Back in our school days, we had those moments of “Why do I need to learn this; I’m never going to use this in real life”. For me, one of those moments never came up when learning to read a map. Keep in mind that I am only in my twenties, but in my adult life I have never even owned a map or atlas. Touch panel technology has truly changed the way of our world. When I need to go some, all I need to do is type a name into the built in GPS in a vehicle or on the maps app on a phone. Bam, instant directions. I whole week of my education curriculum wasted in a less than a minute. Below, you will find helpful information regarding commonly used two types of touch panels.
Film/Glass Touch Panels
One of the most commonly used type is the film/glass. They are used in countless numbers of devices and products because of their widely known flexibility and adaptability. The film/glass touch panels are practical for customization, so it is easily applied to any sort of product. They can be further upgraded using special anti-glare and anti-fingerprint films. They are also viable for 4-wire, 5-wire, and 8-wire customizations. However, the film/glass panels are not necessarily known for their durability. Under extreme temperatures, they can warp, and when placed under enough pressure these touch panels can break.
Tough Touch Panels
While the film/glass panels are not known for its durability, the tough touch panels are. These panels have a special polycarbonate glass that makes it two times as resistant to impact and changes in temperature. In contrast to the film/glass, these are not as alterable. The chemically strengthened glass prevents drastic changes in shape. Nonetheless, the these panels are not limited to squares and rectangles; the corners are easily rounded off to provide a circular shape in extraordinary circumstances. Additionally, the strengthened glass does not affect the weight of the product, leaving it almost as lightweight as plastic panel counterparts. The durability of the them makes them most useful in situations where it may be placed under extreme circumstances; therefore they are mostly used for military equipment, medical equipment, and mobile computing.
Which to Use
The decision of using the tough touch or film/glass is mostly dependent on the work environment that may be used. As stated previously, the tough touch are about twice as durable in almost every way in comparison to the film/glass panels. When placed under extreme heat or pressure, the film/glass could warp or break, where as the tough touch would not. However, the film/glass are much more advantageous in that it is uniquely changeable. The tough touch may be able to be circular in addition to its common rectangular and square shapes, but the film/glass panels are able to be customized into almost any shape by simply giving a call and order. What’s more, the film/glass panels have the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint properties available, where the tough touch does not.