In the field of electronics, resistive screen technology is used to make electronic displays that are thin, see-through, and mounted on a plastic substrate. It can be used in everything from ATM machines to watches to computer keypads. The technology was invented by accident, when a computer was sent back and forth between an early monitor and resistive screen. The screen created a “virtual desktop” that appeared to be operating inside the computer.

Resistive screens are not like resistive optical display panels. Traditional computer screens need a thin clear membrane to view text, images, or menus, but resistive screens rely on the tiny movements of the fingers to produce visual feedback. The touchscreen are often used in conjunction with gloves or a stylus. Gloves let the user manipulate the virtual keyboard and trackpad without having to get up and touch a real screen. A resistive stylus is also useful for working at a lower height, which makes it easier to access the screen.

Capacitive screens have piezoelectric layers within their screen layers. A resistive layer can be made of any conductive material, but thin films of gold, silver, or copper are most commonly used. Some capacitive screens use liquid crystal displays (LCD) technology with individual liquid crystals atop resistive layers of glass or plastic. These layers change resistance depending on the orientation of the finger and its position relative to the screen. This means the position of your fingers on a capacitive tablet will determine how the screen responds.

A new type of tablet computer called multi-touch hardware requires two separate but connected resistive touch screens. With multi-touch technology, one resistive screen can detect the location of a finger and feed the information into another resistive screen. The finger is not the only element of multi-touch technology that is recognized by the tablet computer. Multiple cameras and micro processors detect where you are pointing and then send this data to the main computer. This allows multi-touch technology to work more naturally than when using resistive touch screens.

Tablet PC devices such as laptops and tablets have a resistive touch screen built right into the device. It is attached to the bottom, usually in the case of a laptop. This type of touch screen has no separate hardware components and is often easier to maintain and replace than capacitive touchscreens. To keep the touch sensitive areas from becoming smudged, it is important to occasionally wipe the touchpad with a soft cloth or paper cloth. If it becomes soiled that the surface appears scratched, it is advisable to purchase a replacement screen.

There are many advantages to using a resistive touch screen rather than a capacitive touch screen. One of the most obvious is the reduction in sensitivity. Capacitive touch screens provide a far more responsive user interface because of the combined action of both the resistive and capacitive layers. Using these two layers together reduces the chances for user fatigue and makes for an easier to use and operate product.