Computer with resistive versus capacitive touchscreen

Both resistive and capacitive touchscreen PCs are very popular among industrial PC users. Therefore, our Tacton series of panel PCs both capacitive and resistive variants. We often hear the following questions about resistive versus capacitive: what is the difference and which is better for me?

Much has changed since the late 1940s, when pioneers of the music industry first developed touch-sensitive synthesizers. This paved the way for later developments in the 1960s and 1970s, when touch technology was combined with a graphic display to create the first computer with a touch screen. 

With touchscreen devices, you no longer rely on additional input devices; you don't need a mouse or keyboard. So you can interact with a computer system faster and more efficiently.

Each type or touchscreen - resistive and capacitive - has distinct advantages. Let's take a look at how they work and what they excel at.

How does a computer with capacitive touchscreen work?

Capacitive touchscreen panels consist of an insulator (such as glass) coated with a transparent conductor. Since the human body is also an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the screen's electrostatic field. This is measurable as a change in capacitance. The location of this disturbance is identified and sent to the touchscreen controller for processing.

The most common use of capacitive touchscreens today is seen in smartphones and tablet PCs. But kiosk systems and digital signage solutions also often use capacitive touchscreens in the industrial computing space. This is because of their accuracy and the light touch required to register contact.

Over the past decade, capacitive touchscreen screens have become popular in a wide range of industries. Now you can pick up cash at the ATM, select your airline seat and buy your movie tickets, all at capacitive touchscreen kiosks. For consumer transactions, the capacitive touchscreen has become the go-to solution because of its intuitive and accurate user experience.

How does a computer with resistive touchscreen work?

Resistive touchscreen computer panels consist of two transparent plates with a small gap between them. Each plate is coated with a transparent conductive material. A uniform electrical resistance value is applied to the surface of each plate. When the upper layer is pressed, it makes contact with lower layer. Electricity is conducted and the location of the conduction point is detected and sent to the touchscreen controller for processing.

The physical pressure required to operate resistive touch screens means they can be used with gloves on. This is a major advantage for food production-, factory automations- and healthcare applications, where these types of touch screens are most common. 

PCs with resistive and capacitive touchscreens process information using different technologies. But thanks to the convenience they offer in HMI applications (Human Machine Interface) they are now one of the biggest growth areas for industrial PCs. The choice between these two different touchscreen panels depends on your specific application, but if you have questions about which type of touchscreen is right for your project, our application specialists help you make the right choice.

Click here To view our full range of panel PCs.