Touch screen USB adaptor

[Delirium]

I'm reading there is a USB device that overlays any monitor that will enable the monitor to turn into a touch screen device.

Has anyone ever used this kind of device before? If so, how functional was it?

[Wraith_TMS]

I'm reading there is a USB device that overlays any monitor that will enable the monitor to turn into a touch screen device.

Has anyone ever used this kind of device before? If so, how functional was it?

Deliirum, I have never heard of that but it sounds like a terrific piece of hardware if it exists.  It would be interesting to know more about it. 

The only thing that comes close that I know of is this: http://www.touch-buddy.com/forums/faq/18-master-faq.html 

This utility (freeware) works on touch-screens, so it's really just the software GUI.  I've read that it can be made to work with AH, but I've never tried it.  Just passing on the link for what it's worth. 

...

[Delirium]

From what I've read, it is an overlay that is USB powered/controlled.

I'm looking into it as a cost effective alternative to regular touch screens for work, I was just curious if anyone had any experience with them.

[Reschke]

I'm reading there is a USB device that overlays any monitor that will enable the monitor to turn into a touch screen device.

Has anyone ever used this kind of device before? If so, how functional was it?

That would be super functional in a "glass" cockpit for some of my other sims like A-10C and DCS:Blackshark. It would make working on the different radio controls for both aircraft much, much easier and would be cool to have with my TM Cougar panels with USB monitors pulling FLIR and targeting pod data.

[mipoikel]

Something like this? http://www.irtouch.com/

[Noir]

I used this kind of screen a lot when I worked with retail sellers.

I could write a boring wall of text but at the end, if you don't use specific made software for use on touch screens, its not very useful and quite a hinder. Using windows XP for starters is challenging at best.

[Shiva]

From what I've read, it is an overlay that is USB powered/controlled.

I'm looking into it as a cost effective alternative to regular touch screens for work, I was just curious if anyone had any experience with them.

No experience per se, but we bought a number of them at work to put on the monitors of the outpatient kiosks we're deploying as a test.

Touchscreens as an input device have only caught on in a limited number of specific applications because of a condition known as 'gorilla arm', which pretty well eliminated the vertically-mounted touch screen for anything more than intermittent use -- humans are not ergonomically suited for making small gestures with their arm extended in front of them for any length of time. As a result, the market for them tends to be pretty specialized.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I used this kind of screen a lot when I worked with retail sellers.

I could write a boring wall of text but at the end, if you don't use specific made software for use on touch screens, its not very useful and quite a hinder. Using windows XP for starters is challenging at best.

Win8 is rumored to be optimized for touch interface. Which of course could be very bad news for the rest of us who already struggle with Vista/Win7 GUI changes.

[Noir]

Win7's taskbar is already optimised for touch interfaces, I tried those HP all in one touchscreen computers and it was OK, but as said before working hours in that position can be painful. Likewise I can use a wacom tablet for Win7 use without any worries.

Cmon guys Win7 isn't that hard, when you get used to it XP is just a pain in the ****

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Win7's taskbar is already optimised for touch interfaces, I tried those HP all in one touchscreen computers and it was OK, but as said before working hours in that position can be painful. Likewise I can use a wacom tablet for Win7 use without any worries.

Cmon guys Win7 isn't that hard, when you get used to it XP is just a pain in the ****

Yeah try guiding a customer to his network settings on XP and then on 7 - which one is easyer? Or get him to change folder settings to show hidden files/file extensions with the hidden menus Or try to locate his virtual user host after UAC.. blehh..

[Noir]

I did not support Win7 yet, but I guess that it takes some adaptation for sure! Maybe I should offer myself a Win7 Certification....

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I did not support Win7 yet, but I guess that it takes some adaptation for sure! Maybe I should offer myself a Win7 Certification....

No certification is going to replace going from 3 simple steps to 5+ on many items. They hid things to make it less confusing for non computer savvy people and made everything more difficult in the process.

[Skuzzy]

I am with Ripley on this one.  The native Windows 7 GUI is clumsy to deal with.  You cannot find anything.  It is very frustrating.  Microsoft tries so hard to force you into a shoebox it makes using the OS an exercise in frustration. 

The XP GUI is so much easier to navigate and configure.

Look at what UAC has forced many software companies to do.  Move thier application out of the "Program Files" folder so they can control where thier data and configuration files reside.  This has led to a mess of folders all over the file system.  If you are stuck on the support end of this mess, it is a nightmare.

Aero sucks, unless you enjoy clicking mouse buttons, because it added a lot more clicks to get the same thing you could do in XP.  No benefits at all, just more clicks.

[Krusty]

Most professionals I've seen use touch screens get frustrated trying to press the right thing, finding it clunky, slow, and then it gets dirty naturally.

Touch screens for computers are not as intuitive as you might think, IMO. They're annoying, and unfriendly. I think they will be a fad/niche and then go away permanently. Phones, on the other hand, being small and compact, will use them for a long time to come. Full computer systems with monitors? I would doubt it. If you've got room to put a keyboard you can put a mouse.

I'll wait til neural interfaces transmit your eye position for the computer and you mentally click as needed 

[Skuzzy]

Yes, i get very frustrated trying to use a phone touch screen.  I destroyed my Wifes Samsung Galaxy one day, because I got so frustrated with it I slammed it into a concrete wall.

She does not allow me near her phone anymore and I will keep my little flip phone sans touch screen as long as it will work.

Touchscreens are just gimmicks.  I feel the same way about GUI's in general.