Touch Screen Computers: A History
Chronology Of Multi-touch
Multi-touch touch screen computer technology originated from the Electroacoustic music touch sensors. It was not yet in the form of a computer, but this was where the technology was first used. This involved the synthesisers in the music industry which recognised the users touch. This was done through capacitance technology, and it allowed for musicians to change the sound produced. Touch screen technology is often used in the music industry. It was invented by Hugh LeCaine, Don Buchla and Bob Moog.
Between 1970 and 1980 there were two major developments in the touch screen computer world. Firstly there was the PLATO IV touch screen computer which was invented in 1972 in America. Though work on touch screen computers had started by the mid 1960's, these were all single touch. They did not have the unique capabilities multi-touch presented to touch screen computers. The PLATO IV helped with education and it had a 16x16 array of touch screen computer sensors. They needed a great deal of pressure to use, but this technology in time led up to the infra-red system of touch screen computers. A second major development in this time period in the world of touch screen computers was the One-Point Touch Input of Vector information. In one point on the touch screen monitor, up to eight signals could be registered and their point located. This was not yet multi-touch, but used a great deal of the multi-touch technology currently used in touch screen computers. For a video demonstration of this technology, click here.
The 1980's were a more successful year for multi-touch touch screen computers. Seven major inventions entered the industry, each being great improvements from the last. In 1981 there was the invention of the Tactile Array Sensor for Robotics. This was produced by Jack Rebman from the Lord Corporation. This had the ability to work out the shape of an object by different sensors. Though the pad itself was not a screen, it was able to relay the information back to a computer. Modern touch screen computers can do all within the same system and do not need to be separate. Next there came along the Flexible Machine Interface and it was the first which allowed for a person to directly input information into a computer. This makes it clearly a direct descendent of todays touch screen computers. It contained several different parts, the main of which being a frosted-glass panel. The camera within would view the appearance of a black spot when a finger applied pressure on the touch screen computer monitor.
In the year of 1983 there were two main inventions in touch screen computers. The first was created by Bell Labs and Murray Hill. These were Soft machines, and they were seen as a more suitable system for touch screen computers. There was then the Video Place. Using a system which reacted through sight, it could follow the movement of hands or bodies which would perform certain signals. Though not really touch, it was a huge advancement that focused on real time.
A developed touch screen was first produced in 1984 and could be incorporated into touch screen computers. The way it worked was through transparent capactive sensors which were on top of a CRT. Objects within the screen could be morphed and moved around, and it was rapid. You did not need to wait a long time for a response. The multi-touch tablet touch screen computer followed shortly after in 1985. They could be touched by several stimulus, and was able to record and calculate the location of each one. Being thin, it had the potential to be much more practical. In the same year, the touch screen computer was invented using the Sensor Frame. The man responsible for this was Paul McAvinney. In each four corners of the touch screen computer, there were optical sensors. These could locate up to three fingers at one time and was very accurate.
Just as successful as the 1980's, or perhaps even more so was the 1990's. Technology was advancing in touch screen computers at a quick rate and multi-touch was becoming more and more commonplace. During 1991, the Digital Desk was invented. This touch screen computer projected the image onto a tablet-like device. You could scale and translate objects through the use of multi-touch. In the following year an extremely impressive advancement was made in the form of 'Simon', believed to be the first smart phone in existence. It had a touch screen which made it easier to input information. It was an invention which would make way for future phones such as the iPhone.
In the same year of 1992, the Starfire was released. Though not an actual invention, it was a film. They imagined the future; pinching the screen to zoom in and out of pictures, and many other multi-touch gestures on touch screen computers. Starting from 1994 and lasting until 2002, Bimanual research had begun. It worked on improving the techniques which could be used on touch screen computers. Graspable or Tangible Interfaces was another research project. All of these research projects and films all had the potential to lead up to what we have today in touch screen computer technology. A digital desktop could locate the area it is being touched, and allows people to control certain graphical points.
During 1995, the Input Research Group made a development. It was the creation of Graspable Interfaces. Graphical objects within the touch-screen computer were controlled by several different stimuli. In a way, you could grasp the objects and manipulate them at will. The T3 was another invention which came along in the year 1997. You could grab and pinch the image and zoom in and out, this making it a touch screen computer with multi-touch capabilities. You could also rotate it also with the use of two points, so it used all the general commands of modern touch screen computers. The Haptic Lens in the same year deformed the more pressure you place upon it. Read the section on Haptics in order to understand this concept more.
