A touch screen kiosk functions similar to a standard PC and requires action from the user to move from page to page. Software, designed specifically for kiosk applications, will respond to human touch and allow a customer to view information or make a purchase.

The way a touch screen kiosk works is quite simple – a person approaches the kiosk and touches the monitor to get started. The on-screen menu will present the user with choices. They can navigate the screen using a pointing device – their finger, an attached stylus, or a pen. Touch screen technology then uses light to determine where your finger or stylus is on the screen at a point in time. Pressing the touch screen kiosk prompts the machine to display the next page.

The most common touch screen kiosk on the market, resistive touch screens, feature a glass or acrylic panel with two layers separated by electrical current. Touching the screen activates the kiosk. Resistive touch screen kiosks are durable and provide high touch resolution, but the clarity is low and sharp objects could harm the layers and the sensitive display. Resistive display technology is typically used in the point-of-sale market and allows people to activate it with fingers, credit cards, gloved hands, and styli.

With a touch screen kiosk, you don’t have to concern yourself with wear and tear on an external keyboard. Touch screens have a very long lifespan – allowing you millions of touches for all display parts – and can work across most operating platforms from DOS and Windows to Linux and Unix.