do touch screen monitors work any computer quotation
I need to replace my PC setup at home, so your article on buying a new family PC was really great for me. Currently the PC is only used by the children for accessing the web, running Minecraft, iTunes, playing The Sims etc. I would really like to try using a touchscreen monitor to get the best out of Windows 8. I am aware of the argument about gorilla arms, but after using an iPad, I find myself prodding all computer screens with an (unrealistic) expectation that something should happen.
You can add a touch-sensitive screen to any PC – or even an old laptop – by buying a touch-sensitive monitor. There must be a market for them, because most leading monitor suppliers offer them. This includes Acer, AOC, Asus, Dell, HP, Iiyama, LG, Samsung and ViewSonic. The less well-known HannsG also has competitive offerings.
However, touch sensitivity requires extra technology, which is an extra cost, especially for large screens. Touch-sensitive monitors are therefore more expensive than traditional designs, which must restrict the size of the market.
As you have found, there are lots of all-in-one PCs with touch screens, but they are basically laptop designs with separate keyboards. Slimline designs impose thermal constraints on the processor, which will typically operate at a TDP between 15W and 35W, or less. The processor will be throttled when it gets too hot, and the PC may shut down. By contrast, spacious desktop towers can use processors that run at 45W to 90W or more, so you get more performance for less money.
Towers provide space for adding more memory, ports, faster graphics cards, extra hard drives, optical drives (DVD or Blu-ray) and so on. They are also much easier to repair, so they should last longer. The main drawback is that they take up more space than laptops or all-in-one designs. This may be critical if you want to mount the screen on a wall, which is common with touch-screen PCs used for public information access.
You must consider the flexibility of the design. While the “gorilla arm” argument is simplistic to the point of stupidity – teachers have been using blackboards for centuries – there are important considerations to do with screen distance and angle.
The better all-in-ones provide flexibility to handle different programs and different uses. Often the screen leans back, and in some cases, can be used in a horizontal position. This makes it practical to play electronic versions of family board games, navigate around maps, play a virtual piano, and so on.
Desktop monitors are usually designed to be used with the screen in a vertical position, and relatively high up. This puts the screen a long way from your hands, so you are less likely to use it for touch operations. This contrasts with using a laptop, where the screen may be as handy as the keyboard.
If you decide to go for a touch-screen monitor, choose one that is easy to tilt backwards and possible to use in a horizontal position. Obviously, you should be able to return it to an upright position for word processing and so on.
Alternatively, you can buy any touch screen you like, if you mount it on a monitor arm that enables the screen to be moved around. This may actually be a better option, but it will probably cost more.
Touch-screen monitors are a bit more complicated than traditional designs, because they are active rather than passive devices. Traditional screens just have to show a picture, whereas touch-screen monitors have to feed information back to the PC. They often do this via a separate USB cable that runs next to the VGA/DVI/HDMI/etc video cable.
Monitors also vary according to the number of touch-sensitive points. This can range from five to 40, but 10 is usual for Windows 8. Further, different monitors may use optical, resistive or capacitative touch technology. Capacitative touch provides the same experience as using a tablet, which is what you want.
Some monitors support a new standard: MHL (Mobile High-definition Link). This enables you to connect a compatible smartphone or tablet to the monitor to show videos with high-resolution sound (up to 7.1 channels, including TrueHD and DTS-HD). The mobile device gets charged while it’s attached.
Other considerations are the usual ones: screen size and resolution, brightness, type of technology (LED, IPS etc), number of ports, whether it includes loudspeakers, and so on. Since you’re a developer, you’ll probably want to knock out a quick spreadsheet to compare all the options.
Note that touch-screen monitors designed for Windows 7 – probably with two touch-points – are less than ideal for Windows 8, where the bezel has to be flush with the display for edge-swipes. However, I don’t expect there are many Windows 7 touch monitors still on the market.
I have very little experience of different touch-screen monitors, and haven’t tested any, so you will need to do your own research. I can point to some of the products that are available, but unfortunately it may be hard or impossible to see them before you buy one.
PC World, for example, only seems to offer three touch-screen monitors. These are all Acer models with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and screen sizes of 21.5in (£179.99), 23in (£249.99) and 27in (£379.99). These have MHL support, USB 3.0 and tilt stands that adjust from 80 to 30 degrees, so you could do worse. The 23in IPS-screen Acer T232HLA looks like the best option.
Other touch-screen monitors that might be worth a look include the 23.6in AOC Style i2472P (£262.98), the 21.5in Dell S2240T H6V56 (£207.38) and the 23in Dell S2340T (£339.95). There’s also a ViewSonic TD2340 for £199.99, apparently reduced from £439.99, and a 24in Samsung S24C770TS for £449.99.
If you have a modern Windows 8 laptop, then you can probably use Windows 8’s touch gestures on its built-in touchpad. In the same vein, you could just buy a touchpad for your desktop PC and use it with a cheaper non-touch screen. Logitech’s rechargeable Touchpad T650 is an expensive option at £114, though the wireless T650 looks a better buy at £39.99.
Previously, traditional monitors were frequently in use in personal computers for various purposes, but now touch screen monitors are replacing these traditional monitors. Touch screen monitors are way more complicated than the traditional monitors. They have very design and functions. Touch screen monitors are active devices whereas traditional monitors are passive devices.
The design of the touch screen monitors is in such a way that they display an information from the PC onto the whiteboard. Moreover, they have to send the information back to the PC, unlike the traditional screen that simply had to display the information. Touch screen monitors send information back to the PC via a USB cable. These innovative monitors have other different features from like resolution, screen size, type of technology they use (IPS, LED, etc.), brightness, number of ports, whether these monitors include speakers or not.
Touch screen monitors come with a variety of the features that are not present in traditional monitors. Due to these distinctive features, touch screens monitors are a better option as compared to traditional monitors. Below are some of the unique features of Touch screen monitors.
Touch screen monitors are designed in such a way that they encourage collaborations and boost productivity. They offer flexibility to the users for school, work, and entertainment.
Touch screen monitors come with a beautifully designed ergonomic stand, which is quite durable and provides support. It can rotate in all the directions. It allows you to move your display towards you effortlessly. It also allows you to type and touch with ease, while you can tilt it to 60°. This makes the touch screen monitors a good option for homes, clinics, classrooms and for other professional uses.
Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) is useful for mounting flat monitors, Televisions and other displays to mount them on walls or to help them stand. This gives more viewing flexibility to the touch screen monitors.
Digital visual Interface (DVI), VGA and HDMI ports allow direct connections to your PC, camera, phone, laptop, and many other electronic devices. This helps to improve the overall view of the display.
Enabling the touch system is quite easy. You need to simply connect the USB cord of the PC to the touch screen monitor’s USB port. For the projection of the images onscreen, you can make use of the connectivity of VGA, DVI, and HDMI.
Using your fingers, you can do multiple things, like you can pinch, slide, tap, stretch, turn with your fingers. The multiple touch feature is innate and simple when used for Windows 8. It recognizes about ten touch points simultaneously.
The edge-to-edge glass of the touch screen monitors is big enough to provide a clean and smooth interactive experience. The glass is designed in such a way that it improves color hues, sharpens images and enhances color contrast. Overall it enhances image quality.
Touch screen monitors provide enhanced screen clarity. It provides a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (max and provides a high contrast ratio. The viewing angle is wide, which provides effective collaboration. The viewing angle is 178°/178°.
The touch screen monitor has an auto mode feature. It offers optimization of the appearance of individual apps through initial configuration color settings. Every app has a preset mode.
Low Power Consumption: Touch screen monitor has a power consumption of 20 Watts. The touch screen monitors use 28.5 % less energy than traditional monitors. They are environmental friendly devices with features that have the ability to consume less power as compared to the other devices.
The Power Nap feature oftouch screen monitors dims the monitor’s light when it is not in use to save energy consumption. Dynamic dimming helps to lower the brightness of white screens; again, it helps to save power.
This might just be my opinion, but I"d say it really depends on the intended use of the technology. What"s the general profession of your end users? That could help in narrowing down what technology is required for that specific industry.
Honestly - for the standard office worker - I don"t see the touch screen being used. Word processing and spreadsheets need too much typing to reach the screen.
Yeah, we use touchscreens on our shop floor but our ERP System is really designed around this with larger buttons and a simplified display etc. I couldn"t imagine our finance people using it with excel or even in the finance end of our ERP system. About the only thing I would want (or could see myself using at least) would be scrolling, other than that the keyboard and mouse are perfect, I don"t even like track pads or track balls. Even my engineers who work with 3d design software all day use regular mice and keyboards because unless you are willing to completely invest in your brain working a different way it is easier.
Touchscreens don"t attract millennials. On-prem baristas, Guilt free time off, 401k 50% match, WFH home capabilities, Pet friendly offices are what you use to attract millennials.
Yeah, we use touchscreens on our shop floor but our ERP System is really designed around this with larger buttons and a simplified display etc. I couldn"t imagine our finance people using it with excel or even in the finance end of our ERP system. About the only thing I would want (or could see myself using at least) would be scrolling, other than that the keyboard and mouse are perfect, I don"t even like track pads or track balls. Even my engineers who work with 3d design software all day use regular mice and keyboards because unless you are willing to completely invest in your brain working a different way it is easier.
Shop floor, digital art studio, medical offices (the X-ray tech at the clinic I went to last night used a touchscreen monitor to flip through the X-rays), etc. Susan in HR doesn"t need a touchscreen monitor for a desktop machine. Neither does Steve in Accounting.Oldsmobile_Mike wrote:
equipping our workstations with "cutting edge" technology may be the key to swing millennial workers into coming to work for us. In other words, folks who have grown up using devices with touchscreens.
But it doesn"t matter if it"s not the appropriate use for that equipment. Be careful about making assumptions about "future generations." The most common is "these kids grew up with computers, why aren"t they better at them??!??!"
They grew up around computers like appliances, the way we grew up with refrigerators and microwave ovens. That doesn"t mean we"re qualified to repair them, even if our grandparents needed to place an order with the iceman to bring the block to chill their icebox before the milkman showed up with that morning"s delivery.
Point is that equipment or stuff alone doesn"t always entice job seekers. Presuming that "bleeding edge technology" is sufficient of a differentiator for your company runs the risk of making one look like they"re trying too hard to fit in.
The issue with touch screen in a desktop environment is it causes ergonomic issues. It"s great for tablets, phones, or maybe a 2-in-1 portable, but in a monitor, touchscreen is better suited for kiosks, reference data, or occasional interaction for things like control systems. It"s not for content creators working spreadsheets, wordprocessing, and typical office work.
Touchscreens don"t attract millennials. On-prem baristas, Guilt free time off, 401k 50% match, WFH home capabilities, Pet friendly offices are what you use to attract millennials.
I replaced one of my 3 monitors with a touch screen monitor on my desktop a few years now thinking I would use it. TBH used it for a week then used my mouse ever since. It was Too far to stretch.
I also replaced my network monitoring system with a 24” touch screen mounted to the wall which I use more as alerts flag up. No requirement for a keyboard and mouse really so the touch facility makes it easy
Touchscreens don"t attract millennials. On-prem baristas, Guilt free time off, 401k 50% match, WFH home capabilities, Pet friendly offices are what you use to attract millennials.
And unfortunately I get lumped in with them, due to dates and what not. I see it as a privilege to work for a company and the fringe benefits are there as exactly that...benefits. Those don"t attract me as much as the culture of the place I work. If I don"t get a good feeling from the people I talk to while I am there interviewing I turn down the offer.
If you"re thinking how to "swing millennial workers into coming to work", then you have bigger problems in your area. I see no point into creating an luxurious environment for people who do not want to work with what tools they are presented with. You will start with touch screen, but in the end you"ll be working their job and have their problems on your shoulder.
For me it"s simple: You"re presented with tools that you need. You can give constructive idea on tools to make your work more efficient, but once you step into "I want something just becouse", or "I feel like", you"re out of my playground.
Besides Kiosk environments, I"ve never seen touch screens actually get used. A few clients wanted them, but in the end. they used their keyboards and mice.
We have a couple of them here for our conference room monitors. I"m not fond of touch screens. My laptop has a touchscreen but I never use it. I"m too OCD. Finger prints on screens drives me nuts!.. even on my phone, i"m constantly wiping my prints off on my pants and shirt.
