Emerging Touchscreen Technology

Touchscreen displays are becoming more common than ever before. Almost every type of device you can buy has an option for touch screen; phones, computers, DVD players and also televisions. It is becoming more beneficial to use rather than the old fashion push in button. One of the many benefits of having a touch screen is that it is much more convenient for those with larger hands. Many cell phones that we used to carry had such small buttons; you would literally have to use your finger nails to press them in. Also, there would be complaints about buttons sticking, and breaking off, making them nearly impossible to use. According to the article Touch Screen vs. Tactile Controls, the only benefit the button has over touchscreen is that you won’t have as many smears on the screen. Even though the cost to have a touchscreen is almost double that of a push button, consumers seem to want to keep upgrading their devices, just to have the next best thing. And as more companies started to develop full touch screen cell phones, other devices were stepping up.
Touchscreen Today
The tablet is one of the most convenient devices you would want to own. Your tablet is like a mobile computer, like a laptop but a little more discreet and easy to carry. Unlike the laptop, a tablet can use 3G to connect to the internet from almost anywhere. A disadvantage of the tablet compared to a laptop, is the fact that you can’t use it in your lap, therefore you would have to hold it. It is very hard to hold a tablet and use your hands at the same time. The only beneficial way to use it is to buy a stand for it. Many companies have integrated their systems within the tablet, and you are able to access features in your home through your tablet device. According to VanCamps article ATT’s Digital Life, AT&T has developed a security system where you are able to control your home without even being there. You can turn on your thermostat twenty minutes before you leave work, so that it is at a desired temperature when you arrive home. They have also developed devices you have place in your home that can assist in unlocking your door, turning on your lights, as well as letting up your blinds, all from your tablet.
Melanie Pinola states in her article Why Would I Want a Touch Screen PC that “depending on who you ask, touch screen computers may become the future of computing; mostly because of its education factor”. Many libraries and schools today use systems like the hp touch smart computer. Computers like this have a lot of memory and acquire many people to use them. Its main function in schools is to allow small children to interact and learn how a computer works step by step. Because most children have the inability to use a mouse correctly, touching the screen helps them learn what happens when certain navigation is selected. One big downfall is that the computers would smudge with the use of small children, even with this disadvantage; the benefits are much more valuable. It seems that more children are starting to learn about technology today then from when it first came out. People want to expose a new way of learning to their children that may be more beneficial. The question is, will it actually help them want to learn, or will they just want to play with the technology? Paying your bill at a restaurant has become more convenient than ever, and according to bbmlive, “the Check 1-2 is a restaurant billing system that aims to replace the physical bill check with a digital one. This means customers can split and pay their check without leaving their table or doing some dodgy long division on a napkin”. It gives you the option to pay by cash, card, and even PayPal; which would be a great gesture if you forgot to bring your wallet. Companies always seem to be finding new ways to make life more accessible. Some restaurants have gone totally technical. When you arrive at the restaurant you are seated by the greater; at your table is a touchscreen menu allowing you to scroll through and select what you want. When you are ready to order, you just add your items to a cart and select checkout. You orders go straight to the kitchen, and the server brings them out when they are ready. Need a refill? Well there is also a button for that; your waiter receives a buzz from your table number. You can also order your dessert when you’re almost finished with your food. This type of technology is great if you don’t like your waiter at your table every 5 minutes. However, many people think that restaurants should appeal more on customer service and interact with their customers.
Ever drop you phone in the toilet? Well you’re in luck; Talking with a Palm written by Seth Radhika states that Apple is coming out with a lot of different devices, you may have never seen before. A watch with a projection screen enabling you to use a smartphone on the palm of your hand. The watch being on your wrist frees your hands from holding the actual device. Using pin points in your hand, allow you to be able to select the apps you want and when you are done, you can simply hide the projection. Easy as pie! This will also help out a lot with phone theft.
What’s New?
I think as the evolution of video games evolves more, we will start to see more touch screen. Right now, Nintendo has the Wii U; which involves a touch screen pad with controls on each side. From my own experience the Wii U touch display has a slow reaction time compared to the smart phones we use today. The display cannot do everything our smart phones can do, such as flipping the screen or minimizing and expanding. The screen is wider than the average phone, making it easier to touch and view movies, but it becomes hard to play games with such a wide game pad. With that being said, it is almost safe to say that the Wii is the first to acquire touch pads for games. Even though it is lagging behind a bit, I think Xbox and PlayStation are in the works to develop a great touch system. Even though the Xbox One doesn’t use the physical touch, you can use hand gestures along with your Kinects device to access the ability of touch. Pretty soon you will see all game controllers with a touch screen. I can see guitar hero being played with touch pads, which would be better if you hate trying to press down the buttons. The faster you have to press the buttons the worse the playing gets. Misa Digital has already come out with a touchscreen guitar, which allows you to play music as if you were on an actual electric guitar. The design has no strings and a built in flat screen touch panel; it allows you to play digital screens or just play by a simple touch of the hand and according to engadget.com, Misa Digital's string-less Kitara runs you about $849.00. Now I’m not saying that game prices will skyrocket when they fully develop touch; I think that when they are fully accessible, people won’t really have the need for one. Coca-Cola is showing up the drink world with their touch-screen vending machine called the Freestyle. I had a chance to experience things for myself when I walked into my local Wendy’s. You no longer have to tell the cashier what you want to drink; they just simply hand you a cup, and you walk to the machine. David Winzelberg’s article “Everything You Need to Know about Coca-Cola Freestyle” states that “the Freestyle offers over 100 different selections”. When you select an original coke, you also have the option to mix in syrup flavors such as orange or raspberry, giving you a new taste to your favorite drink. What makes the Freestyle so unique is that you cannot find their flavors anywhere else; and for myself, I had raspberry Minute maid lemonade, which made my experience at Wendy’s a little more interesting.

