will touch screen monitor work any computer manufacturers

A touch screen is a display device that allows users to interact with a computer using their finger or stylus. They"re a useful alternative to a mouse or keyboard for navigating a GUI (graphical user interface). Touch screens are used on various devices, such as computer and laptop displays, smartphones, tablets, cash registers, and information kiosks. Some touch screens use a grid of infrared beams to sense the presence of a finger instead of utilizing touch-sensitive input.

The idea of a touch screen was first described and published by E.A. Johnson in 1965. In the early 1970s, CERN engineers Frank Beck and Bent Stumpe developed the first touch screen. The physical product was first created and utilized in 1973. The first resistive touch screen was developed by George Samuel Hurst in 1975 but wasn"t produced and used until 1982.

Today, all PCs support the ability to have a touch screen, and most laptop computers allow users running Microsoft Windows 10 to use a touch screen. Also, many all-in-one computers are capable of using a touch screen. Computer manufacturers with touch screen products include Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and other PC manufacturers.

There are also some high-end Google Chromebooks with touch screens. However, to help keep the costs lower, many Chromebooks do not have touch screens.

To help keep costs lower, not all computers and laptops come with a touch screen. If a touch screen interests you, make sure that it"s mentioned in the product specifications. If it"s not listed, the computer likely does not have a touch screen.

If your laptop screen is not touch-capable, there is no way to change the screen to be a touch screen. The laptop must come with a touch screen when originally purchased to have that functionality. When purchasing a laptop, and you want touch screen functionality, check if it includes a touch screen before buying.

If your desktop computer monitor is not touch-capable, there is no way to change the monitor to be a touch screen. You need to purchase a new monitor that includes touch functionality. Before purchasing a new monitor, verify the operating system on your computer also supports a touch screen.

Tap - A single touch or tap on the screen with a finger opens an app or selects an object. Compared to a traditional computer, a tap is the same as clicking with a mouse.

Double-tap - A double-tap can have different functions depending on where it is utilized. For example, double-tapping the screen zooms the view centered at the tap location in a browser. Double-tapping in a text editor selects a word or section of words.

Touch and hold - Pressing and holding your finger to a touch screen selects or highlights an object. For example, you could touch and hold an icon and drag it somewhere else on the screen. See our long press page for further information on this term.

Swipe - Swiping your finger across the screen scrolls in a certain direction or change pages. For example, pressing your finger at the bottom of the screen and quickly moving it up (swiping) scrolls the screen down. See our swipe page for further information and related links.

Pinch - Placing two fingers on the screen in different spots and then pinching them together zooms in. Pinching your fingers together and then moving them away from each other zooms out on the screen. See our pinch-to-zoom page for further information on this term.

Any computer device (including a touch screen) that takes input from the person operating the device is considered an input device. The way you use your finger on a touch screen is very similar to how you use a computer mouse on a desktop computer.

Technically speaking, a touch screen is an input/output device. Not only is it capable of accepting input, but it also displays the output from the computer.

One of the most significant differences between a mouse and a touch screen is the ability to hover. Almost all touch screens can only detect input when your finger is in direct contact with the screen. However, a computer mouse uses a cursor that allows the user to view the information by moving the pointer over an object but not clicking it. For example, this link to Computer Hope shows the text "Visit the Computer Hope Page" when hovered over using a computer mouse. However, a user with a touch screen cannot see this text because it opens the link if they place their finger on the link.

Some web pages and apps may simulate the hover feature by making the first tap do the hover feature and the second tap open the link or app. Also, some Apple devices use Force Touch, which offers features similar to hovering.

Not all touch screens are the same. Different technologies are used to allow a user to interact with a screen. Some technologies may work with only your finger, while others may allow other tools, like a stylus. Below is a brief description of each of these technologies.

A capacitive touch screen is coated with a special material that stores an electrical charge monitored by circuits at each corner of the screen. When you touch a capacitive touch screen, a small amount of the electrical charge is drawn from the point of contact to indicate where you touched the screen.

To use a capacitive screen, you must use your bare finger or a specially designed capacitive stylus. Most users experience this type of screen technology when attempting to use a smartphone touch screen while wearing gloves and cannot do anything.

A resistive touch screen is coated with a metallic electrically conductive and resistive layer that detects the pressure of your finger or another object. This technology is often a more affordable solution than capacitive but can be damaged by sharp objects touching the screen.

A SAW (surface acoustic wave) or surface wave touch screen sends ultrasonic waves and detects when the screen is touched by registering changes in the waves. This technology is more advanced than the other two but does not work with hard materials and can be affected by outside elements.

Infrared touch screens utilize a matrix of infrared beams transmitted by LEDs with a phototransistor receiving end. The infrared beam is blocked when a finger or other object is near the display. That interruption gives the device input to where your finger or another object is positioned.

Touch screens utilize a virtual keyboard to input letters and numbers that allow the user to tap the virtual keys with their finger. Also, devices like smartphones and tablets have voice recognition that inputs information into the device.