Myself and my System Admin, we"ve gone with 34inch widescreen curved Dells. These are awesome displays, and if you actually take the time to learn snap-click (I am an old alt-tab guy so it took me a while) you can effectively use a widescreen as 2 screens for working.
I"ve found NO use in touch screens. Have it on my laptop, and it actually causes problems for someone who types a lot, or points to stuff on their screen :)
Stupid old Windows guy here, but what happened to tile and cascade? They actually worked. Also I find the newer windows (win 8+) have such thin borders that you can"t easily resize them (especially on high resolution - 2k+ monitors). I think those facts have contributed to the lazy approach of dual monitors.
Touchscreens don"t attract millennials. On-prem baristas, Guilt free time off, 401k 50% match, WFH home capabilities, Pet friendly offices are what you use to attract millennials.
Touchscreens don"t attract millennials. On-prem baristas, Guilt free time off, 401k 50% match, WFH home capabilities, Pet friendly offices are what you use to attract millennials.
"In June, Arlington County, VA, had the lowest unemployment rate in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area at 2.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today." - https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/news-release/unemployment_washingtondc.htm Opens a new window
That article is a couple months old, but still what we"re seeing in the workforce. Everyone who wants a job, has one. Although sometimes that is two or three jobs, in order to make ends meet with our crazy-high cost of living here. :"(
In any case, thank you everyone for the feedback! It was an idea I"d been playing around with for a while, but probably not a great one. Appreciate the comments! :-)
Let"s start at the end goal and work backwards: what jobs will these as-yet unhired staff do and is the software they will use for this optimized for touch?
Several years ago, I purchased an all in one HP system for home, 27" touchscreen, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, built in just about everything else, along with a touch screen. In all the years I have had it I have used the touch screen once or twice at most. So in my opinion not worth it for desktop monitors
Out of curiosity, is anyone equipping their office desktop PC"s with touchscreen monitors yet? I can get new 24" P-series monitors from Dell for right around $200. A comparable touchscreen monitor from Newegg Business is right around $50-$100 more. With the way prices are dropping I am expecting 24" touchscreen monitors to be available for under $200 within the 12 months.
Now the business case for this is, with unemployment in my area (Washington DC metropolitan region) at under 2%, equipping our workstations with "cutting edge" technology may be the key to swing millennial workers into coming to work for us. In other words, folks who have grown up using devices with touchscreens.
Of course the "grumpy IT guy" in me hates this idea, just one more thing to have to clean and troubleshoot, but I can see it making sense if we are able to attract talented employees to our growing company with technology like this. We are struggling to hire workers at this point and are already reaching out as far as Puerto Rico to attract talent.
First, don"t concentrate on hiring any particular generation unless they also represent the vast majority of your customers (e.g. retail). Hire the best you can find, and promote your company as the best in the industry. Winning attracts winners (Go Browns!)
Our experience with touchscreens has not been good. The screens are not as clear as "normal" screens, nor as large or bright. Worst of all, nobody uses them as touchscreens -- they still prefer the mouse.
There"s also the fingerprint problem, scratching with long fingernails, smears of whatever (let your imagination fill that in). And btw, cleaning screens is not the job of IT, and doing so promotes laziness in employees.
Touch screens work great in a kiosk environment with a limited set of options/buttons to push. No idea with the newer ones but we used them on the shop floor (lots of heavy plant/forklift trucks going by). We found that the touch functionality needed recalibrated a lot and ended up with mice and keyboards hooked up to them as well.
It"s the same as tablets - why would you waste your time trying to make them a PC substitute running - you run apps or scaled down tablet friendly versions of desktop apps.
Yeah, as others have said, I would re-think the strategy. If the goal is getting potential hires more interested in your company, I think there are other things that would be more beneficial to try than a touchscreen.
There is always that "wow new tech" and then shortly there after its no longer used. We have bought a few of the touchscreens in the past and really none of our users seem to want to use them. Again like many have stated above, it depends on what the needs are of your employees are and what their job function is, I personally see standing desk, treadmill desks and other options for desktop users as a added benefit and could help bring in some younger talent, but I have also seen the "wow" factor wear off of those too. I would like to spend more on buying some of the new wide screen monitors on the market for our employees, as you cant" forget your older talent pool either and larger monitors help those aging eyes :)
Agree with the majority here as to why? We have a few laptops (that double as tablets) that are touchscreen and my laptop is a touchscreen (which means it is reflective and anytime someone shows me anything they start doing unexpected things on my machine!). Unless you have applications that are touchscreen oriented, it is going to be difficult to use anyway (I find myself using mine to select OK on dialogs and little things like that, but little else) and as others have said, full screen monitors are usually at arms reach away anyway so will encourage poor posture
Yes, touch screens for desktops (technically VDI terminals) on our shop floor, used to access an ERP system built for touchscreens. Comically I had to convince them to give the touchscreens a try, they thought nothing of the fact that in certain menus half of the 24" screen was taken up by a big number pad.
We also have a number of machines (like a Brake Press or Machining Cell) that have a built in touchscreen that the operator uses for that machine specifically... those aren"t our choice, but it works well for their job/interactions with the machine.
For average desktop/laptop users, no... not worth the extra cost. We do have a few tablet with stylus users that want to be able to use their tablets in pad mode for pen/touch input while docked, but that"s a very small list, and moreso for pen then touch. They also aren"t using it on a vertically mounted screen, the tablet is in front of them on their desk with the monitor duplicated, so it"s basically a more convenient Wacom pad, but, ya know, with a screen.
Honestly - for the standard office worker - I don"t see the touch screen being used. Word processing and spreadsheets need too much typing to reach the screen.
Yeah same here. It would be technology for technologies sake. It doesn"t make sense for us. If it makes sense for the positions you are hiring for then yes but if you are just putting them in because you can then that may actually hurt you because potential candidates could look at you like you have three heads. It makes you seem like you don"t know what you are doing.
I do understand the point that only certain functions REQUIRE touch screens, I have one on several of my personal lap tops and I have gotten quite used to the touch screens, I find myself reaching for my monitors at work on occasion. It is certainly not a requirement now but may be soon. I will never buy a monitor that is not touch personally. I have sold them for years as I used to sell a lot of POS systems so perhaps that is why I am comfortable with them. So I consider them to not be a necessity but a very nice feature.
