Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptwithal
I am seriously considering the new Glo HD.
The Voyage has a capacitive screen and the Glo HD will have an infrared screen (I think this is correct).
In spite of my research, I cannot really get a handle on the difference between capacitive and infrared technology for e-ink screens.
Could someone please post an "e-ink screens for dummies" explanation or point me to one that I could benefit from?
One of my main questions is about the difference in user experience, if any, when using a stylus on the different e-ink screen types.
Thanks!
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Well, tell us the truth, you haven't search quite a lot, don't you?
Nevertheless here a brief non-technical summary goes:
Capacitive- It's something about detecting modifications on an electric field because human body is somehow an electric conductor. So when you touch the screen you modify something electrical on it.
- As touch technology goes, it's probably the best. Because of that, ALL the smartphones and tablets use it. It's quick, very precise and it easily supports multitouch detection so you can implement two finger gestures like zoom or rotation ones.
- Its drawbacks:
- You need an extra layer for whatever performs the detection. So even being "transparent" you are adding a "glass" on top of your screen so you are slightly affecting its contrast and image quality.
- It's something electrical so you cannot use gloves or plastic stylus which insulate you from the screen. If you want the touchscreen to work with gloves or stylus they must be "special" ones... And you cannot touch the screen with your finger nails either.
Infrared- It's just an optical detection. Imagine an array of lamps in one of the sides of the screen and an array of "cameras" in the opposite side. The device detects something touching the screen because some of the cameras are blocked, some of the cameras see a shadow while others see light. So in fact you don't even need to actually touch the screen...
- But instead of visible light, infrared light is used, so you don't see it.
- As touch technology goes it's much worse than capacitive, it's less precise and if, you think about it, implementing multitouch gestures is much more difficult. (Because of that I think no IR ereader supports zoom through touch gesture).
- IR also implies a bezel in the screen. The screen must be recessed because you need room for the light emitters and detectors placed OVER it. So forget about "beautiful" flat devices.
- But it has a clear advantage: you only have "air" over your screen, so you don't lose any kind of contrast or image quality with it.
- And also, you can use gloves or whatever stylus, stick, nails, pen or wooden spoon you want. You just need to block light.
So as I said some posts before, I couldn't think about a smartphone without capacitive touchscreen. But on e-ink readers, I do prefer IR. It's just good enough and I get the best possible image quality.