My visions
My thoughts are that I do believe the future will change tremendously; I can see a touch screen on the front of a refrigerator. When it is touched, the door goes clear and you would be able to see the contents inside. When you buy food, you can enter the expiration dates of each product. The touchscreen will display what food items have expired or is about to expire. A touch screen calendar could also come in good handy, your children can add their practice times and rehearsals on the calendar, which would also notify any device connected to it. When it is almost time for one of the events, it would have a digital voice notify you throughout the home.
I could also see in the future, the use of a touch screen (chalk board) that would be used in schools. Instead of using chalk or makers, teachers would be able to use a stylus. It would be very useful because you would be able to create a space for one subject, and then use your hands to minimize that portion to free up space for the next subject, that way you can always refer back to the subjects for a recap. I think it would be a great idea, because if a teacher wants to continue talking about that topic next week, she can save that chalkboard and bring it back up another day, sort of like our saved documents. I could also see this type of technology used in business, but instead a touch screen conference table. Imagine uploading your notes directly to your spot at the table. You don’t have to hand out packets to everyone, when they can simply swipe from page to page at their own location at the table.
Imagine sharing a picture or document on your phone by just using a swipe of your finger. This would be much simpler to do, and would take no time at all. I’m sure with the advancement in technology; we would be there in no time. Can you imagine wanting a coworker to add the finishing touches to a project because you are late for a meeting. Instead of waiting for the document to send, he could walk right over and swipe it to a phone or tablet, then swipe in back on his computer. There is a much simpler way of doing things that technology has yet to being, allowing us to quickly access content as well as take it on the go. The world of touch screen technology has emerged so quickly, the possibilities have become endless. It seems like everyday someone is coming out with something different. 500 years from now, we could possibly be paying by thumb print. Though it is making life more accessible, the question to answer is, do I really need it? With all the thoughts of emerging technology floating in the air, the only true thought is wondering if you will be around to see it.

References
Hines, M (2011, Nov 25) Check 1-2 Integrates Paper Checks with Touchscreen Tablets, retrieved July 28th 2013 from bbmlive, Website: http://www.bbmlive.com/new-trends/waiter-make-that-dinner-digital-digital-revolutions-in-dining-apps.html Odegard, Andreas (2009, May 25) Touch Screen vs Tactile Controls, retrieved July 28th 2013 from website: http://anythingbutipod.com/2009/05/touch-screen-vs-tactile-controls/ Pijak, J (2012, Jan 10) 100 Tech-Tastic Touchscreen Finds, retrieved July 28th 2013 from trend hunter, Website: http://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/touchscreen-finds#79
Pinola, M (2013, Jan 24) Why Would I Want a Touch Screen PC? Retrieved July 28th 2013 from lifehacker, Website: http://lifehacker.com/5978694/why-would-i-want-a-touch-screen-pc Radhika, S (2010, Oct 7) Talking with a Palm, retrieved July 28th 2013, from Yanko Design,
Website
http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/10/07/talking-with-a-palm/
Savov, V (2010, Dec 15) Misa Digital's stringless Kitara goes up for pre-order: $849 for a truly unique musical instrument, retrieved July 31, 2013 from engadget.com, website: http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/15/misa-digitals-stringless-kitara-goes-up-for-pre-order-849-for/ The Future of the Touchscreen Technology http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mhIl1FBnx0 Top 5 Touch Screen Vending Machines (2013, April 22) retrieved July 28th 2013 from website: http://www.zytronic.co.uk/news/blog/top-5-touch-screen-vending-machines VanCamp, J (2012, May 7) ATT’s Digital Life Lets You Control Your Entire House from an ipad, retrieved July 28th 2013, from digital trends, Website: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/atts-digital-life-lets-you-control-your-entire-house-from-an-ipad/ Winzelberg, D (2012, Oct 16) Everything You Need to Know About Coca-Cola Freestyle, retrieved July 31, 2013 from Coca-Cola Journey, website:
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coca-cola-freestyle