A Touchscreen on a traditional monitor mount is going to be an ergonomic problem for a traditional office worker, a literal pain in the neck. We do have a user who has wrist/carpal tunnel issues and she has dual Dell P2314t touchscreens to give her different options for how she works. When her wrist gets fatigued from the traditional mouse she switches to the touchscreen for a while, when her shoulders/neck start feel sore she switches to a Contour rollerbar mouse. Having the various options reduces the repetitive motions and allows her to work comfortably for longer (and helps us avoid workers comp claims)
If you want talented employees, treat them with value via their paycheck (which they take home and can keep) versus in the work equipment (which is the companies). Invest in your future employees and that investment will be returned by an influx of talent.
I would only consider a touchscreen monitor for things like: kiosk, outside meeting room, implemented as controllers for various type of machinery/equipment, and to show people how much easier it is to work with a mouse.
I love the touchscreen feature for certain tasks. I installed several touchscreen all-in-one desktops several years ago. The manager thought they would be cool. They were cool and everybody liked the new computers, not 7 year old computers. They all used the touch screens for a month and after that just a mouse. They all, including the manager, hated seeing fingerprints on the screen.
Guilt free time off and a nice working environment are #1"s to me. My old job basically belittled and shit on everyone who used their sick/vacation time, so I took all the time I earned and laughed in their faces till the day I left for my now awesome job :). And I try to never use my sick time here (but of course i use my vacation) and I never hear any smart remarks or crap for it. It makes a world of difference when your job appreciates you, also job paid training makes a huge difference too, throw that out there.
EDIT=After reading comments forgot what the post was originally about lol, we have two touch screen"s and they"re only used for big button simple interfaces as someone else said. At a desk I can"t see it being used much. Keyboard/mouse are faster and more efficient when you master them anyways :)
I can"t see touch screen monitors swinging "millennials" into anything TBH. Unless it actually improves the efficiency of what you"ll have them doing, you"re just throwing money into a hole for a feature nobody"s even going to realize is there. Touching a desktop monitor is completely inefficient for everything but the most specialized of tasks compared to regular old mouse and keyboard.
If the application is not touch centric, or a kiosk type use, it doesn"t make sense. We have had people buy AIO units with touch screen, think it was cool and neat, to never use it again. In cases like 2in1s, it makes sense in tablet mode. I have an HP Elitebook x360 that can turn into a tablet, and connect to a large screen to doodle ideas, but that is portable, and niche use. I wouldn"t see myself using touch for something like MS Excel and the likes.
Edit: Side note; have a microfiber cloth on hand for touchscreen users. Had to work on one, and finger prints galore! Oh man, screens like this drive me nuts.
We have two, the Wacom Cintiq"s a 27 and a 24 inch. They"re great under the proper user or one that knows what they"re doing, everyone else hates them. They are used for specific drawing/graphics application and even then only a select few like them, the rest would rather use a high resolution mouse.
Using touchscreens is definitely need based. Some users still struggle to navigate their mouse to where they want to go correctly, and with desk cleanliness at an all time low, I can"t even begin to imagine how sticky and grimy that monitor will be after a few days. Then you get those people trying to "clean" with the wrong type of wipes and damages the screen... too many headaches to justify the expense. Re-appropriate into standing desks or something. People love those.
You interact with a touch screen monitor constantly throughout your daily life. You will see them in cell phones, ATM’s, kiosks, ticket vending machines, manufacturing plants and more. All of these use touch panels to enable the user to interact with a computer or device without the use of a keyboard or mouse. But did you know there are several uniquely different types of Touch Screens? The five most common types of touch screen are: 5-Wire Resistive, Surface Capacitive touch, Projected Capacitive (P-Cap), SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave), and IR (Infrared).
We are often asked “How does a touch screen monitor work?” A touch screen basically replaces the functionality of a keyboard and mouse. Below is a basic description of 5 types of touch screen monitor technology. The advantages and disadvantages of type of touch screen will help you decide which type touchscreen is most appropriate for your needs:
5-Wire Resistive Touch is the most widely touch technology in use today. A resistive touch screen monitor is composed of a glass panel and a film screen, each covered with a thin metallic layer, separated by a narrow gap. When a user touches the screen, the two metallic layers make contact, resulting in electrical flow. The point of contact is detected by this change in voltage.
Surface Capacitive touch screen is the second most popular type of touch screens on the market. In a surface capacitive touch screen monitor, a transparent electrode layer is placed on top of a glass panel. This is then covered by a protective cover. When an exposed finger touches the monitor screen, it reacts to the static electrical capacity of the human body. Some of the electrical charge transfers from the screen to the user. This decrease in capacitance is detected by sensors located at the four corners of the screen, allowing the controller to determine the touch point. Surface capacitive touch screens can only be activated by the touch of human skin or a stylus holding an electrical charge.
Projected Capacitive (P-Cap) is similar to Surface Capacitive, but it offers two primary advantages. First, in addition to a bare finger, it can also be activated with surgical gloves or thin cotton gloves. Secondly, P-Cap enables multi-touch activation (simultaneous input from two or more fingers). A projected capacitive touch screen is composed of a sheet of glass with embedded transparent electrode films and an IC chip. This creates a three dimensional electrostatic field. When a finger comes into contact with the screen, the ratios of the electrical currents change and the computer is able to detect the touch points. All our P-Cap touch screens feature a Zero-Bezel enclosure.
SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) touch screen monitors utilize a series of piezoelectric transducers and receivers. These are positioned along the sides of the monitor’s glass plate to create an invisible grid of ultrasonic waves on the surface. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. This allows the receiving transducer to locate the touch point and send this data to the computer. SAW monitors can be activated by a finger, gloved hand, or soft-tip stylus. SAW monitors offer easy use and high visibility.
IR (Infrared) type touch screen monitors do not overlay the display with an additional screen or screen sandwich. Instead, infrared monitors use IR emitters and receivers to create an invisible grid of light beams across the screen. This ensures the best possible image quality. When an object interrupts the invisible infrared light beam, the sensors are able to locate the touch point. The X and Y coordinates are then sent to the controller.