In all forms of writing, touch screen and touchscreen are both valid spellings. If used as an adjective, the word may be hyphenated, e.g., "touch-screen devices."

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.

Touchscreen desktops are a surprisingly controversial subject. While the high tech community, like Microsoft, adopted a ‘yes we should because we could’ reasoning, many users strongly disagree. This has somewhat contributed to the sweeping dissatisfaction with Windows 8. Transitioning to touchscreen desktops is going to be a difficult process.

It is an understatement to say it won’t be worth it. Touchscreen technology, as anyinnovationin input technologies, has the potential to change and expand the way we interact with technology. The conflict seems to be about whether touch has the potential to replace other input devices. Ironically, this is actually not the primary goal or purpose of touch technology.

There are a number of specific issues raised with touchscreen desktop computers. The inevitable flaw of using your display as an input device comes to mind immediately. Your hands block your view.

Screens are vertical and usually located farther away, making it harder to use them. Clearly, humans will never overcome this obstacle, thus making touch technology pointless for laptops and computers. Steve Jobs himself said “Touch surfaces don’t want to be vertical”. But that didn’t stop Steve Jobs from using touchscreens, and it won’t stop Microsoft, or HP, or anyone else from jumping on the bandwagon.

The fallacy is at the heart of the idea that gorilla arm is some sort of major obstacle to the introduction of touchscreen technology for desktops and laptops. This is of course, if your display has any reason to be vertical. This is what a modern touchscreen desktop looks like…

Obviously, a touchscreen computer will not be designed the same way as older models. Both the hardware and the software will be tailored to it. Manufacturers are already adapting the combined input and display device. This essentially means that you won’t be dealing with a raised screen that is parallel to your face. With Windows 8, Microsoft has adopted, perhaps a little prematurely, the stance that operating systems should assume all users will have a touchscreen interface.

So when is it time to get touchscreen computers for your business? This question really depends on the nature of your business. If you have a company full of employees primarily dealing with spreadsheets and databases, this probably won’t help you at all.

Any less data-centered, less keyboard heavy work, however, can benefit from touchscreen computers. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the retail industry, which has already largely adopted it as a standard.

Most pressingly, however, is the simple fact that the industry is going to force you. Consumers want touchscreen technology, and unless you intend to start fiddling with Linux, operating systems will leave you behind.

Windows 9 is not going to be less touchscreen oriented than Windows 8. Running old programs on an old computer using an old operating system is no recipe for business success.

In your business you can install touchscreen desktops which are highly likely used by everyone in ways that a traditional workstation is not suited for. Touchscreens are far more intuitive to use, and do not necessarily require a mouse and a keyboard. This means that you could set up a few touchscreen desktops for your customers to browse merchandise without putting your entire selection physically on display.

Information can be made available to your customers on the spot. For example, the display will provide information such as which sizes or colors are in stock, and best of all, price comparisons with major competitors. This information can all be displayed to your customers at a tap on a screen.

Touch is efficient. Surely you can currently do everything that computers do with a mouse and a keyboard. However, from a negative standpoint you have ten fingers whereas there is only one mouse pointer. Back in the 80’s when the mouse was first introduced, many people wondered why they would want that. Operating systems at the time were built so you could do everything with a keyboard, so why invent a mouse? It sounds like an absurd line of reasoning looking back.

How many people run a DOSBox out of disdain for the mouse? Operating systems and computers integrating touch will have new capabilities and programs designed to do awesome things, opening up a new frontier in our technology. So don’t panic. Because integrating touch will not mean removing other inputs unless they naturally fall by the wayside as our technology moves beyond them.

The best touch screen monitors allow you to interact with your desktop computer via tap, swipe and pinch-to-zoom. Alternatively, you can install it as a secondary monitor to use with an office-based laptop.

In this article, we"ve gathered together the best touch screen monitors available today – in a range of sizes from 21 inches to a special ultrawide monitor(opens in new tab) that"s 49 inches. If you"re after a smaller secondary monitor that can be carried with your laptop for use on the go, see our list of the best portable monitors(opens in new tab). (Portable monitors can also be had with touch sensitivity, but they"re smaller and are powered by your laptop"s battery, so they don"t need their own power supply.)

If you"ve already researched the best monitors for photo editing(opens in new tab) or the best video editing monitors(opens in new tab), you may have realized that none of them are touch screen monitors. But why not? Why would you consider choosing a new monitor without touch sensitivity?

After all, the best touch screen monitor will add an extra, more ergonomic form of user input, so must be better, right? Well, it"s not quite that simple. At the bottom of this page, you"ll find tips on what to look for when buying a touch screen monitor, including connectivity, size, and that all-important image quality.

Dell"s P2418HT has fairly typical touch screen display credentials: a 23.8-inch screen size and Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. But it stands out from the crowd in other areas.

Its special articulating stand transitions the display from a standard desktop monitor to a downward 60-degree angle touch orientation. It also supports extended tilt and swivel capabilities, so you can adjust the screen to your task or a more comfortable position. Plus, a protective cushion at the base of the screen offers a buffer against bumps when the stand is fully compressed.

