What’s the different between resistive and capacitive touch screen?

What’s the different between resistive and capacitive touch screen?

Resistive Touch Screen: Consists of multiple layers, including two flexible sheets separated by a small air gap. One layer has a conductive coating on its surface, and the other has a resistive coating.When pressure is applied to the screen, the layers come into contact, creating a voltage drop at the point of touch. The touch controller can detect this voltage drop to determine the position of the touch.Works with any input method, such as fingers, stylus, or gloved fingers.Generally less sensitive and accurate compared to capacitive touch screens.Commonly used in industrial applications and resistive touch monitors.

Capacitive Touch Screen: Consists of a glass panel coated with a transparent conductive material, typically indium tin oxide (ITO).When a conductive object (like a finger) touches the screen, it creates a change in the capacitance of the screen, which is detected by the touch controller to determine the touch position.Requires a conductive input, such as a finger or a special capacitive stylus. Does not work with non-conductive objects like regular styluses or gloves.Highly sensitive and offers precise touch detection. Prone to surface scratches and can be affected by contaminants.Commonly used in smartphones, tablets, and most modern consumer electronics.

So why most of the self-service kiosks choose to use capacitive touch screen?

Capacitive touch screens provide a more intuitive and responsive user experience. They are highly sensitive and can detect even the slightest touch, making interactions smoother and more natural. Users are already familiar with capacitive touchscreens from their smartphones and tablets, so the learning curve is minimal.

Capacitive touch screens can support multi-touch gestures, allowing users to pinch, zoom, rotate, and perform other complex interactions. This enhances the functionality and versatility of self-service kiosks, especially in applications like map navigation or image manipulation.

Capacitive touch screens are available in various sizes and shapes, offering flexibility for kiosk designers to create custom interfaces and layouts to suit specific applications.

While capacitive touch screens are a popular choice for self-service kiosks, it's worth noting that different touch screen technologies have their own strengths and may be better suited for specific use cases. For instance, if a kiosk needs to be used with gloves, resistive touch screens might be preferred. Ultimately, the choice of touch screen technology depends on the specific requirements of the kiosk application and the user experience desired by the designers.