br />

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS<br />

We would like to thank Luis Bon and Rowoli Scott-<br />

Emuakpor for their guidance in this project. We also thank<br />

those at the Engineering Library, Writing Center, and those<br />

involved in the Freshman Engineering Writing Program who<br />

have helped us with our research and in editing this project.<br />

We would additionally like to thank our peers in the<br />

Freshman Engineering Program, especially the SPACE<br />

Floors, for their support and assistance with the editing and<br />

revisions necessary to completing this project.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

[1]“Company history from Elographics to Elo <strong>Touch</strong>Systems, 1971 -<br />

present - Elo <strong>Touch</strong>Systems - Tyco Electronics”. www.elotouch.com.<br />

http://www.elotouch.com/AboutElo/History/default.asp. Accessed 3 March<br />

2010.<br />

[2]“The HP-150”. www.columbia.edu.<br />

http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/hp150.html. Accessed 3 March 2010.<br />

[3]Hsu, Andrew. "Choosing a touch technology for handheld-system<br />

applications." EDN, January 8, 2009: 40-44.<br />

[4]Nichols, Steven J. Vaughan “New Interfaces at the <strong>Touch</strong> of a Fingertip”<br />

IEEE Society August. 2007: 12-15.<br />

University of Pittsburgh April 10, 2010<br />

TENTH ANNUAL FRESHMAN CONFERENCE<br />

6

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