Marketed at commercial and educational settings as well as home use, the TD2230 boasts a 7H hardness-rated protective glass for extra scratch protection and durability. Super-thin screen bezels give the panel a modern, sleek look, plus there are integrated stereo speakers for added versatility.

The ViewSonic TD2230 boasts upmarket image quality thanks to its IPS LCD display that provides better color and contrast consistency, regardless of your viewing position, while the 1920 x 1080 screen res is high enough for crisp image clarity when spread across the 21.5-inch panel size. 250 cd/m2 max brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio are pretty typical, while HDMI, DisplayPort and analog VGA connectors ensure you"ll be able to hook this monitor to pretty much any computer running Windows 10, Android or Linux.

Want a larger than average touch screen monitor? This 27-inch offering is our pick, as it"s based around an IPS LED-backlit display. That translates more dependable color accuracy and contrast that won"t shift depending on whether you"re viewing the centre of the screen or the corners.

The Full HD resolution is spread a little thin across a 27-inch display, so images will look slightly pixelated, but this is an unavoidable compromise you have to make if you want a touch screen monitor larger than 24 inches. The PCT2785 does score well in terms of versatility though, as you get a built-in HD webcam and microphone, making it great for homeworking(opens in new tab) and video conferencing.

This touch screen monitor was introduced back in 2014, which is a long time ago in the monitor world. However, with its quality IPS display technology and reasonably high Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, it can still rival newer touch screen monitors when it comes to image quality.

What"s more, the elegantly simple stand allows for a versatile 8-60 degree tilt, enabling you to interact with the screen at a greater variety of angles than a typical monitor would allow. There"s also 10-point capacitive touch sensitivity, so you can use a full range of touch gestures.

The T272HL is the bigger 27-inch sibling to Acer"s 23-inch T232HL. Like the T232HL, it boasts a slightly above-average 300cd/m2 brightness, along with 10-point capacitive multi-touch. There are also a pair of 2w internal speakers, and the stand allows a large 10-60 degrees of tilt to enhance touch ergonomics.

If you"re after a larger-than-average touch screen monitor, the T272HL is a reasonable choice, but there are compromises to be made. For starters, this is still a 1920 x 1080 Full HD monitor, so while it may be physically larger than a 23/24-inch Full HD display, images will simply look larger, not more detailed.

If you can get past the uninspiring black plastic design of the Philips 242B9T, this touch screen monitor has a lot to offer. It should be easy to connect to pretty much any computer, thanks to its full array of HDMI, DVI, VGA and DisplayPort connectivity and included cables for all but DVI. It"s even got its own built-in 2W stereo speakers, while the clever Z-hinge stand allows a huge -5 to 90 degrees of tilt adjustment, making it extra-ergonomic when using the 10-point capacitive multi-touch display.

At 21.5 inches, the Asus VT229H is one of the smaller touch screen monitors on this list, but it still sports the same Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution as larger 24 and even 27-inch touch screen displays, meaning you get more pixels per inch and slightly crisper image quality. This is also an IPS LCD, with wide 178 x 178-degree viewing angles and reliably consistent color and contrast, regardless of your viewing angle.

Most touch screen monitors are just that: a monitor, with a touch interface. But this 21.5-inch display also adds a pair of 2W stereo speakers for sound output, along with dual-array microphones and a built-in webcam for video conferencing. The IPS LCD display panel ensures decent color and contrast uniformity, while the Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution is easily enough to for crisp image quality on a screen this size.

The square black exterior is typical of Lenovo"s business-orientated products and may not be to everyone"s taste. Plus you"ll need to connect via DisplayPort only, as there"s no HDMI input. But otherwise this touch screen monitor offers a lot for a very reasonable price.

The obvious drawback with a touch screen monitor is the aforementioned size restrictions because if you want one larger than 27 inches, you"re out of luck. The next step up in size for touch screen monitors are 50+ inch displays designed for corporate presentations rather than home computing.

Even most 27-inch touch screen monitors have the same Full HD 1920 x 1020 resolution as their smaller 21-24-inch stablemates. So you"re not actually getting more pixels, only bigger ones. This can make your images just look more blocky unless you sit further away from the screen.

It"s not just outright screen resolution where touch screen monitors can fall short of their non-touch alternatives. Top-end screens designed for image and video editing are often factory color calibrated: they use LCD displays that can display a huge range of colors, or feature fast refresh rates for smoother video playback and gaming. However, touch screen monitors aren"t intended for color-critical image or video work: they tend to be all-purpose displays designed for more general applications like web browsing and basic image viewing.

Connectivity also tends to be compromised on touch screen monitors. You can forget about USB-C hubs(opens in new tab) with Power Delivery, and even DisplayPort connections can be a rarity.

These are the two primary forms of touch input. Resistive touch requires you to physically press the screen (which itself is slightly spongy) for it to register an input. It"s a cheaper form of touch input, and a resistive touch screen is also tougher than a capacitive equivalent, so they"re popular for use in ATMs and retail checkouts.

