As the name suggests, touch screens are touch sensitive units that are controlled by touching the screen. That means you can manipulate the display with a finger or with a stylus. Touch screen is basically a method of inputting and displaying data from a computer on the same screen.

Touch screen has gained acceptance as the popular choice for enterprises ranging from restaurants to medical centers. The highlights of touch screen technology include outstanding clarity coupled with high durability.

The four common touch screen technologies include the resistive, capacitive, infrared and acoustic wave. Resistive touch screen is the most versatile of these technologies, and it finds wide applications in communication devices, food services and industrial process control and instrumentation, to name a few. For the Capacitive touch screen, the salient feature is its resistance to scratching. Capacitive touch screens are extremely durable and contaminant resistant. They are a popular choice for industrial applications, such as ATM, industrial equipment and gaming machines. You can operate them with a finger or a stylus and they are ideal for outdoor locations because they are impervious to moisture, dirt and grease. Acoustic Wave technology finds high acceptability in medical applications because of its high optical clarity and accuracy.

Before deciding which technology meets your requirements, do a thorough analysis of your business application needs. You'll need the help of professionals who can guide you about the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.

One thing to consider before your purchase is the possibility of contamination since the finger usually operates the monitors. For this reason, manufacturers also provide a stylus along with the monitors. You may prefer to operate the monitors using gloves or a stylus.