Computers are used every day for numerous different purposes in industry. More and more companies are turning to newer technologies for use in factories and other industrial environment as they provide additional benefits. Touch screen monitors are perfect for most production lines or other manufacturing environments. These areas are often very dirty or dusty and using a standard keyboard and mouse may not be suitable. Touch screens are usually able to withstand the dirt and damp that would normally affect other hardware. They can also be made to be incredibly durable, which is a beneficial feature as they are often susceptible to heavy handling. These types of computers work by incorporating a very thin membrane in front of the glass screen. This membrane has a see through metallic covering. When this metallic surface is touched by an individual it stops the electrical circuit. This, in turn, engages the internal software which is able to locate the position of touch on the monitor.
For less heavy industry, where damage is less likely, resistive touch screens are ideal as although these can be scratched easily they are highly responsive pieces of equipment. For heavier industries capacitive touch screens are more suitable. This is because the responsive materials are inside of the glass screen; they remain relatively unaffected by surface scratches. These types of touch screens retain a fully functional sensitivity. There are alternative touch screen technologies such as infra red but these are not usually used where additional sensitivity or better durability is necessary. Due to technological advances and further applications of touch screen technology, touch screen monitors are now more affordable and productive than ever. In industries where profit is extremely important this makes touch screens very valuable.