However, resistive technology doesn"t support multi-touch and won"t give the same fluid sensitivity as the touch screens we"re now accustomed to on phones and tablets. Consequently, most modern touch screen monitors use capacitive touch screens supporting 10-point multi-touch. These operate exactly like a phone or tablet"s touch screen, requiring only a light tap, swipe, or pinch to register inputs. All the monitors on this list use 10-point capacitive touch screens.

Put simply, even the best iMacs(opens in new tab) and MacBooks(opens in new tab) don"t support touch screen monitors. Consequently, all the touch screen monitors on this list will only work with Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and some Linux and Android operating systems.

Not all LCD monitors are created equal. LCD displays use three types of construction - IPS (In-Plane Switching), VA (Vertical Alignment), and TN (Twisted Nematic). Each one of these three LCD types exhibits noticeably different image quality characteristics, clearly visible to the average user.

For image and video editing, TN-based monitors should really be avoided. These are the cheapest to manufacture and deliver compromised image quality thanks to their restrictive viewing angles. This results in highly uneven color and contrast across the screen, effectively hiding shadow and highlight detail in your images. IPS-based monitorsare the gold standard for image quality. These produce color and contrast that doesn"t shift depending on which part of the screen you look at, making image editing much more precise. Most of the touch screen monitors on this list are IPS-based, and the rest are VA-based monitors. These can"t quite match the image quality of an IPS monitor but are much more color-accurate than a TN screen.Round up of today"s best deals

Touchscreens aren’t just available for laptops and mobile devices: There are many desktop monitors that include touchscreen capabilities for those who like to tap and swipe. This can make managing more complex tasks easier, and touchscreens are often preferred by designers and other professionals taking an active approach to their work. Here are the best models.

Dell’s touchscreen display is more than meets the eye: This 24-inch monitor has a sturdy base when upright, but can also collapse down at an angle for more serious touchscreen work whenever you want. That also makes this monitor an excellent choice for either a primary display or a secondary monitor to link up and use for specific, touchscreen-oriented tasks when needed.

Those looking for a more affordable desktop monitor will appreciate this Asus 22-inch monitor with touchscreen capabilities. While not loaded with features, the 1080p monitor is well-prepared for a full day of work with a study design and all of Asus’s eyecare software to help manage backlighting and flickering for the best experience.

The Asus VT229H offers up to a 75H refresh rate, brightness up to 250 nits, and connections that include both HDMI and VGA. With its smaller size, it serves well as an accompanying touch monitor in a professional setup or can work as a primary display when space is limited and a touchscreen is a vital feature to have.

If you already know that you need your primary monitor to have touchscreen capabilities, check out this full-sized, 27-inch model from ViewSonic. It offers 10-point multitouch capabilities for every kind of touchscreen control option, and the 1080p panel is made to be durable. This is another model that offers a dual-hinge design so you can angle back or lay it flat against the table depending on how you prefer to work. Oh, and if you’re using something like a Mac Mini, it offers full compatibility with MacOS too, so you won’t lose any touchscreen capabilities.

Some types of PC touchscreens are made to be portable. These smaller displays take only seconds to set up, allowing them to serve as a secondary display for almost any occasion, from working with your laptop to helping out in a flexible office situation. This 1080p Asus model measures 15.6 inches and easily collapses down, similar to a tablet, for quick carrying around or storage. It also has a built-in 7800mAH battery so you don’t have to worry about managing a power connection wherever you are.

The Asus ZenScreen MB16AMT includes speakers, two USB ports, both Type A and C, and Asus’ eyecare technology makes an appearance here, too. It works with pretty much any operating system you have in mind and comes with a smart cover and a stylus hole for easy storage.

Asus’ 22-inch monitor offers a high-durability glass surface and 10-point touch support that are exactly what we like to see in a touchscreen monitor made for serious work. The design also offers the ability to easily tilt to get just the right angle for your work and whether you prefer to sit or stand. AMD users will also be pleased to see that FreeSync is supported on this mode to reduce screen tearing and associated issues.

There’s another option for a touchscreen desktop that may be particularly appealing for some buyers – an all-in-one PC that combines the PC and monitor into one component that can save on space while still delivering a premium experience. Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 is an excellent example of this solution. The 28-inch monitor offers a UHD resolution with full 10-point touchscreen capabilities, perfect for artists and designers willing to pay more for an all-in-one PC. It can operate in both Studio and normal mode depending on your preference and works with the innovative Surface Dial, which can help cycle through color palettes or other tricky tasks.

Inside, this Surface Studio 2 has an Intel Core 7 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for storage space (there are also 32GB versions available for extra speed). That allows the Studio 2 to run just about anything, including extra-demanding editing and photography software. It’s the complete package for professionals who want a touchscreen…something that iMacs simply can’t provide.

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“.

Working can be troublesome at times when you are using a mouse and a keyboard. Some tasks can be done more efficiently with a touchscreen device. If you are not comfortable with using a laptop and want to upgrade your desktop, you can go for a touchscreen

monitor to enhance your efficiency easily. With touchscreen monitors available in all sizes, it is easy to find the ideal option for your work and personal needs.