We hope you found these touch screen basics useful. TRU-Vu provides industrial touch screen monitors in a wide range of sizes and configurations. This includes UL60601-1 Medical touch screens, Sunlight Readable touch screens,Open Frame touch screens, Waterproof touch screens and many custom touch screen designs. You can learn more HERE or call us at 847-259-2344. To address safety and hygiene concerns, see our article on “Touch Screen Cleaning and Disinfecting“.
• Perform highly diversified duties to install and maintain electrical apparatus on production machines and any other facility equipment (Screen Print, Punch Press, Steel Rule Die, Automated Machines, Turret, Laser Cutting Machines, etc.).
• Perform highly diversified duties to install and maintain electrical apparatus on production machines and any other facility equipment (Screen Print, Punch Press, Steel Rule Die, Automated Machines, Turret, Laser Cutting Machines, etc.).
Touch screens are the latest addition in the world of technology. It has become a new trend to work using a touching device. These light emitting diode (LED) screens considered an ideal tool for the business and for personal use. Monitors with touch screens are valuable for various reasons. However, there are few shortcomings as well that a touch screen possesses. There is a dire need to be aware of pros and cons of a monitor with a touch screen before making any investment over it.
The user needs to be very close to a monitor’s screen because he has to touch the screen for work. It would be difficult for a user to work with such monitor placed on a large desk. On the other hand, a monitor without a touch screen will allow the user to work from a distance that is bearable for the keyboard and a mouse.
The user cannot work with accuracy on a monitor with a touch screen by using his finger. There is always the need of Stylus pen for a perfect effect. It is difficult to touch the small objects with a finger but the use of a mouse and a keyboard can make it easy.
The user can promptly click anything with the use of his finger and a stylus pen instead of using a mouse and a keyboard. Speed is the most important element for a user whether he is playing a game or placing an order in a business. The use of a mouse and a keyboard do affect the speed of the work.
There will be enough space on the desk of the user because a monitor with a touch screen does not want any keyboard or a mouse with it. The user can easily place his food, popcorns, tea or drink on a desk without any fear of spilling anything on a keyboard or on a mouse. There is no need to replace a keyboard or a mouse because of the sloppy customers and employees.
The screen of monitors gets dirty due to the continuous touching with the greasy and moist fingers. Luckily, touch screens consist of a glass or a similar material that is the reason it is very easy to clean the monitor having a touch screen as compared to a traditional monitor.
The users can easily work with a monitor that possesses a touch screen. There is no need for any prior training. Even a beginner can use it without any hurdle. It is user-friendly. There is a need for less concentration while using a touch screen as compared to a keyboard and a mouse. On the contrary, the user of a regular monitor has to go for prior training for a better understanding of the system.
Touch screens are handy for the users having some physical impairment while it is difficult for them to work with a mouse and a keyboard. For instance, a person with arthritis can face difficulty in operating a mouse and typing with a keyboard.
I want to upgrade to a better touch screen, I send an e-mail to ELO since they seem to be market leaders but no reply. Anyone using a mac mini with a 19-22 inch touch screen in a POS enviorment ?
Touch-screen monitors have become more and more commonplace as their price has steadily dropped over the past decade. There are three basic systems that are used to recognize a person"s touch:
The resistive system consists of a normal glass panel that is covered with a conductive and a resistive metallic layer. These two layers are held apart by spacers, and a scratch-resistant layer is placed on top of the whole setup. An electrical current runs through the two layers while the monitor is operational. When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact in that exact spot. The change in the electrical field is noted and the coordinates of the point of contact are calculated by the computer. Once the coordinates are known, a special driver translates the touch into something that the operating system can understand, much as a computer mouse driver translates a mouse"s movements into a click or a drag.
In the capacitive system, a layer that stores electrical charge is placed on the glass panel of the monitor. When a user touches the monitor with his or her finger, some of the charge is transferred to the user, so the charge on the capacitive layer decreases. This decrease is measured in circuits located at each corner of the monitor. The computer calculates, from the relative differences in charge at each corner, exactly where the touch event took place and then relays that information to the touch-screen driver software. One advantage that the capacitive system has over the resistive system is that it transmits almost 90 percent of the light from the monitor, whereas the resistive system only transmits about 75 percent. This gives the capacitive system a much clearer picture than the resistive system.
On the monitor of a surface acoustic wave system, two transducers (one receiving and one sending) are placed along the x and y axes of the monitor"s glass plate. Also placed on the glass are reflectors -- they reflect an electrical signal sent from one transducer to the other. The receiving transducer is able to tell if the wave has been disturbed by a touch event at any instant, and can locate it accordingly. The wave setup has no metallic layers on the screen, allowing for 100-percent light throughput and perfect image clarity. This makes the surface acoustic wave system best for displaying detailed graphics (both other systems have significant degradation in clarity).
Another area in which the systems differ is in which stimuli will register as a touch event. A resistive system registers a touch as long as the two layers make contact, which means that it doesn"t matter if you touch it with your finger or a rubber ball. A capacitive system, on the other hand, must have a conductive input, usually your finger, in order to register a touch. The surface acoustic wave system works much like the resistive system, allowing a touch with almost any object -- except hard and small objects like a pen tip.
The comprehensive SmartScreen is a full feature touch screen monitor powered by an internal Intel® i7 PC and designed for the unique needs of AEC professionals.
Powered by an Intel® Core™ i7 processor and equipped with both Windows 10 and Android operating systems, SKYSITE SmartScreens offer fast, easy access to presentations, videos, BIM models, hyperlinked drawing sets, spreadsheets, estimating software, and more. Content that was previously stored in your apps or computer becomes truly collaborative when you use a SmartScreen to facilitate meetings and presentations.
. Not only do you need to assess its specs and check its memory and hardware, but you also have to consider whether you need a regular non-touchscreen laptop, a fancy gaming model, or go for newer models with touchscreens. Today’s modern crop of touchscreen laptops has its pros and cons, just like any other laptop feature.
Having a laptop with a touchscreen can offer many benefits. As technology improves, these devices become more integrated within our lives. Here are some of the pros when buying a touchscreen laptop.
