Features of resistive technology
There are various sensing methods in resistive technology, and each sensing method has unique features. The followings are some features that are generally in common for all the sensing methods of resistive technology.
- Resistive technology is low cost due to its simple structure of touch screen and controller circuit.
- Resistive technology has no limitation for input material as long as top sheet yields by pressing. The sensor can be operated with a finger, pen, and any other tool.
- Analog resistive sensor has high resolution and location accuracy.
- Thickness of resistive touch screens can be thin due to its simple structure.
- Frame area (insulation area) is narrow comparing with other technologies.
- Because of its simple structure and sensing method, it is possible to source a touch screen and controller separately to make a touch screen unit.
- Resistive touch screen consumes only low power.
- Some recent resistive technologies support multi-touch input.
- The structure that two layers of transparent ITO sheets are facing with air in between, is sometimes considered to be a disadvantage of resistive technology in terms of visibility. Decrease in light transmission, reflection of outside light, and Newton ring may occur due to its structure, and spoil visibility. However, visibility of resistive technology has been improved tremendously as film of high light transmission, anti-newton ring film, and structure design to suppress reflection, has been developed.
- It had been said that durability of resistive technology is not as good as other technologies because thin transparent ITO sheets physically moves and contacts over and over in resistive technology. Today, technical innovation of ITO films has improved the durability of resistive technology greatly.
- Size of over 27 - 28 inches are difficult to be built in resistive technology because of the difficulty to make a uniform ITO coating in such large sizes.
- There are great varieties in resistive technology. Apart from the basic film/glass construction, glass/glass construction is often employed for automotive navigation devices due to its toughness and environment resistance. Film/film structure is often seen on mobile phones and other portable devices because it is light and does not crack even if it is dropped onto the ground. Resistive touch screen may also come with a polarizing film that will suppress reflection of sunlight.
- As to applications of (analog) resistive technology, handheld terminals such as smartphone, PDA, PND and portable games are majorities for consumer use. These applications take advantages of resistive technology, that are high resolution, thinness, and low power consumption. Other applications include automotive navigation, camcorder, PC, POS terminal, POP terminal, Kiosk, factory automation, sewing machine, medical devices and so on. Resistive technology was not employed for public terminals such as Kiosk before, because of its durability and visibility. Today, resistive touch screens are seen in many of these public terminals due to improvement of quality and lowered cost.