Since most of the touchscreen monitors are portable, you can easily carry them along and work wherever you go. Here is a list of some of the most popular options that you can consider while shopping online.

When it comes to touchscreen monitors, this one by ViewSonic is one of the most popular choices in India. This monitor has a screen size of 15.6 inches and is highly portable because of its weight. This monitor screen has a glossy finishing that gives it a stylish look.

Want to go for a 22 inch monitor that is suitable for your personal or business needs? We have a list of some of the top choices in almost every budget along with their key highlights to help you easily pick the perfect monitor for all your needs. Have a look at this list of top picks in the best 22 inch monitors that you can consider for your work needs.

Acer has been another popular name in the market of computers and laptops in India. This touch-screen monitor by the brand can be a good option to consider for all your office needs. Available with a multi-touch feature, this monitor is even a great choice for those who need to work on graphics and need high precision while editing.

If you are looking for a compact option in a touchscreen monitor, here is an affordable option for you. This 16-inch monitor is highly portable and will help you get the job done even when you are on the go. This monitor can recognize up to 10 points of simultaneous contact which makes it great for your high precision needs.

This portable and lightweight monitor can be a good option to consider if you are looking for a touch monitor that can meet your gaming needs. Available with an FHD screen, this monitor ensures a high-quality display at all times. Since this monitor weighs less than 1 kg, you can easily carry it along in your bag.

This touchscreen monitor by Lenovo can be another good option for your personal and professional needs that you can consider while shopping online. The screen size of this monitor makes it compact and smaller than a regular official laptop. So, you can comfortably save space with this monitor when you are travelling.

This compact portable monitor by ViewSonic can be another good option to consider when you are shopping online. Being an affordable monitor with multiple touchpoints, this monitor is suitable for almost all official tasks and is worth your money. The dual integrated speakers eliminate the need for buying external speakers.

If you are looking for an efficient touch screen monitor from Dell, this one can be a good option for almost all your office needs. This monitor has a decent screen size of 24 inches which is suitable enough for almost all your personal and work needs. The wide viewing angle of 178 degrees horizontally and vertically makes this monitor a comfortable pick when you are shopping online. The aspect ratio of the screen is 16:9 and the monitor can even be titled up to an angle of 60 degrees to let you work or study conveniently.

This touchscreen monitor by HP can be another powerful choice that you can consider to make your business tasks more convenient. Available with a blue-light filter and an anti-glare screen, this monitor allows you to work conveniently for hours without straining your eyes too much. With a three-sided micro-edged display, this monitor is a stylish one and will transform the look of your working space in no time. The height and pivot adjustment options will allow you to position the screen at the perfect viewing angle easily. So, you can always sit comfortably when you are working.

The large and ultrawide curved monitors offer ultimate productivity, allowing you to place two or more full-screen windows side-by-side without the need for a multi-monitor setup. Ultrawide curved monitors have become popular with gamers and deliver a more immersive gaming experience as well.

Want to buy a good 4K UHD monitor for gaming? We have a list of some of the best choices in gaming monitors that you can consider buying online depending on the screen size, display quality, key features, your budget and more.

You can find a touchscreen monitor with a size of around Rs 20,000. The price may vary depending on the screen size and key features to buy the perfect touchscreen monitor online.

Yes, most touchscreen monitors are portable. They are even available with a stand to help you position the screen comfortably whenever you are working.

Can touchscreen monitors be used for official needs?Yes, you can use most touchscreen monitors for official uses mostly. However, these monitors may not be great when you have to work for long hours regularly. So, make sure that you ascertain the usage before you decide to go for a touchscreen monitor for your business needs.

Are touchscreen monitors good for students?Usually, students prefer going for laptops and tablets. Touchscreen monitors are not considered perfect for students because of the lack of convenience. If you are looking for something for student needs, prefer going for a tablet or a touchscreen laptop instead of a touchscreen monitor.

Can I use a stylus on my touchscreen monitor?Yes, you can work on your touchscreen monitor comfortably using both your fingers and a stylus. So, you have the option of working or studying at your convenience when you are using a touchscreen monitor.

Today computer monitors have improved in both quality and performance. Originally, monitors we only used as display screens but today technology has improved and large touch screen monitors are available in the market. More and more organizations are abandoning the ordinary monitors and going for large touch screen display.

Touch screen technology is now part of our present and will be 100 percent part of our future. Even though touch screen monitors have numerous benefits, they also a few disadvantages.

Being a large monitor, it means screen buttons can be seen clearly by everyone working in a company or an industry where accuracy is important. The touch screen also requires less coordination from the operator.

Use of touch screen monitor increases accuracy, improves efficiency and helps to keep the costs down. Operators of touch screens are able to respond faster without making errors.

When it comes to touch application, most people are able to easily follow the cues offered on the screen. When typing, touch screen makes everyone an expert. No experience needed to operate a touch screen monitor.

Even though cleaning is easy when it comes to touch screen monitors, it display gets dirty regularly because of touching with sweaty and oily fingers.