The main goal of having a touchscreen on laptops is to streamline navigation. Compared to trackpads and mouse devices, users can perform tasks more manageably, and it’s simpler to launch and shift between applications. Moreover, you can also use the touchscreen feature to get your work done if the trackpad or keyboard stops working.
often prefer a touchscreen feature. There are laptop models equipped with a touchscreen display and stylus so users can efficiently generate sketches of artworks on the go at their convenience. A touchscreen and stylus display combo can be a highly convenient feature package for students, as it eliminates the need to have to carry around several heavy notebooks for classes.
Touchscreen laptops tend to come with fantastic brightness and superior color vibrancy, accuracy, and reproduction compared to non-touchscreen displays. The majority of touchscreen models feature displays with higher resolution.
respond to touch better than matte ones. Many users who work with color often typically choose touchscreen models due to their fantastic color brightness and accuracy.
There can be many benefits to having a touchscreen laptop. However, it’s not always a positive experience. Technology advances quickly, but there are still some faults with the systems that we use. Here are some cons about having a touchscreen laptop that you should be aware of.
mean that the computer’s hardware has another set of processing tasks to take care of thanks to the touch panel. If you’re planning on frequently using the touchscreen feature, you will need to have a spare battery. Other battery-related questions to consider include the following:
Having a touchscreen feature will add to the price of the laptop. Some manufacturers offer higher-resolution touchscreen displays, which elevate the cost further.
Adding extra technology to the computer means it takes up more bulk and space, making the laptop heavier. Even though the difference is in grams, a small amount of weight is noticeable in laptops.
Laptops featuring touchscreen displays are great for dim lighting areas but can be difficult to use under direct lighting. The glossy finishes on touchscreen models respond faster to touch, but this kind of finish also easily attracts fingerprints, smudges, and the like.
One of the best non-gaming laptops of the year. This ultraportable is one of the first touchscreen laptops that can compete with the MacBook Air. A top-of-the-line Core i7 processor and endless plugin features make this laptop all-around top-notch. USB Type-A, HDMI, and USB Type-C ports make this ultraportable an easy favorite.Size: 11.6 x 7.8x 0.6 inches
holds a high ranking in every list of best touchscreen laptops and remains one of the best laptops on the market years after its first release. This luxurious device comes with reliable performance, and all-day battery life, and a streamlined design. While the price tag is on the higher end, the Dell XPS 13 is worth every cent.Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
Touchscreen Laptop might be the best touchscreen laptop that you can get on a limited budget. Don’t expect it to do everything, but this little 15.6 inch HD laptop can do quite a bit.
This user-friendly touchscreen offers 4GB RAM and a processing speed of 2.16GHz. 500GB of storage on the hard drive alone provides plenty of space, but you can always expand with the use of its USB ports.
, offering 12 hours of battery life, 8GB of RAM, and a fast processor. If you prioritize battery life, non-touchscreen laptops are typically the best choice since touchscreen displays eat up battery rapidly.
Engineered for both work and games, these Dell laptops offer a robust structure and build. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop, this laptop comes with a Core i7 processor that is fantastic for accounting and software engineering along with gaming. Nvidia Graphics is the best GPU for fluent gaming, which this laptop also has. This laptop offers a luxurious 16GB of RAM plus DDR4, which means a double data rate of 4 for maximum speed.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 provides the user with a powerful and pure Windows 10 laptop experience. The Surface Laptop 2 does not have modern ports, but this problem can be circumvented since the spec improvements make the laptop force to be reckoned with.
Users of touchscreen laptops mention that the touchscreen feature assists with productivity since it helps them get tasks done faster. Touchscreen models are highly feasible for specific tasks, such as doing creative work from sketching to drawing and taking quick notes. The display is more easily navigated because you can directly use your fingers. Moreover, touchscreen models are aesthetically pleasing and offer exceptional color brightness and accuracy, which is excellent for those who work with color a lot.
As we discussed above, these models also offer certain disadvantages. They are heavier, more expensive, and use more batteries than regular laptops. When it comes to the touchscreen feature, you should consider your personal needs and think about how the advantages of touchscreen laptops meet those needs.
A laptop with a touchscreen is precisely that. This refers to a computer with a keyboard, mouse settings, and ports like a standard laptop, but it does feature a touch-sensitive screen.
In contrast, a 2-in-1 or hybrid laptop is similar. Many of these will also feature standard ports like USB. The most significant difference is that this laptop is more interactive and can be used as a tablet as well. Often the keyboard is hinged or detachable for ultimate versatility.
You do not need to calibrate the image projector before lecturing; with LED lighting technology, IFPDs provide a clear image all the way; and thanks to the IR touchscreen, you can annotate your presentation with almost anything, a dry/wet finger, pen, or stylus.
Commonly, the overlay is a piece of protective glass hemmed in by the IR touch frame, in which Infrared LEDs and photodetectors are embedded. A kind of optical bezel will be inserted between the glass and the frame to fix the frame and transmit infrared light emitted by those LEDs.
Through the optical bezel, IR LEDs emit invisible infrared beams forming grids on the surface of the overlay, Photodetectors are installed across from the LEDs to detect interruptions of beams if touch events on the overlay happen.
As long as an opaque object touches the surface, it will blot out the light beams. Photoreceptors in both directions (vertical and horizontal) can detect this interruption by that object, finally localize the x and y coordinates, and then send the signal to the processor to respond with relevant action.
To know more details of its structure and workings, you’d better walk into a workshop to learn its assemble process. Most of the time, we do not have that chance, however, regular maintenance work offers you the opportunity to check its components inside.
Better display – without other substance between the LCD and overlay, IR touch screens offer the best light transmission, so they can render more vivid images without color and brightness loss.
Supports multi-touch – with windows and android 9.0 double OS, it can support as many as 40 touchpoints simultaneously. That means it can support up to 4 students interacting together on an IFPD.
Short response time – commonly less than 8ms, IR touch screens localized touch events by detecting light interruption, so they are accurate and quick to respond with actions.
More flexible in customizing screen sizes – by adjusting the numbers of LEDs and photodetectors embedded in the overlay frame, you can fit any custom-made monitor with an infrared touch interface
Maintenance– there is no adhesive substance between the monitor and overlay, so you can disassemble the two parts freely by releasing a few screws when doing regular maintenance, such as cleaning the surface, and wiping dust.
