Capacitive vs Resistive - what is the difference?

Touchscreens are trend in mobile industry. There is so little manufactures who develop new models based on numeric or qwerty keypad. Touchscreen are everywhere. But... There are two types of touchscreens: capacitive and resistive. But, what is the difference? [caption id="attachment_2390" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Capacitive vs Resistive[/caption]

Resistive touchscreen definition

Resistive touch screen can be described as touch sensitive display made of two layers "protected" with resistive material and separated by "layer" of air. Due to flexibility of these sheets, when you touch the display surface, it will press together the sheets. Sheets has the net of horizontal and vertical lines, and when you push the together - it will easily find your location (combining horizontal and vertical lines). This technology is perfect to use with finger, pen or palm and it gives you prices point of contact, especially with a pen. [caption id="attachment_2391" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Resistive display with pen[/caption]

Capacitive touchscreen definition

Capacitive touchscreen can be made in three ways, but most common for phone display is ITO (Indium tin oxide). There are also copper and printed ink. Capacitive display reacts only on conductive materials, such as finger. Capacitive touchscreen display is more responsive than resistive touchscreen. There are two types of capacitive displays: 1. Mutual capacitance - it allows multi-touch operations. With this display you can zoom in and out, using two fingers in the same time. 2. Self-capacitance - it doesn't allow multi touch. This means, if you want zoom in on some image, you have to use button + which is single touch (contact). [caption id="attachment_2392" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Capacitive multi-touch function[/caption]

Resistive vs Capacitive - what is better?

Resistive touchscreen can give you precision, but when you can use pen (or any other precise material). This advantage easily becomes disadvantage when you use finger, which has much bigger surface than pen! But, important point with resistive touchscreen is it react on almost every touch (contact), so you can use it with gloves. Capacitive touchscreen is more precise, on general. It respond more quickly, it's more precise than resistive touchscreen. Bad thing is you can use it only with finger (no nails), which can be sometimes bad on rainy or snowy day. What is your type? Who is winner in battle Capacitive vs resistive? Source Source