If your employees, customers or clients need to input more than a few words at a time, then the data entry part of using touch monitors may not be the best application. A traditional keyboard would be a better solution at this time.

Not only is the screen beneficial to consumers, but also to industrial applications. As the technology shifts, manufacturers likeFaytech North America are being forced to fit in their products in this technology. If you do not shift to touch screen technology, your competitor will definitely shift.

Touch screen monitors were initially used in point-of-sale (POS) terminals, kiosk systems, ATM’s and on PDA’s. The ever-expanding popularity of smartphones using Android and iOS operating systems, tablets, GPS systems and gaming consoles are increasing the demand for touch screen technologies.

Early touchscreen displays could only sense a single point of input at a time and only a few of them were capable of detecting the strength of the pressure. This was changed with Apple’s ongoing commercialization of the multi-touch technology with iPhone and iPod touch.

Multi-touch touch screen technology allows the user to interact with the screen with fingers, instead of a stylus. The movement of fingers creates gestures, which are then sent to the software. The initial popularity of the iPhone, has brought touch technology to many smart phones and hand-held devices which paved the way for all-in-one computer systems.

Faytech North America, as a touch screen manufacturer has realized that many companies have upgraded their products, either by adding multi-touch support to the track-pad or by making their tablet PC’s interactable without using a stylus. Both wall mounted and table mounted options have few ergonomic problems. “gorilla arm” was a side effect, that has limited wall-mounted option as a mainstream.

Developers of touch systems, failed to notice, that humans are not designed to hold their arms extended for long periods of time while making small and precise motions.

Ever since their development in 1971, touchscreen monitors have been finding their way into more and more commercial applications. They come in any number of configurations, but in the end, they all function on the same principle and that is “see and touch”.

Fast food restaurants were one of the first businesses to implement these screens on a retail level but now more and more business are discovering the benefit of having them available at their point of sale locations.

The resistive type uses a normal glass panel, that is covered by a resistive and a conductive metallic layer and a protective layer (scratch resistant) on top of all this. When you make contact with the screen, the two metallic layers are joined and the change in electrical field is detected. The circuit on the display  then calculates the coordinates and transfer them to the screen software. The driver then transfers the information about the coordinates to the OS, in a form of events similar to mouse clicks and drags.

With the capacitive type, a layer storing electrical charge, is placed on the glass. When you make contact with the layer, a small amount of the electrical charge is transferred to you, decreasing the charge on the layer. Sensors, located at the corners of the screen, detect a change in electrical charge levels and transfer the information to the software to process.

The biggest advantage of capacitive type over resistive is that it has 90% light throughput. This gives the capacitive touch screen monitors a much clearer picture. Since this type of technology uses electric charge to detect an event, you must use a conductive input, such as a finger.

These are just the most commonly used types and we at faytech North America have our own unique touch solutions. There are many other touchscreen technologies out there, such as strain gauge configuration (from 1960’s) or relatively-modern optical imaging technology. And recently, new technologies have been developed such as sunlight readable monitors,rugged monitors and open frame touch screen monitors that can withstand extreme environments.

Touch screen displays are very easy to figure out and most people will learn how to interact with them very quickly. The learning curve is very short. A recently hired employee no longer has to go through lengthy training sessions and can be found effortlessly using an intuitive touch interface within a few hours.

The technology developed by faytech North America brings significant time savings to point of sale systems in any retail establishment. The touch solutions simplify most transactions. The employee – or the customer – interacts with the screen, reviewing the potential options and makes a selection.

Products that cannot be bar coded, like perishable items, for example, or things that are small or with irregular surfaces that would hinder barcoding can now be easily processed through a point of sale with a touch display.

Another factor is that faytech North America touch displays have also become more affordable in recent years and they are a technology that isn’t going to become obsolete in this lifetime.

Whether stylus-based or just using your fingers and gestures, working with a touch screen monitor can transform a traditional working process into something more tactile and enjoyable, while also elevating creative projects with a literal touch of nuance.

Paired with the best home computer setup(opens in new tab) and a great set of PC speakers, it’s easy to get lost in what they have to offer, offering a much broader canvas than even the best smartphones(opens in new tab) or best tablets(opens in new tab). In fact, being able to tap and poke your screen can also give your keyboard and mouse(opens in new tab) a well-earned rest, and a touch screen monitor is ideal as a secondary monitor for certain tasks even if you don’t expect to use it every day.

In this list of the best touch screen monitors, we’ll touch on (pun intended) each model’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their core specs like resolution and ports – it is a monitor, after all.

There’s never been a better time to buy a monitor, touch-supported or not, with screen tech getting better and more affordable every year. Still, if you’re looking for something solely for gaming, or something ultrawide, you’ll want to look elsewhere. The same applies if you’re just not keen on smudging the screen.

If you’re a Photoshop guru looking to make subtle edits, someone that regularly needs to sign PDF documents, or just want to interact with content in surprising new ways, our guide to the best touch screen monitors has you covered.

