Touch Screens !!

 Mobile touch screens have revolutionized the way we interact with our smartphones. The ability to tap, swipe, and pinch has made navigating mobile applications a breeze. But have you ever stopped to think about how mobile touch screens actually work? In this post, we'll take a deep dive into the technology behind mobile touch screens and explore the different types of touch screens available in the market.

touch screen

Before we dive into the different types of touch screens, let's understand how touch screens work in general. A touch screen is essentially a display screen that also acts as an input device. The screen is sensitive to pressure, and a user interacts with mobile applications by touching pictures or words on the screen. When a user touches the screen, a signal is sent to the processor, which translates the touch into something that the operating system can understand.

Working Principle


Now, let's take a look at the different types of touch screens used in mobile phones. The three most commonly used technologies are:

  1. resistive
  2. capacitive
  3.  surface wave-based systems

Resistive touch screens consist of a normal glass panel that is covered with conductive and resistive metallic layers. These two layers are held apart by spacers, and a scratch-resistant layer is placed on top of the whole setup. An electrical current run through the two layers while the monitor is operational. When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact exactly at that spot, and the change in the electrical field is noted. The coordinates of the point of contact are then calculated by the processor, and a special driver translates the touch into something that the operating system can understand.

A Palm Centro, an example of a smartphone with a resistive touchscreen.

Capacitive touch screens, on the other hand, use a layer of electroconductive material, most often indium tin oxide, that stores electrical charge and is placed on the glass panel of the monitor. When a user touches the monitor with their 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, and the computer calculates exactly where the touch event took place and relays that information to the touch screen driver software.

Working of Capacitive Touch screen 


Surface wave-based systems use ultrasonic waves that pass over the touch screen panel. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed, and the change in the ultrasonic waves' amplitude and phase is used to determine the position of the touch event.


So, which touch screen technology is the best? Well, it depends on what you're looking for. Resistive touch screens are generally more affordable but offer only 75 per cent clarity, and the layer can be damaged by sharp objects. On the other hand, capacitive touch screens transmit almost 92 per cent of the light emitted from the monitor, giving them a much clearer picture than resistive screens. Additionally, capacitive screens have a longer lifespan of about 225 million clicks, making them a more durable option.


In conclusion, mobile touch screens have come a long way since their inception, and the technology behind them is constantly evolving. Understanding the different types of touch screens and their respective strengths and weaknesses can help you make an informed decision when purchasing your next mobile phone. As technology continues to advance, who knows what other innovative input devices we'll see in the future!

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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