Expanding the Applications for Touch Controllers
Human interface devices so far have been centered around external input dependent systems. Traditionally, industrial machinery relied on complex systems with severely limited control functionality. A few buttons for direction and enter, exit aside, there was little that could be done.
With the advent, and success of touch screen controls, any machinery or device with its own embedded software can have any amount of functionality. Touch screens have penetrated the market to such an extent that any device without a touchable, moveable and controllable interface is immediately seen as a drawback. With avenues for controls increasing, it is also easier to push the limits of what the machinery is capable of doing. Borrowing from the mobile and tablet world, touch screens can now not only sense which part of the screen is being touched to an increasingly precise degree, but also the position and pressure applied by the operator. Using this input method, an embedded software specific to a machine, can open up multiple uses for every setup in a manufacturing center. Doing so will not only bring about a positive economic impact, but also lower the learning curve for both experienced as well as novice handlers.
