Are you thinking about purchasing a resistive touchscreen? Whether it’s for work or leisure (or both), you’ll need to choose the right type. While all resistive touchscreens are characterized by the use of two electrically resistive layers, they aren’t all the same. Below are five important things to consider when choosing a resistive touchscreen.
#1) 4 vs 5 Wire
Resistive touchscreens are often classified as either four wire or five wire, depending on the specific type of technology they use to detect touch commands. Both four-wire and five-wire resistive touchscreens are fully capable of reading and responding to your touch commands. Five-wire resistive touchscreens, however, are designed with all the electrodes on the bottom layer, whereas four-wire resistive touchscreens are designed with electrodes on both the bottom and top layer. As a result, five-wire resistive touchscreens are more durable and accurate than their four-wire counterparts.
#2) Material
You should also consider the material from which a resistive touchscreen is made. More specifically, pay attention to the material used in the device’s multiple layers. Some resistive touchscreens feature two layers of glass, whereas others feature a layer of glass and a layer of plastic. Glass layers offer a superior level image clarity, though plastic layers are stronger and more resistant to fracture.
#3) Moisture Resistance
If you’re planning to use the resistive touchscreens outdoors — or in other harsh environments for that matter, you should consider choosing a model that’s moisture resistant. The good news is that most resistive touchscreens naturally prevent the intrusion of moisture. With that said, some resistive touchscreens are better equipped to withstand moist or otherwise harsh environments than others.
#4) Display
What type of display technology does the resistive touchscreen use? Liquid-crystal display (LCD) has become the leading display technology used in touchscreens, and resistive touchscreens are no exceptions. You can still find touchscreens using cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays, but LCD technology produces superior images, making it the preferred choice among touchscreen users and manufacturers alike.
#5) Operating System
Of course, you should consider the type of operating system used in a resistive touchscreen. Android, not surprisingly, is the most popular operating system used in resistive touchscreens, as well as other touchscreens. It’s fast, efficient, reliable and highly customizable.
While capacitive touchscreens are undoubtedly popular, many people prefer the convenience of resistive touchscreens. Resistive touchscreens can read all types of touch commands, including those triggered by a bare finger, a gloved finger or a stylus. Capacitive touchscreens, on the other hand, typically only support the use of a bare finger when performing touch commands.
