Touch Technology

Touchscreen Technology for Displays & Monitors

There are many benefits in choosing touch technology. Touchscreen technology provides a fast and intuitive interface for the user. Touchscreens simplify customer interactions. Users do not have to know how to use a computer, but simply touch the monitor to make their choices. No keyboard is required, saving valuable space. Planar offers infrared/optical, capacitive, resistive, and SAW touch technologies.

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Feature Infrared (IR) Optical Resistive (5-wire) Surface Capacitive Projected Capacitive SAW
Gloved Hand Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
IP 65/NEMA
4 Seal Capable
Yes Achieved with
correct material
Yes Achieved with
Correct Material
Yes No
Durability/Wear Excellent Excellent Fair Good Excellent Excellent
USB Interface Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Calibration Stability Excellent Excellent Fair to Excellent Good to Excellent Good to Excellent Excellent
Light Transmission 92-99% 92-100% 75-88% 88-93% ≤91% 90%
Multi-touch
capable
Yes Yes No No No No
How Infrared (IR) Touch Technology Works
How IR Touch Technology Works
Why Infrared (IR) Touch?
  • Clear as glass. The clarity of the technology improves readability at a glance.
  • Rugged surface and bezel design is the best technology for sealing against liquids and dust.
  • Applications:
    • Transportation Informatics
    • Kiosk
    • Industrial Machine Control
How Optical Touch Technology Works
How Optical Touch Technology Works
Why Optical Touch?
  • Clearer than resistive or capacitive since there is nothing between the viewer and the display
  • The rugged surface and bezel design is ideal for sealing against liquids and dust
  • Able to handle dual touch input
  • Can scale to large sizes
  • Can support multi-touch (more than dual touch)
  • Applications:
    • Kiosk and interactive digital signage
    • Indoor multimedia kiosks
How Surface Capacitive Touch Technology Works
How Capacitive Touch Works
Why Surface Capacitive Touch?
  • Durable and resistant to scratches for demanding applications
  • Faster and more responsive
  • Immune to surface contaminants
  • Superior optical clarity, brighter display and less surface reflection
  • Applications:
    • Casino Gaming
    • Retail
    • Hospitality
How Projected Capacitive Touch Technology Works
How Projected Capacitive Touch Works
Why Projected Capacitive Touch?
  • Outdoor operability - in rain, snow, ice and dust
  • True flat front surface possible with no bezel
  • Activated by gloved hand
  • Functions even if glass is scratched or broken
  • Applications:
    • Outdoor kiosks
    • Ticketing machines
    • ATMs
How Resistive Touch Technology Works
How Resitive Touch Works
Why Resistive Touch?
  • Cost effective solutions
  • Activated by a stylus, a finger or gloved hand
  • Functions even if damaged
  • Applications:
    • Healthcare
    • Hospitality
    • High-Volume Retail Environments
How Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Technology Works
How SAW Works
Why Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Touch?
  • Durable glass construction
  • High optical clarity
  • Activated by a finger, gloved hand or soft tip
  • Applications:
    • Healthcare
    • Retail
    • Point of Sale
    • Hospitality