Clear images – compared with many camera or projector-based systems, equipment with IR touch screens often adopts backlight LED. So, wherever lighting environment they perform in, they can provide clear images to the audience.
No loss of screen display– Since LEDs and sensors are designed to be fixed in the frame that is around the monitor, the screen can display an unrestricted view.
Write with any object – you can write on an IR touch screen with anything, a bare finger, a gloved finger, wet hands, or a pen, as long as it is not transparent.
No calibration – a traditional smart projector board may require regular calibration to display correct pictures, however, devices with IR touchscreen do not need to calibrate the IR LEDs and sensors to guarantee a normal function.
No pressure is required to write – Resistive touch screen technology perceives the writing track by pressure, which can damage the screen after a long time of usage, while IR touch screen technology by detecting light interruption, so you can write freely without having to push hard on the screen.
Of touch screen technologies, infrared and projected capacitive are the top two types that are mostly utilized. However, they are applied to different applications due to the differences between them.
For PCAP touch screens, There is a layer of transparent electrode film that is fixed between the LCD panel and the cover glass, when the human finger touches the screen, the current through that film changes, and the signal of x and y position will be transferred to the computer.
For IR touch screens, the equipment detects the finger’s position by detecting the block of invisible lights from the infrared LEDs that are embedded in the touchscreen frames.
So you will often see a bezel in the IR touchscreen, which is used to transfer the infrared light to the surface of the overlay, while the PCAP touchscreen does not require the bezels.
IR touchscreen can be activated by anything that is not transparent, whereas PCAP types only accept bare fingers, thin surgical gloves, or cotton gloves.
The electrode film in PCAP touchscreens is expensive, especially when it comes to large screens, but for IR ones, when it is applied to large-scale screens, you only need to add a few LEDs and correspondent detectors, apparently, the IR touchscreen solution is more cost-effective in large interactive displays, such as the interactive digital board, which are used for presentation in business meetings.
Working with a laptop computer can be a challenge—especially if you need to multitask with multiple windows open once. But when you’re on-the-go, it isn’t practical to lug around a full-size monitor. This is where portable monitors come in: This is where portable monitors come in: These lightweight, external second screens go where your laptop goes. The best portable monitors can increase your available screen real estate, which can improve your productivity without requiring the same weight or bulk as a dedicated monitor.
“Portable monitors are mainly aimed at business travelers looking for enhanced productivity while on the road,” notes Paul Gagnon, vice president and industry advisor on consumer technology at research firm The NPD Group. “But they can also have utility for hybrid workers or students not looking to invest in a dedicated home office setup for space or financial reasons.”
Portable monitors typically come in sizes that pair well with laptop computers—14 to 17 inches—and typically offer a baseline resolution of 1080 pixels. The larger you go in screen size or the more screens you add, the heavier your remote work setup will be. Some monitors stand apart with 2K or 4K resolution—like our best overall pick, the SideTrack Solo 4K 15.6-Inch—while others have a touchscreen display, a fast refresh rate, built-in speakers or some combination of all four.
No matter which flavor of portable monitor you choose, these handy devices can help you do more in less space—wherever you may be. To guide you in your search, we’ve done the testing and research to narrow down the best portable monitors available right now.
Screen size: 15.6-inch touchscreen | Screen type: LED | Resolution:3840 x 2160 | Ports: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches | Speakers: Dual stereo
The SideTrak Solo is a free-standing portable monitor, unlike most other models from this company that attach to your computer screen. The Solo is among the priciest models we’ve seen, but it also packs all the features you could want in a monitor—with 4K resolution, a touchscreen and built-in speakers. It connects to your computer using a single cable and also has a built in blue light filter to help reduce eyestrain.
With high dynamic range (HDR), dynamic contrast ratio (DCR) and AMD FreeSync modes, you can switch seamlessly from business to watching movies or gaming—and see everything with rich, vivid colors and detailed clarity. You can even connect this monitor to a console games, like Sony PlayStation or Microsoft Xbox, in addition to any computer, smartphone or tablet. All of this comes in a package that weighs 2.9 pounds—which is about the same as some lightweight laptops.
Screen size: 15.4-inch | Screen type: LED | Resolution: 1,920 x 1080 | Ports: 2 USB Type-C, Mini-HDMI, Mini-DisplayPort | Weight: 1.7 pounds |Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches | Speakers: Two
For less than $200, you can easily connect this Lepow C2S portable monitor to your laptop computer and benefit from an additional 15.4-inch screen. You get 1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate in a 1.7-pound package. The display uses an integrated and adjustable-angle kickstand so you can position it horizontally or vertically. The monitor has multiple inputs, with USB Type-C, Mini-HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort, plus a second USB Type-C port for power.
It has a 178-degree viewing angle, wide enough so you can sit off center from the monitor and still clearly see the screen. The monitor has three modes: extend, duplicate and second screen. The dual built-in speakers produce stereo sound, and it has a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting headphones.
Screen size: 15.6-inch | Screen type: LCD | Resolution:1,920 x 1,080p|Ports: 2 USB Type-C, OTG Micro-USB, Mini-HDMI, 3.5mm audio | Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 14 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches | Speakers: Dual stereo
The Newsoul MDS-15608 monitor comes in at a budget price, one of the lowest we’ve seen for a model with multiple inputs. It displays content at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, with a refresh rate of 60Hz and a 16:9 aspect ratio. This highly affordable monitor comes with a wall mount and a foldable screen cover which doubles as a stand for either horizontal or vertical use. The screen has a 178-degree viewing angle, making it useful for sharing what’s displayed on your screen with others—like a PowerPoint presentation.
The Lenovo ThinkVision 14-inch portable monitor comes in at 1.3 pounds, so you can easily take it just about anywhere your remote work life takes you without adding a ton of extra weight to your bag. This model has 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution, with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 6ms response time.
Its 16:9 aspect ratio LED screen has an anti-glare coating to help with eyestrain. You also get a 178-degree viewing angle. The monitor’s brightness can reach a reasonably bright 300 nits, which makes it easier to use in ambient light. Built into the base are two USB 3.1 Type-C ports for connecting to your laptop and power. And it comes with a protective sleeve, so you can comfortably toss the monitor into your bag when on-the-go.
