Frequently Asked Questions

What does the driver software do? It ensures the PC finds and recognizes the touch screen, in the same way as any other input device such as a mouse or keyboard. It also allows you to calibrate the touch screen and perform basic diagnostics. In addition, the user can customise functions such as right-click enable and fine tune settings for clicking and dragging.

What happens whenever Microsoft brings out a new operating system? The latest Windows touch screen drivers from all manufacturers are available in Support. All Microsoft operating systems are supported right back to MS-DOS.

How do I “calibrate” the touch screen? After loading the software driver the touch screen control panel will automatically detect which port the touchscreen is connected to. It will then show a screen with a target in each corner, each of which you will be required to touch in turn to tell the driver the extent of the screen. The software saves these settings and quits. That’s it!

How often do I have to calibrate the touch screen? Only once! Unless you change the output resolution from the PC to the monitor, (e.g. from 1024 x 768 to 800 x 600), after the first calibration of the touch screen the settings are locked. The cursor can drift over time and may need re-calibrating, but this is over years, not months.

When reading about touch screens why do I see the term “mouse emulation”? Because, as when using a mouse, with the touch screen you can click and drag to move a window, or double-click on an icon to open an application. All these settings are user definable through the touch screen control panel. Because there is no right button, an additional icon can be shown on the screen that is used to toggle this function.

Will my mouse and keyboard continue to work when the touch screen is connected? Yes. The mouse, keyboard and track-pad will all work as normal and there is no conflict of drivers. The only restriction to the number of input devices you can connect is the number of USB or serial ports on the PC.

What happens if I click the mouse button and touch the touch screen at the same time? Only the first signal registered by the PC will be processed. The PC cannot accept two input signals at the same time as there would be a conflict, in the same way as pressing two keys simultaneously on a keyboard sends the two key-strokes one after the other, not together.

Can I use the touch screen for hand-writing recognition or for capturing signatures? Yes. There are two ways of doing this. One is to employ a touch screen with a Resistive sensor (see Technologies comparison) and use a blunt stylus, as found with PDAs, to write on the screen. However, there is usually some “lag” in that the signature on the screen will appear slower than the writing speed. If hand-writing input is a primary function of the touch screen, a better solution is to use a hard-wired touch pen (see TouchPen). Alternatively, the large format touch panels use an optical technology that also supports input from a stylus. (see Large Format Touch Screens).

Will the touch screen work if I’m wearing gloves? This depends on the technology used. For instance, Resistive technology works with a gloved hand while Capacitive won´t. To choose the best technology for your purposes look at Technologies Comparison.

What is the difference between Capacitive, Resistive, SAW and all the other touch technologies and which one is best for my application? Please refer to the comparison guide in Technologies Comparison. If you are still not sure then Contact Us and we will make a recommendation based on your requirements.

Will I be able to use all my existing applications on my computer with the touch screen? Yes. There is no conflict between the touch screen drivers and your applications. However, these applications are designed to be use with a cursor, which is much smaller than a human finger. You may find it difficult to click on smaller icons such as the window close button. Consequently a touch screen interface is often written for point-of-information applications using bigger buttons.

How do I enter text and numerals on a touch screen if the keyboard is not connected? There are on-screen keyboards available that the user can call up using 3rd party software should they need to enter text. One system we recommend is available from http://www.netkey.com/. Alternatively you may opt for a wall-hung or floor-standing kiosk with integrated English/Arabic keyboard (see Touch Screen Kiosks).

Can I connect more than one touch screen to my PC? Yes. The driver supports multiple touch screens, but you will require a separate VGA (video) card and USB or serial port for each touchscreen.

Can I convert my existing computer monitor into a touch screen? It depends on the monitor model. Some manufacturers, for example NEC, design some of their LCD monitors with the space to retro-fit a touch sensor and controller. In other monitors there is not enough space to install the touch sensor. If you contact us with the manufacturer and model no. of the display you wish to convert, we can advise if it can have a touch sensor integrated and, if so, the correct part no. of the sensor. However, we recommend the installation is done by an experienced electrical engineer who is familiar with screen technology. Also, because you need to open the monitor casing you may void your display´s warranty. To read further about the procedure look at the Touch Sensor Installation Guide in Touch Screen Kits.

My organisation favours a particular brand of monitor, can you supply it as a touch screen? Yes, although this depends on the manufacturer and the monitor model. Some manufacturers design their displays with enough space inside so a touch sensor and controller can be fitted later. However some monitors are too slim and cannot be converted. We also impose a minimum order quantity for custom built touch screens. For further details please Contact Us. Alternatively, you may consider integrating touch equipment in your own monitors (see Touch Screen Kits).

What is a touch sensor? The touch sensor is a sheet of glass or plastic that is designed to respond to touch, either through pressure or using light, static or acoustic sensors (for more information on the different touch technologies available, please refer to the comparison guide in Technologies comparison). The information, i.e. the position of the finger, is passed to the touch controller, which is connected to the host PC.

What is a touch controller? The touch controller converts the electronic signal sent from the touch sensor and sends this information, as an X/Y position, to the host PC through a serial or USB port.