Touch screen technology comparison: VS Resistive Capacitive

 Thanks to colleagues 3sulblog Today we offer them an interesting article on the differences and similarities between the two major types of touch screen implemented in our handheld devices: the touch screen and capacitive to resistive. Special thanks go to the author Sassari which allowed us to publish on our website.

It must be said first that the screens are based on resistive technology, much older than that characterizing the capacitive display, dating back to 1995, and the first prototype of resistive technology.

The resistive touch-screen operation based on its electrical resistance: the screen is created by pressing a contact between two layers cconduttori electricity. The device tracks the positional coordinates of the contact by communicating the data to the operating system. Adopt this type of screen all of Nokia touch screen terminals, such as the 5800 XpressMusic el'N97, but also many other phones.

The capacitive touch screen generates a flow of electrons through the surface of the display: when an object capacitance, such as human fingers, toccanno (or just skim) the screen distorts the flow of electrons. The device, through sensors placed in each corner of the display, detects the distortion and gives the coordinates of the touch. That's why on capacitive screens cannot use inanimate objects such as pens. Adopt this type of display such as the phone the HTC G1.

Let us now try to compare some aspects of assessing the "fundamentals" for a good touch screen.

Visibility in indoor

Resistive: typically very good.

Capacitance: typically very good.

Resistive: typically poor, the extra layer reflects too much light outside

Capacitance: typically very good.

Resistive pressure is essential to interact with the screen and you can use your fingers (even when wearing gloves), nails, pens etc. The possibility of using the stylus is very important in the Asian market and for the recognition of written characters.

Capacitive: even the slightest touch of our finger full of electrons with the glass screen is sufficient to activate the detection system. Not working with inanimate objects / nails / gloves, etc.. Handwriting recognition is therefore still cumbersome.

Resistive: specify at least the resolution of the display pixels, as can be seen by drawing or writing characters using the stylus. Very useful for handwriting recognition, and interfaces with small control elements.

Capacitive: accuracy of a few pixels, in theory, but severely limited by the physical dimensions of the fingers, making it difficult to select anything on the screen smaller than a square centimeter.

Resistive: economical to use in designing a phone.

Capacitive: more expensive than resistive display, from 10% to 50% more, it depends by the manufacturer. In a phone tip, this extra cost is certainly no difference, while a mid-range phone, use a capacitive screen may be prohibitive.

Resistive: none, without a redesign of the way in which a resistive screen is connected al'elettronica terminal.

Capacitive: depends on the implementation and software. The phone is multitouch is that sull'HTC G1.

Resistive: the nature of the resistive screens implies the presence of a top layer of soft, soft enough to be pressed down. This screen makes it vulnerable to scratches and minor damage. A resistive screen also would suffer the inevitable wear and tear, necessitating frequent care.

On the other hand, the resistive layer above the plastic screen makes the device robust and immune to damage from falls.

Capacitive: the glass can be used as outer layer. Surely this material is not invulnerable and is definitely prone to breakage due to impacts. But glass is more resistant to scratches and dents occasional.

Resistive: following the use of nails or pens is less likely to fill the display of fingerprints, dirt or germs. (Kill that shit)

Capacitive: the touch of your fingertips is essential to interact with the screen and fingerprints are inevitable. But it is also true that glass is a material that is easy and quick to clean.

Resistive: Exact figures are not available, but anecdotal evidence suggests that the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic can work between -15 ° C to +45 ° C and all types of moisture on the planet.

Capacitive: The typical operating temperature is between 0 ° C and 35 ° C and requires at least 5% humidity (capacitive effect to work) 

Resistive screens are definitely their advantages: you can use a stylus or a stylus, low production costs, can be used in devices robust and can handle extreme weather conditions.

This comparison can win both, as in most of the comparisons of technology. In fact, rather than considering these two technologies as rivals, is more natural to see them as an alternative of one another, with strengths and weaknesses. So expect to see many more resistive and capacitive terminals hit the market. Of course, the charm of the capacitive screen is probably higher, but here we enter a subjective discourse, or maybe we are not ever left.