Touch screens are devices that allow a user to provide input to a computer or electronic system by making physical contact or near-contact with the system's display. Most often seen in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), information kiosks, and other public computers, touch screens are also widely used in computer graphics and animation. They also play a role in assistive technology for users with special needs.

Applications

Public computer systems are often designed around a touch screen, which is often the only visible component. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are the most common application, but falling prices for touch screen technology are making it available for other applications such as museum exhibits, ticket sales in airports and movie theaters, and public information kiosks. Touch screens are ideal for these applications because they provide input and output capabilities. They are often the only part of the system contacted by...