Although they’ve been around around for a few decades, touchscreen devices have quickly taken over the world. Statistics show that more than 2.8 billion touchscreen devices were sold in 2016. From smartphones and tablet computers to automotive infotainment systems, handheld video game consoles and even smart refrigerator interfaces, touchscreen devices are everywhere. But not all of these touchscreen devices offer the same level of functionality. To design a high-quality touchscreen device, manufacturers must focus on the following aspects.
Responsive
A high-quality touchscreen device should feature a responsive design. In other words, it should quickly respond to the user’s touch command with the appropriate action. The longer the delay, the harder it will be to use. Thankfully, most touchscreen technologies, including surface capacitance and projected capacitance, have fast response times. Some of the lesser-used touchscreen technologies, though, have longer, slower response times.
Ergonomic Design
Ergonomics is an important element for manufacturers to consider when designing and building touchscreen devices. If a touchscreen device isn’t ergonomic, it may cause discomfort or even pain for users. Ergonomics refers to an optimized design that offers the highest level of comfort for the user.
High-Powered Backlight
Touchscreen devices should also feature a high-powered backlight. The backlight is responsible for producing the illumination needed to light up the display. Touchscreen manufacturers typically use one of several backlight solutions, including light-emitting diode (LED), electroluminescent (EL) or fiber optics. All three solutions are energy efficient and provide ample illumination for touchscreen devices.
Oleophobic Coating
What is an oleophobic coating, and why is it necessary for touchscreen devices? Oleophobic coatings are applied to the outer surface of touchscreen devices to protect them from oil and moisture. The term “oleophobic” literally means “oil rejection” — a definition that sums up this touchscreen feature nicely. With an oleophobic coating, touchscreen devices are less likely to be affected by the oils produced by the user’s fingers and hands. If a touchscreen device lacks an oleophobic coating, the oils produced by the user’s skin may interfere with its operations, thereby causing incorrect commands and other related problems.
Simple, Familiar Design
Finally, touchscreen devices should feature a simple, familiar design. Even if a user has never operated a specific touchscreen device before, he or she should be able to quickly learn given its familiar design. Devices with a complex, unfamiliar design are more difficult to operate. Therefore, manufacturers of high-quality touchscreens use a simple and familiar design in their devices.