The touch screen computer made another improvement in 1999 with the Portfolio Wall. Images would be presented upon it and each time there was a picture you could edit and write on it. This touch screen computer was on a larger scale than the others. It was very useful for educational purposes or if you just wanted to show family images from your holiday! Though it was no yet able to use multi-touch capabilities, it had typical gestures than modern touch screen computers use, such as the iPhone which you also need to flick in order to move across a photo. Which way you moved your finger determined the command.
Now moving on to the 21st Century where our technology is improving via leaps and bounds, especially with touch screen computers. The Diamond Touch was a mechanism in the early 21st century which had even more hand gestures which could be used. It was able to not only sense the location, but also the amount of pressure applied and which finger is which if multiple fingers are being used on the touch screen computer. Between 2002-2003, two music systems had been looked. More and more people wanted to use touch screen computers in the music industry. One was by Andrew Fentem, but his findings were not published widely and therefore remain generally unknown. Secondly there was the French Jazz Mutant which could be seen as the first transparent multi-touch touch screen computer. It used the Lemur system and allowed musicians to control the music.
The 2004 Touchlight could sense the touch of more than one hand in various locations, and was on a projection upon a thin acrylic sheet. This was what made it impressive, so it was not the common touch screen computer. Later in 2005 came the Tacta Pad. The system it uses is the optical system previously explained. It captures the shadows of your touch, and the feel of the objects can change. This made this touch screen computer a very interesting invention. The Toshiba Matsusita Display Technology was on an LCD display and once again used shadows. It was on a much smaller screened touch screen computer than the others before. Both Tomer Moscovich and Benko and both their collaborators came up with more hand gestures which could be used on touch screen computers.
The Plastic Logic touch screen computer in 2006 was made to be an e-ink display on a touch pad. It could be seen as the predecessor of the e-reader. Touch screen computer mobiles now began to make their presence in the 21st century. Synaptics and Pilotfish was a concept for a mobile touch screen computer. It used a transparent touch sensors, and therefore could distinguish between the touch via size and pressure. Following this was the Applied iPhone in 2007. This was a really important invention in the touch screen computer mobile era. It used multi-touch but not fully, but it has a very business like appearance. It is smooth and sleek and though we are now in 2011, it is still widely used by many. It makes use of the App Store which makes it very popular.
In the same year there was Microsoft Surface Computing which is a touch screen computer incorporated into a surface such as a table. It can distinguish between multiple hands and objects on the surface of the touch screen computer. The image is protected and movement is captured by cameras. The ThinSight touch screen computer, used by Dell, is multi-touch which can be incorporated into thin LCD display monitors. Seeing as it also uses the optical system, it can sense fingers and also objects. Many multi-touch gestures can be used on this touch screen computer.
We are now on the final two multi-touch inventions so far in touch screen computers which are worth mentioning. In 2008 the N-trig was was able to sense both a stylus and a finger at the same time, but when the stylus is used there is higher quality digital ink. It is a technology which can be used in tablet touch screen computers of any of larger ones. Finally, the Surface 2.0 which was created by Microsoft in 2011 was a surface touch screen computer. Using the optical system it can see what is placed on its surface.
Acoustic Pulse Recognition
Acoustic Pulse Recognition touch screen computers invented by Elo is another system that can sense touches on a display. It consists of a glass layer on top of the main display. It makes use of optical qualities and also has great durability. It can use both touch by fingers and by other objects such as a stylus. It has many benefits and these include resistance to dust, water and grease. It also has a great drag ability and it is a flat touch screen computers. This means it does not take up too much space.Calibration only needs to take place once to avoid having to set it up every time you want to use it.
If you happen to scratch the screen, which can be likely, this touch screen computer will still work. It will not wear out, and the borders are very thin to give it a more professional look. It can be useful in many different roles such as in offices, pharmacies and restaurants.
What makes to iPad 2 better than its predecessor in touch screen computers? IFirst we can look at its speed. With a Dual-core A5 chip, it is much faster. This enables us to use the Internet and watch films at a more rapid pace than other touch screen computers in tablet form. It has graphics which are far improved and this means that for those gamers out there, we can have a better experience. However this is not only for gamers, it allows us to see videos in much greater detail than previously. With a battery life that had improved to an impressive 10 hours, you will be able to use it for longer. Now it will be possible for you to use it on those tedious flight journeys without worrying about it running out as quick.
With two cameras, one on the front and one on the back you will be able to make easier video calls and also be able to take pictures as you wish. Covers have been designed to allow you to personalise your iPad 2, giving them whatever colour you wish on your touch screen computer. This makes it more unique to you. Lastly but perhaps most importantly, it is thinner and lighter. This makes it easier to carry around and stops it from getting in the way. It can be considered the best tablet touch screen computer, but it does have several problems which you may want to know before you go ahead and purchase one.