Elo TouchSystems Introduces First Multi-Touch Gestures Technology for Analog Resistive Touchscreens (December 5)

HARRISBURG, Pa - Tyco Electronics Elo TouchSystems announced December 3 that it has developed a proprietary technology that enables real-time, two-finger gesture recognition on analog-resistive touchscreens. The new technology, named Resistive Gestures, provides a richer user experience via intuitive gestures, which until now had been possible only with higher-end, costlier technologies such as projected capacitive touch, according to a company press release.

Consisting only of an enhanced controller and firmware set, the technology can be quickly integrated into analog resistive touchscreen systems. This new technology allows current resistive technology-based device manufacturers to cost-effectively develop next-generation products with enhanced applications.

Various touch technologies exist that try to enhance the user experience and simplify the functionality of the devices but a large gap remains among them. While analog-resistive touch technology provides low cost, low power consumption and multiple input methods, its functionality has been limited to single touch. Projected capacitive on the other hand, provides multi-touch functionality, but at a higher cost, higher power consumption, and finger-only input.

To bridge this gap between low cost/low power and multi-touch with multiple input methods, the new Elo Resistive Gestures technology leverages the benefits of analog-resistive touchscreens coupled with advanced software algorithms to enable two-finger gestures for multi-media rich devices. The Elo Resistive Gestures technology provides device manufacturers with an alternative to provide virtually the same rich user experience of multi-touch projected capacitive screens at a lower price and with faster integration.

Elo Resistive Gestures technology supports two-finger zoom and two-finger scrolling, anchor and rotate gestures, plus standard single-finger gestures including pan and flip. Evaluations of the technology are currently underway with various strategic partners and it is also being demonstrated at the Microsoft WinHEC2008 Conference in the Elo TouchSystems booth (#5) December 9-10, 2008, Taipei International Conference Center, Taipei, Taiwan.