Different touchscreens use different technologies to detect touch commands. Some of them use capacitive technology, whereas others use resistive technology. While capacitive and resistive are the most common touchscreen technologies, though, another option is surface acoustic wave (SAW).
SAW touchscreens are characterized by the use of ultrasonic waves. They look like most touchscreens, but SAW touchscreens are distinguished from their counterparts by using ultrasonic waves. When turned on, SAW touchscreens will project ultrasonic waves across the top layer. Performing a touch command will then absorb some of the ultrasonic waves in that area of the top layer. Why should you choose a SAW touchscreen exactly?
#1) Excellent Image Clarity
Because they feature a glass screen, SAW touchscreens offer excellent image clarity. All touchscreens have a transparent top layer. After all, touchscreens rely on an integrated display, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD), to produce images. While some touchscreens have a plastic top layer, SAW touchscreens have a glass top layer.
With a glass top layer, SAW touchscreens offer excellent image clarity. Glass allows more light to pass through it than plastic. The end result is clearer, brighter and higher-quality images.
#2) Long-Lasting
You don’t have to worry about SAW touchscreens failing prematurely. SAW touchscreens are long-lasting. If you’re tired of constantly buying new touchscreens due to failure, you may want to opt for SAW technology.
It’s not uncommon for SAW touchscreens to last for over 50 million actuations. An actuation is a touch command. You can perform over 50 million touch commands on a SAW touchscreen. Even then, the risk of failure is minimal. SAW touchscreens typically last longer than other types of touchscreens because they don’t have moving parts.
#3) Supports Gloves and Styluses
SAW touchscreens support the use of gloves and styluses. You don’t have to perform touch commands on a SAW touchscreen with a bare finger. While using a bare finger is always an option, you can perform touch commands while wearing gloves or with a stylus.
Capacitive touchscreens, on the other hand, typically only work with a bare finger. Capacitive touchscreens require electrical conductivity. If you wear gloves or use a stylus, there won’t be any electrical conductivity. Therefore, the capacitive touchscreen won’t register your command.
#4) Protection From Scratches
Another reason to choose a SAW touchscreen is protection from scratches. As previously mentioned, SAW touchscreens feature a glass top layer. The top layer is made entirely of glass. In addition to offering excellent image clarity, glass offers a high level of protection from scratches.