All portable monitors are, by definition, easy to tote around. But this Dell 14 Portable Monitor C1422H takes portability to the next level. At a mere 1.3 pounds, it won’t add much weight to your travel bag. And at 14-inches, it pairs well with most 13- to 15.6-inch laptops, without adding the extra heft and bulk of a larger 15.6-inch portable monitor.
This screen also has a maximum brightness of 300 nits, brighter than some laptops and other portable monitors. To help prevent eyestrain, it has blue-light reduction built in. Without speakers or lots of ports, though, this monitor is all business—making it good for work, but not play. It has just two USB Type-C ports, one on each side of the monitor’s adjustable base.
Screen size: 15.6-inch touchscreen | Screen type: LED | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Ports: Micro-HDMI, USB Type-C | Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 19.1 x 12 x 0.3 inches | Speakers: Dual stereo
The Asus ZenScreen MB16AMT 15.6-inch display sets itself apart by having a built-in rechargeable battery inside its slim, two-pound chassis. This monitor offers 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It also has two 1W internal speakers for stereo sound. The 7800mAh battery lasts for up to four hours per charge.
The monitor adapts automatically to horizontal or vertical orientation. Its touchscreen works with Windows, Android and Chrome OS. The certified flicker-free backlit screen also has blue light filtering. Together, these features work to mitigate eye fatigue. The included Smart Case protects the screen during transport. It folds out to create a multi-position tabletop stand.
Screen size: 15.6-inch | Screen type: LED | Resolution:1,920 x 1,080p | Ports: USB Type-C, Mini-HDMI | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.6 x 14 inches | Touchscreen: Yes | Speakers: Dual stereo
The ViewSonic TD1655 is a 15.6-inch touchscreen portable monitor at one of the best prices of any similar model from major manufacturers. This pick is also one of the few touchscreen monitors to work with both Macs and PCs—thanks to ViewSonic’s vTouch driver. This driver enables full touch and gesture control on the display when paired with macOS Big Sur, Catalina, Monterey or Ventura running on Intel, M1 or M2 chips. The touchscreen works without the driver on Windows 10 or newer computers with USB Type-C connectivity.
The TD1655 has a 16:9 aspect ratio and comes with a screen cover and a built-in stand to use in either horizontal or vertical orientation. It also comes with a passive stylus for use on the in-cell capacitive LED touchscreen. The screen is flicker-free—with a blue light filter to reduce eyestrain. And it packs two 0.8-watt speakers, plus an impressive 250 nits of brightness.
Screen size: 15.6-inch | Screen type: LED | Resolution:1,920 x 1,080 | Ports: 2 USB Type-C | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 0.2 inches | Touchscreen: Yes | Speakers: Dual stereo
Australian start-up Espresso Displays’ eponymous V2 model comes in 13- and 15.6-inch versions with a touchscreen, along with a 13-inch version without touch. Espresso’s prices are a bit more than some competitors, but all models share the same stylish design aesthetic, plus a bevy of features other portable monitors don’t have. Take the 15.6-inch touchscreen portable monitor, for example. It has a brushed aluminum and glass chassis and a super-slim (0.2-inch) design, with a 16:10 aspect ratio display and two USB Type-C ports. The maximum screen brightness is 300 nits.
This model works with a pressure-sensitive stylus, though the tool doesn’t come with monitor and costs an extra $79. However, the stylus supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and closely mimics the feel of pen and pencil—making this a great choice for drawing or writing on screen. Other optional accessories include a choice of stands, the coolest one being the espressoStand, a $69 foldable magnetic stand for mounting the monitor for vertical or horizontal viewing. Last but not least, this pick is versatile. The Espresso comes with its own software, called Duet, allowing you to use the touchscreen on both Mac and PC laptops.
Screen size: 12.5-inch | Screen type: LCD | Resolution:1,920 x 1,080| Ports: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, Mini-HDMI | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Dimensions: 12 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
While this 12.5-inch monitor is a smaller-size display than most, the SideTrak Swivel mounts directly to your laptop’s display with a magnetic frame. It then pulls out from behind the screen when needed. This approach makes it extremely easy to transport and ensures both displays are at the same height. You can manually adjust the SideTrak’s viewing angle, or you can rotate the monitor 360 degrees. If you’re looking for some detachment, the Swivel’s collapsible mounting frame also allows the monitor to stand on its own using a built-in kickstand.
This version of the SideTrak Swivel Portable Monitor is compatible with Windows or Mac laptops, with a built-in display between 13 inches and 17 inches. It is not, however, compatible with Microsoft Surface devices that have their own kickstand, or with many 2-in-1 laptops whose screens contort into different positions. The 16:9 monitor’s refresh rate is 50Hz (most portable monitors are at 60Hz), but its brightness is higher than others, at a maximum of 300 nits. The unit comes with the mounting plates needed to attach securely it to your computer.
Screen size: Two 10.1-inch displays | Screen type: LCD | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Ports: USB Type-C, Mini-HDMI | Weight: 2 pounds |Dimensions: 7.5 x 12 x 1 inches
The Xebec Tri-Screen 2 uses a mounting frame to attach two slide-out 10.1-inch displays to the back of your laptop’s existing screen. Each Xebec display slides out from behind your laptop—one on each side of your laptop’s display—thus creating a highly portable three-display work area. Installing these two monitors and its bracket requires the supplied frame clamps, but nothing extra, like magnets or glue.
Each 16:10 aspect ratio display measures 6.5 millimeters thick, with 1920 x 1200 resolution at 60-hertz refresh rate. And each monitor can rotate 180 degrees. This setup is compatible with all Windows PCs, Macs and ChromeOS-based computers, yet it only adds two pounds to what you need to carry around. Overall, this is an extremely useful design that’ll dramatically boost your productivity when working (or playing) remotely. It’s well worth the investment.
Screen size: 15.6-inch | Screen type: OLED | Resolution:1080p | Ports: USB, Mini HDMI | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Dimensions: 0.27 inch thickness | Touchscreen: No | Speakers: Dual Stereo
Whether you’re watching movies, playing games, or editing and viewing photos or video cont