Understanding the differences Technology: Capacitive and Resistive of Touch Screen

Touch screen interface has led to all devices using this technology. Starting from gadget, cell phone up to the ATM machine today has changed from a kerboard into touch screen.

But you may feel the difference between the touch screen technology on the Smartphone  or Tablet with the touchscreen at the bank drive-thru. Why is that?

The difference lies in the type of touchscreen, either resistive or capacitive is:

• Resistive touchscreens sense pressure, from a finger press or a stylus. The surface of the resistive touchscreen flexes under pressure, and the machine detects where the pressure is coming from—that is, which part of the screen you’re touching.

• Capacitive touchscreens don’t rely on pressure, and for that reason they require just the lightest touch. Their electrodes respond to only certain objects, like fingertips. Because you don’t have to use great pressure on a capacitive screen, you can use light swipes and taps to operate the touchscreen.

Resistive touchscreens have the advantage of being slightly more accurate, and you can use objects besides just your finger to get them to work. Capacitive touchscreens require a specific kind of stylus to increase the sensitivity of the screen, and such a stylus can be more accurate than your finger.