Optical Touch: The Ideal Technology For All-In-One PCs

There are more than a dozen different touch technologies, each bringing unique strengths across various industries and applications. Few touch technologies, however, offer the benefits of optical touch: accuracy, clarity, flexibility, reliability, durability, and support for multi-touch gestures. Optical is particularly optimized for the desktop and all-in-one PC (AiO) segment, which encompasses 15-to-30 inch screens from leading PC manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Sony, and Lenovo.

How Does Optical Work?

Working in concert, two optical sensors located at the top left and right corners of the screen track the movement of any object close to the surface by detecting the interruption of an infra-red light source. At the heart of the system is a printed circuit controller board that receives signals from the optical sensors. The optical software then compensates for distortions and triangulates the position of the touching object with a high degree of accuracy.

Why optical?

Optical technology is ideal for desktops because OEMs can easily and economically convert displays into touch screens without sacrificing quality and performance. This means that PC makers can offer competitive prices for their touch PC products. Optical also allows users to interact with their computers through stylus independence and light-touch response. Optical delivers the following additional benefits:

• Clarity of image (no films or coatings on the screen) improves visual experience.
• Fast drag function allows for quick, accurate finger swipes and brush strokes.
• Zero-pressure response makes screens durable and accessible for users of all ages and levels.
• Multi-touch capability enables the screen to support built-in gestures within Windows 7.
• Excellent performance, accuracy, and reliability even in rugged and outdoor environments empower the potential of touch applications.

In 2009, major PC makers unveiled touch-enabled tablets, laptops, netbooks and PCs as the demand for touch screens took off across all devices. In the desktop PC and monitor space, optical touch screens continue to be the technology of choice for vendors. HP, Dell, Lenovo, Sony, NEC, and Medion have all chosen NextWindow as their partner in touch for new AiOs and monitors, and we expect the market for touch PCs to grow even more in 2010 and beyond.