Touch+screen+by+Sean+Crawley

Touch Screens

Description: A touch screen is an input device where the user touches the screen of the device to select the desired option. The layout of touch screen devices is so that the user can easily touch each option without pressing another, this usually means that each button on the screen is of a fairly large size so that the user can clearly read what the option is and can easily select it, the buttons are often separated by large gaps so that the user does not select the wrong item by mistake.

Advantages: A touch screen does not require a separate keyboard/ keypad this allows more space on the unit for other features which may be beneficial to the touch screen. Eg a touch screen mobile phone compared to a traditional mobile phone, a traditional mobile phone will have a medium sized screen and a keypad, however in a touch screen mobile phone the space used for the keypad has been used to extend the screen size this means that the screen will be bigger and therefore more option will be available to use on the touch screen. If a computers screen is operated by touching then this will save the user from purchasing a mouse and keyboard if an onscreen version is available, it will also expand the amount of capabilities the computer can have.

Disadvantages: On a touch screen device if the screen is cracked then the device is useless whereas on a non-touch screen based device then the cracked screen will affect the users visibility of the screen however the user can still use the device. Touch screen devices will be more expensive than non-touch screen devices, this is because the technology involved is more advanced, this means some people will not be able to afford the product or they will just not want to spend the extra amount required.

Areas where touch screen devices are used.

Phones/ mp3/ tablets: A touch screen is preferred on portable items because the main problem on portable devices is the space and how effectively it is used, touch screen is useful as the whole face of the device can be used as a touch screen so all the space is used effectively.