If you’re looking for a modern touch screen monitor complete with the latest in eye protecting technology and ergonomic design then the Philips 242B9T is the best choice for you. A lot of the touch screen monitors in our rankings are a few years old at least, and this isn’t because we’re lazy - there just aren’t many touch screen monitors being released these days as the technology has gone a little out of fashion. But Philips is still pushing the technology forwards and the Philips 242B9T is a great example of why touch screen monitors are still valuable.

We found the Philips 242B9T was comfortable to use and had a ton of modern features that make it ideal for work use. There is a low blue light mode to help reduce eye strain and the lack of raised bezels mean that you won’t irritate your fingers when touching near the border of the screen. It also has great visual fidelity with a 1080p resolution and Flicker-Free technology to further reduce eye strain caused by the flickering LEDs that power most monitors.

The screen is highly adjustable too with a built in stand that can hold the screen upright, or go all the way down to basically lying flat on your desk. The only real issue is that the screen itself is quite heavy, and it can be a little awkward to move between different viewing angles. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider if you’re constantly needing to switch the position of the screen for drawing.

For our money, the Acer T232HL is the best touch screen monitor on the market today. It’s exceptionally well-built with a sturdy stand which prevents the monitor from moving around in use. The edgeless bezel, while a little ugly, means that you never bang your hands against the desk while using the touch screen - this was an issue with many of the small bezel monitors that we tested. There are certainly better looking monitors out there though, and the large bezels on the Acer T232HL could be off putting to some.

The touch screen itself works perfectly and the image quality is up there with the best HD monitor. The only area that the Acer T232HL struggles with is color accuracy, which means that it’s not ideal for photo editing or watching movies.

In the end, we’ve decided that touch screens are all about function, not form, and the Acer T232HL is the best touch screen monitor for practical purposes. It’s comfortable to use, well-built and easy to use. We’ll put up with an ugly bezel if it’s the price we have to pay.Read ourAcer T232HL review(opens in new tab)

The Planar Helium PCT2235 has a strange look about it, as if someone stole the base from a standard monitor and just left the display propped up on a desk. The bottom bezel of the screen rests on your work surface. The bezel is quite thick and extends around the screen on all sides, which isn’t pleasant to look at, but it is functional.

Like most touch screen monitors, the Planar Helium PCT2235 has an adjustable A-frame stand that can also be folded away to let the monitor lie flat on your desk. The tilt range on the Planar Helium PCT2235 is an impressive 55 degrees though, which means it’s easier to adjust the screen into a comfortable position.

At 24-inches and 7.9 pounds, it’s a decent-sized monitor that won’t take much effort to set up or move between rooms if you need. At the same time, it’s a good sized screen that won’t take up too much desk space - 24-inches is basically the Goldilocks zone for monitors.

When it comes to our tests of the screen itself, we had mixed results. The Planar Helium PCT2235 had the longest response time of any of the touch screen monitors that we tested. That means that the pixels take a long time to switch between one color to the next, which isn’t ideal for watching movies or playing games. It does have great color accuracy though, which means it’s great for editing photos and images.

In the end, the Planar Helium PCT2235 isn’t particularly flashy, but if you’re looking for a great touch screen monitor on a budget, it is a fantastic choice.

The Dell P2418HT is unique among the touch screen monitors that we tested, in that it’s the only one with a matte finish instead of the usual reflective glass screen. This matte finish means that the Dell P2418HT’s screen is far less reflective than most, which reduces glare for users. The screen’s non-reflective finish also means that it looks much more like a traditional monitor, which is great if you want it to blend in.

The innovation doesn’t stop there though, thanks to the Dell P2418HT’s unique flexible rotating arm which holds up the display in place of a traditional A-frame stand. The flexible arm can be easily adjusted, allowing for forwards and backwards, as well as up and down movements. The downside of this is that the stand isn’t as stable as a fixed frame, so the screen can wiggle around during use. It also doesn’t have seamless bevels, which means you can bang your fingers into the edges when using the screen, which is irritating.

Compared with the other monitors that we tested, the Dell P2418HT is far more energy efficient which means it will cost less to run it over time. It also impressed us with it’s fantastic color accuracy, something that our top choice, the Acer T232HL struggled with.

All-in-all, the Dell P2418HT is a great touch screen monitor that does just enough to stand out from the crowd, providing some much needed variety in a relatively samey market.

The perfect touch screen monitor for space conscious consumers, the 21.5-inch ViewSonic TD2230 offers great image quality in a compact design. With a compact form factor and relatively light weight of just 7.9 ounces, it’s portable too, which is great if you need to move the monitor around a lot

Sadly, the ViewSonic TD2230 is let down by some odd design choices. For one thing, the connection ports are all located on the side of the monitor, which means you end up with cables sticking out the side of your screen, which is a nightmare for cable management aficionados. It can also be a little uncomfortable to use, which is a huge issue if you need to use the touch screen for extended periods of time.

But if you need a touch screen monitor and don’t have enough space for one of the chunkier models, the ViewSonic TD2230 offers everything you need in a tiny package.Read ourViewSonic TD2230 review(opens in new tab)

Asus is a household name, and for good reason – the company offers plenty of high-quality products at a very reasonable price, and the 21.5-inch VT229H touch screen monitor is no different.

