Industrial PDAs and rugged handhelds have helped bring computing power out into the field, onto the shop floor, and wherever it's needed, saving time, reducing errors, and improving data collection for businesses that operate outdoors and in tough conditions. When you manufacture PDAs and barcode scanners for the world's toughest customers, it's not just your own rugged shell that determines the strength and durability of your product, your product also depends on the strength of your touchscreen. It's the Achilles heel of handheld electronics and it can become quite expensive for your clients to frequently replace broken tools, not to mention inconvenient.
It's your job to source touchscreens that can live up to the conditions that the rest of your technology was designed to handle. If the device is going to be used outside, it needs to have an outdoor viewing display, enhanced with features such as anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings. If it's going to be used in a refrigerated warehouse or outdoors in climates with cold winters, it must work in all temperatures, and it should also be waterproof.
The ultra resistive touchscreen, designed by A D Metro, is a tough new technology made from a borosilicate glass surface that surpasses the limitations of standard resistive technology and its polyethylene surface. Pressure activated, it can be operated despite the presence of contaminants, whether it's water, grease, oil, food, or dust, making it ideal for applications ranging from QSR kiosks and mobile computing in food warehousing to industrial PDAs for outdoor use. In addition to handling contaminants well, you can also find some of the following features in the ultra resistive A D Metro touchscreen:
• Resistance to abrasions and scratches
• Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference
• Resistance to spalling (breaking into smaller pieces) if the glass is impacted
• Resistance to sparks, flames, and heat
• Weatherproof
• Fits NEMA 6 as well as IP67 ruggedized enclosures
These screens are designed to withstand direct impact, flames, chemical contaminants, and submersion in water and they are made for heavy industrial, marine, and military uses. This is the toughest line of touchscreen you can find; while it is economical and easily integrated with a wide range of applications, standard resistive screens from suppliers like A D Metro can also be a more affordable option for environments that are less demanding. While standard resistive technology remains immune to EMI and contaminants, they are typically not waterproof and cannot withstand the same kind of impact that tougher designs can.
Standard resistive touch screens use less power and they are an economical, scalable solution for many less-demanding applications, and when you source from the right supplier, you should have no problem finding screens that work with a wide range of controllers. In your search for a touch screen supplier, your aim should be to find the right technology for the application and a way to keep your development costs down. Find the supplier that can build the right touchscreen technology for your customers.