Touchscreen

A touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of <a href="/facts/Electronic_visual_display/fA0mUcIQ">display</a> that can detect touch input from a user. It consists of both an <a href="/facts/Input_device/TXYLUkux">input device</a> (a touch panel) and an <a href="/facts/Output_device/zQt81QMq">output device</a> (a visual display). The touch panel is typically layered on the top of the <a href="/facts/Electronic_visual_display/fA0mUcIQ">electronic visual display</a> of a device. Touchscreens are commonly found in <a href="/facts/Smartphones/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a>, <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">tablets</a>, <a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptops</a>, and other electronic devices. The display is often an <a href="/facts/Liquid-crystal_display/8B6xGBEz">LCD</a>, <a href="/facts/AMOLED/hG9wxg06">AMOLED</a> or <a href="/facts/OLED/219L1aMJ">OLED</a> display.
A user can give input or control the information processing system through simple or <a href="/facts/Multi-touch/DP71Xsqj">multi-touch</a> gestures by touching the screen with a special <a href="/facts/Stylus_(computing)/j5e1x0vf">stylus</a> or one or more fingers. Some touchscreens use ordinary or specially coated gloves to work, while others may only work using a special stylus or pen. The user can use the touchscreen to react to what is displayed and, if the software allows, to control how it is displayed; for example, <a href="/facts/Zooming_user_interface/xWFvDtYh">zooming</a> to increase the text size.
A touchscreen enables the user to interact directly with what is displayed, instead of using a <a href="/facts/Computer_mouse/fJpa1tUE">mouse</a>, <a href="/facts/Touchpad/5BptytYa">touchpad</a>, or other such devices (other than a stylus, which is optional for most modern touchscreens).
Touchscreens are common in devices such as <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a>, <a href="/facts/Handheld_game_console/l1hmKVPx">handheld game consoles</a>, and <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">personal computers</a>. They are common in <a href="/facts/Point_of_sale/DwUHVn2v">point-of-sale</a> (POS) systems, <a href="/facts/Automated_teller_machine/8y5eVFUr">automated teller machines</a> (ATMs), <a href="/facts/Electronic_voting_machine/TwwULQmb">electronic voting machines</a>, and automobile <a href="/facts/In-car_entertainment/FDuCjmBy">infotainment systems</a> and controls. They can also be attached to computers or, as terminals, to networks. They play a prominent role in the design of digital appliances such as <a href="/facts/Personal_digital_assistant/fLTT1Uqy">personal digital assistants</a> (PDAs) and some <a href="/facts/E-reader/D7a76tKm">e-readers</a>. Touchscreens are important in educational settings such as classrooms or on college campuses.
The popularity of smartphones, tablets, and many types of <a href="/facts/Information_appliance/HYy6s4sB">information appliances</a> has driven the demand and acceptance of common touchscreens for portable and functional electronics. Touchscreens are found in the medical field, <a href="/facts/Heavy_industry/yFY3ovdz">heavy industry</a>, <a href="/facts/Automated_teller_machine/8y5eVFUr">automated teller machines</a> (ATMs), and kiosks such as museum displays or <a href="/facts/Room_automation/57392A57">room automation</a>, where <a href="/facts/Computer_keyboard/MczF9LIS">keyboard</a> and <a href="/facts/Mouse_(computing)/fJpa1tUE">mouse</a> systems do not allow a suitably intuitive, rapid, or accurate interaction by the user with the display's content.
Historically, the touchscreen sensor and its accompanying controller-based <a href="/facts/Firmware/62UVKIUK">firmware</a> have been made available by a wide array of after-market <a href="/facts/System_integrator/z7NkflzJ">system integrators</a>, and not by display, chip, or <a href="/facts/Motherboard/GXB10heG">motherboard</a> manufacturers. Display manufacturers and chip manufacturers have acknowledged the trend toward acceptance of touchscreens as a <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">user interface</a> component and have begun to integrate touchscreens into the fundamental design of their products.

Touchscreen open-in-new

Touchscreen