Aside from a thick “chin” with the company’s logo, this option is the polar opposite of the Planar, with bezels so thin they’re almost not there at all. The IPS panel offers great color accuracy, too, and it’s responsive too, with ten-point multi-touch support. The display is tough, too, and supports a variety of gestures.

We’ll get the bad news out of the way first, but there’s no HDMI port on the less-than-catchily titled Lenovo ThinkCentre "Tiny in One" Gen 4 Touch. In fact, the display uses a 3-in-1 cable that supports power, USB 3.1, and Displayport all at once – minimizing the number of cables on any given workstation.

The price of monitors today fluctuates wildly. They’re generally seen as an essential piece of equipment that’s considered an investment. For a normal, everyday monitor you can pay anywhere from $100-200 for an okay screen that’ll do the job. The average touch screen monitor will be a bit pricier, at around $300, due to the expensive projective capacitive technology needed to create monitors that recognize touch. However, if you’re after a specialist gaming monitor or one with a curved screen, then expect to pay even more than this.

For many, a huge display is a large canvas, but this can stretch the monitor’s resolution a tad too far and actually diminish the quality of an image. Conversely, a smaller touchscreen monitor may make you feel like there’s just not enough room to work with, or could make it an ideal companion to a larger, non-touchscreen display.

While you may love using a touchscreen display, you may also want to look for one with more accessible on-device controls – or at least somewhere you’re unlikely to press them accidentally during normal use.

In terms of design, some touch screen monitors offer an almost tablet-like experience. These can be ideal for touching the glass display, and even using it in lieu of a traditional keyboard and mouse setup while also having the flexibility to prop it up as a more standard display.

Others have adjustable stands and are much closer to a non-touchscreen monitor, but each has advantages. If you’re looking to touch your display regularly, it might mean reaching over your desk more often, while having it closer to you may mean hunching over somewhat.

Touch screens on monitors are made from glass, and the ones on this list support up to ten points of contact at once. This means they can register plenty of inputs at once, allowing for touch gestures like pinching to zoom, or swiping between photos.

A touch screen has become ingrained in everyday lives of nearly all planet Earth inhabitants. Of course, the leading role is played by smartphones and tablets. However, other fields that use special purpose equipment keep abreast with the modern trends. Industry is among these fields. In industrial segment, the most popular devices equipped with a touch screen are panel computers and monitors. Typically, the questions on touch screen work arise during device operation – How to connect? How to configure? How to calibrate? etc.. Let us have a closer look at these issues.

As a rule, in panel computers a touch screen controller is defined automatically by the operating system and does not require installation of additional drivers. The only thing that might be necessary is calibration, but it must only be done when a touch screen does not work properly. See more information about calibration below. The connection scheme is somewhat different. Every industrial monitor, which is equipped with a touch screen, has an auxiliary USB or COM cable. This cable connects a monitor to the computer, which a video signal will be displayed from. The rest of the connection algorithm is similar to that of a panel computer.

Under configuration the detection of a touch screen controller in the system is implied, as well as its further proper operation. As it has been already mentioned, the operating system detects touch screen automatically. But what to do if this is not the case? First thing that you will definitely need is drivers. To get the necessary drivers, you may pursue any of the following ways:There are drivers on a disk that comes with the device.

If the disk is lost, you can download drivers from a panel computer/monitor manufacturer’s website, or if you know exactly what touch screen controller is installed in your equipment, e.g. AMT PenMount, you can download drivers from the controller manufacturer’s website.

After transition and opening a tab, you will see a list of drivers available for download for this device. Touch screen driver is always easy to define due to its name. It should include the word “Touch”. Sometimes, all drivers are located on one large archive. It might happen, that you should decide, what OS you need a driver for. Just choose the required one and the downloading process will start.

If you want to download drivers from the controller manufacturer’s website, you should act somewhat different. Typically, manufacturers of industrial panel computers and monitors use controllers made by two companies that have already been mentioned, these are AMT PenMount and EETI. Drivers on manufacturers website are also located in a “Download” tab. You can transfer to it directly from the main page.

You have installed the drivers, and the touch screen is working. You want to move a cursor to the upper left corner, but it goes to the right bottom one. What to do? There is only one solution for such cases – touch screen calibration. Usually, the calibration utility program can be found in the same archive, where the drivers are located. Next, we will a consider touch screen calibration option on the example of one of the most popular panel computer models APPC-1740T from Nexcom.

In APPC-1740T the manufacturer uses a touch screen controller by AMT PenMount. We will install the drivers for OS Windows 7. Download drivers from the manufacturer’s official website. Unpack the archive, once the download is complete. After unpacking, you need to install this utility program. Click on “Setup” file and follow the instructions on the screen. The installation process will take a few minutes. Once the installation is complete, launch the utility program by clicking on the shortcut PenMount Control Panel on the desktop.

After launching, in the “Choose component for configuration” field the program must display a touch screen controller. That means that the utility program has detected a controll