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L.N. Revathy

There's much to be said for keeping in touch, with a fingertip.

SAY magic touch and most of us would think of a magician's skills at transforming people, of some people's knack for making plants grow or a physician curing a patient with that special touch. But the "magic touch" is quite literally that, in the technology context. And yes, you must have guessed it by now — it's the interactive touch-screen which comes alive at the touch of a fingertip.

At a typical scene this writer came across recently, curious onlookers were impatiently awaiting their turn to operate the interactive touch-screen terminal placed at the entrance of the railway station. The restive crowd did not bother to queue up at the information counter, but was keen to access the terminal.

The aesthetically designed, sleek, rugged and user-friendly equipment attracted both young and old, including the computer-illiterate. It was not just the gadget, but the unambiguous response to users' queries and the friendly profile of the equipment itself.

The users, though, were more interested in getting their ticket-status enquiry, although a wealth of information relating to railway movement such as train timing, the distance between two places, connecting trains, shortest route, fare (class-wise), ticket availability etc, could be got at the touch of a finger.

In kiosk deployment, the connection between the unit and the user is the touch-screen, literally. With the touch of a finger or the brush of a stylus, users can access a cornucopia of options, depending upon its function.

Not so simple

Although on the face of it, the concept seems simple — touch the screen to get the answer — the technology behind the touch-screen is complex.

"A kiosk is not a PC inside a box. It calls for a special type of PC and an extremely user-friendly software," says Thangaraj of the Coimbatore-based AGT Electronics Ltd.

In the touch-sensor technology, the equipment that senses impact on the touch-screen and acts accordingly is built around different scientific means. The technology is in a period of evolvement, as manufacturers of the interactive kiosks look for new ways to enhance current technologies or develop brand new technologies. The drive towards innovation is very strong.

The human sensation is the trigger for the technology. A slight electrical current on the screen, which is typically glass with tin oxide coating, picks up on the sensation of human skin touching the sheet. The current is drained at the point of impact, leading to the next action.

The screen is very sensitive and robust enough to operate in applications outdoors.

This public-access terminal can be accessed by the man on the street, especially in a country like ours, where Internet penetration is low and ill-affordable to most.

Interactive kiosks can be used in different segments for various applications. Eventually, the common man should be able to access information without any hassle, at affordable rates.

The Government, through a centrally-sponsored project, is in the process of computerising land records in the country.

By integrating the public-access terminal with the existing data source, the guideline value of land and other details can be obtained with the touch of a finger, says Thangaraj.

The interactive kiosk is an effective medium of communication, if installed at vantage points. Round-the-clock information terminals can be used effectively in areas such as insurance, hospitals, hotels, tourism and educational institutions for speedy and easy access. They can be programmed to provide a wealth of information, he says.

Besides the information kiosk, the transaction kiosk has provision for Card reader, coin validator, bill accepter and printer. "It can only complement the bank's ATM. It cannot replace the ATM, as it can perform all other functions other than accepting cash.

However, the kiosk is priced much lower than the ATM/Cash dispenser and is easy to operate for the man on the street," says Thangaraj.

Finger on innovation

While resistive, capacitive, and surface acoustical wave are the three touch-sensor technologies discussed most often in the kiosk industry, infrared technology is making a comeback as well, say industry sources.

The infrared touch-screens — displays and workstations — are designed for rugged work environments.

Whether it is allowing the gloved to use a capacitive model or making infrared models available for industrial deployments, touch-sensor manufacturers continue pushing the touch envelope.

It remains to be seen whether a fifth primary sensor comes out of this technological competition, or if innovation remains rooted to the current sensors.

lnr@thehindu.co.in

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