Industrial Touchscreen Frequently Asked Questions

Compatibility / Installation

How can I get the drivers I need?

You can download all our drivers from our driver download page. Drivers and manuals may also be ordered by contacting Hope Industrial Systems. [collapse]

What operating systems do you have drivers for?

We currently have drivers for Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, Server 2004, Server 2000, 95/98/Me, NT , CE, as well as DOS, IBM OS/2®, Apple Macintosh®, and Linux platforms. We can also provide machine-independent sample source code in C for writing your own low-level interface. [collapse]

How much memory is required for touchscreen drivers?

The amount of memory is insignificant, about the same as a mouse driver. [collapse]

How far away can the touchscreen be from the computer?

It depends on the touchscreen controller configuration. If you use a serial controller, either internal or external, then the distance between the serial controller and the PC can usually be up to 200 feet. Short-haul modems can be used as necessary beyond 50-200 feet. Note that VGA cable lengths will probably be the limiting factor, as video amplifiers or specially shielded cables are generally required beyond six feet. With AccuTouch bus or external serial controllers, you can build your own straight-through cable and easily extend up to 50 feet. While usually not a problem, noise from long cables will be indicated by excessive coordinate jitter. When using the USB touchscreen interface, distances of up to 95' can be achieved by daisy-chaining our USB extender cables. For maximum distance applications, or KVM extender can be used to extend video and serial touch up to 1000'. [collapse]

What COM ports can I put my touchscreen on?

Latest versions of Windows 95/98/Me, Windows 2000 and Windows NT drivers: Any available COM port may be selected in the SETUP program. DOS and Windows 3.x: COM 1-4 may be specified on the ELODEV command line, along with the IRQ. Currently, the IRQ for the COM port can only be shared in Windows 95/98 and Windows NT, but only if the COM hardware and drivers support IRQ sharing. [collapse]

Operating

Can I use both my touchscreen and mouse at the same time with the drivers?

Yes. Our drivers work with your existing mouse drivers. DOS and Windows 3.x: You must first install MOUSE.COM along with ELODEV.EXE and MONMOUSE.COM in AUTOEXEC.BAT. (For touchscreen only operation, load NOMOUSE.COM instead of MOUSE.COM). Other: Configure the mouse normally before installing the touchscreen drivers. [collapse]

Can I use touchscreens on multiple monitors on the same computer?

Yes. Our new touchscreen drivers allow multiple monitors connected to a single PC through a multiport video card to run separate applications. Additionally, when connected through a video splitter, monitors can run with identical images. The multi-user touch drivers allow a touchscreen to work like a mouse on each monitor. In the multi-user mode, the touchscreen responds to a simple touch just as it would to a single mouse click. Simultaneous touches on multiple monitors are recognized and processed without noticeable delay. During installation the install program will ask which COM ports have touchscreens attached. Whether you are using USB or Serial touchscreens, It will then direct the user to calibrate the touchscreen individually. [collapse]

What is the response time for the touchscreen?

Resistive touch controllers sense the quickest possible tap (contacts of only 30ms). Response time is perceived as immediate unless the application does not give proper feedback. See the controller specifications for details. [collapse]

Cleaning / Maintenance

How often is it necessary to recalibrate?

You should never have to recalibrate resistive touchscreens. If possible, cover the monitor's controls so someone does not accidentally adjust the image size or position. [collapse]

How reliable is a touchscreen?

There is no standard way of measuring MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) for a touchscreen, but our resistive touchscreens have been tested to more than 35 million touches in one spot with a stylus similar to a finger. The touchscreen controller MTBFs are typically 2-4 times longer than that of the display. [collapse]

Are fingerprints and dirt a problem on touchscreens?

Dirt and fingerprints do not affect the operation of a properly sealed resistive touch display. Use bright, patterned background colors to minimize the visual effects of dirt and fingerprints. [collapse]

What can I use to clean the touchscreen?

Any standard glass cleaner can be used to clean the touchscreen. Always spray the glass cleaner on the cloth or towel and then clean the touchscreen. Glass cleaner sprayed directly on the monitor could possibly leak inside a non-sealed unit and cause damage. [collapse]

Will vinegar or ammonia hurt the touchscreen?

No, but be careful that liquids do not leak inside non-sealed units. Spray the cloth and then clean the touchscreen. [collapse]