Interactive touch screen displays are the latest innovation to enter the modern interactive collaborative classroom, poised to replace the traditional interactive whiteboard and projector setups of the past, offering numerous additional benefits. An Interactive Touch Screen is a large-format commercial display panel with an interactive touch surface, essentially a giant iPhone or Tablet. The screen connects to a PC, allowing the user to take control of the computer and its applications, as well as write in digital ink and save lesson content. Most of the world’s major Audiovisual manufacturers are currently offering Interactive touch screens with a range of technologies and software available. AV installs has compiled the following guide on all the latest touch screens, helping our customers to compare and make informed purchasing decisions about which hardware and software best suits their requirements.
As you can see above, Sahara, Genee World & Ctouch have the most extensive range of screen sizes available on the market. When it comes to screen sizes in education, we recommend 65” or larger screens for middle and senior schools, and 55” or larger for primary schools. All Interactive touch screens can be wall-mounted, and there are also many electric height-adjustable brackets available on the market, which lower the screen to make it more accessible for small children and students with disabilities. * Some screens can be used with a special mobile trolley which lays the screen flat so that it can be worked on as though it were an interactive table.
There are two main touch technologies on the market for interactive display panels: Infrared and optical. Both offer various options regarding the number of users who can simultaneously work on the same screen at the same time, known as multi-touch.
Infra Red Touch Technology:
Infrared technology may not be new, but it remains a favourite. It is typically used in large-format displays, some kiosks, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals. It has a long life, furthering its popularity in the digital signage and interactive display markets.
How Infra Red Works:
Infrared touch technology requires a perimeter to be placed around the display. The perimeter consists of infrared LEDs placed on two sides of the display and photo transistors placed on the opposing two sides. The two sides then work in pairs; the signal from the LED transistor is read by its opposing photo transistor. When the signal is interrupted, it indicates a blocked infrared beam, which in turn suggests a touch point. While most infrared displays don’t require a touchscreen, a glass overlay is usually recommended to protect the underlying display.
Optical Touch Technology:
Optical touch is typically found in large-format displays and enjoys popularity in digital signage applications. Optical touch can sometimes be less expensive than infrared, but the cost begins to equalise when lighting conditions are considered. Optical touch can also be more challenging to integrate than some other touch technologies.
How Optical Works:
Optical touch uses cameras to detect and pinpoint touch points. Two cameras or more are mounted on the surface of the glass or in the bezel – usually in the corners – of the display. The cameras, or optical sensors, emit infrared light in a plane across the surface of the glass. The screen detects touch points when an interruption in the infrared light occurs. In order to triangulate those touch points, the cameras work in tandem with the printed circuit controller board and its corresponding software program.
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