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Capacitive, infrared and InGlass touch technology. What’s the difference?

16/10/2017

Product Advice

The technology behind interactive touchscreens is continually evolving. Alongside points of touch, use of software and others, a significant development is from infrared touch to use of capacitive touch technology.

Learning the differences between all touch technology and their benefits will help you to choose the perfect touchscreen for you.

Capacitive Touch

Projected Capacitive touch (or PCAP) is what you will be used to using on your smartphone or tablet. It works with the screen using the electricity of the human body to recognise the interactions easily.

The sensitivity and accuracy of this technology is greater, providing up to 60 touchpoints. This allows a greater number of participants to use the screen at once, giving you greater collaboration for greater engagement.

The glass on the screen is highly durable because of its need to stay in good condition as that is how it registers touch. You can be happy in the knowledge that it stays tough in the roughest classroom.

With a more sleek look due to it not needing a thick bezel, it can suit business environments just as well as a classroom.

For an example of a touchscreen which uses capacitive touch technology, click here.

Infrared Touch

Infrared technology is the most common in use in interactive touchscreens, yet in the future, it is likely to be seen as more of an entry-level solution.

The technology involves an embedded overlay of infrared beams all around the screen from a strip within the device’s bezel. When an object interacts, a finger or a stylus, for example, the device will register it as a touchpoint. It can have up to 40 touchpoints, this allows many students to work together on a difficult topic to understand at the same level.

As stated above, the vast majority of touchscreens use infrared touch technology; click here to see the long list.

InGlass Touch

InGlass technology is the least common touch technology which is used in touchscreens right now but it is being implemented in the latest models of touchscreens more and more.

Within the glass, there are transmitters which locate the area where an object disrupts the screen. It works in quite a similar manner to infrared technology, however, it enables a much more intuitive interactive experience. This is due to the fact it is scalable and insensitive to electrical interferences, making for one of the most impressive touch experiences in the field right now.

With the transmitters and receivers being within the screen behind the glass rather than in the bezel, it is a more sleek looking design perfect for classes or business environments.

To see the latest touchscreens available which utilise the impressive InGlass technology; click here.

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