cost of touch screen monitors for museums supplier

I get this question from friends and clients fairly regularly. What kind of recommendations do you have for a touch screen in an exhibit for my budget?

I originally posted this on June 21, 2017, last week I did a presentation at the New Mexico Association of Museums conference and wanted embed my presentation. I"ve also updated the content to include some more ideas.

The prices below do not include the prices of software development because that depends on the complexity of your project and who you hire. Here are a price ranges to give you an idea:

Pros: Basically free - this is even in a price point where decently well-off hobbyists can get in on the action. They"re also easy to purchase and replace if something happens to them.

Cons: The Pi is a wonderful thing for the price, but it isn"t a super powerful computer. You won"t be able to run really fancy, graphically intensive programs on this. Also, the screen isn"t big - only 7" diagonal. Finally, I am not sure I"m ready to guarantee that this is museum quality hardware that can withstand children banging on it every day.

Cons: I"ve heard a lot bad about using them in exhibits when they"re mounted. They tend to overheat and break down. They"re really not made for that kind of thing. Also has a small screen.

Project Ideas: So they tend to work pretty well as reference guides for docents, but that can also backfire. I"ve been to museums where instead of interfacing with visitors, the docents have their nose down on the tablet and are just reading stuff to them. It"s pretty silly, frankly. Visitors are also capable of Googling things.

Pros: Small and inexpensive. Great for streaming media, also can purchase in Enterprise Mode if you want to manage a bunch of them or unlock other options. They"re compatible with some touchscreens, but you"re likely better off using something else if you"re trying to create a touchscreen kiosk program.

Project Ideas: One particular project that I know this is being used for is the ViewSpace theater in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The old computer died, so now they"re streaming the content using a Chromebox.

Cons: I"ve seen these get broken into a lot in exhibits. Apparently there are some better ways to lock them down now, though. Small screen. If you want to have your app run on it, you have to go through the Apple Store even if you don"t want it to run anywhere else.

Cons: Make sure you build a good case for this thing. I"ve seen people break into these with a flash drive if you don"t block all the ports. Also not a good choice if you want a huge screen.

Project Ideas: Nice educational games, video viewers, etc. Maybe an app that uses computer vision with the built-in webcam that some of them have. At this point, the only limit is your imagination. :-)

Pros: This is a really unique piece of hardware that allows you to include physical pieces in your interactive. You also get two touchscreens for the price of one, which is a good deal. There are free apps that you can download from the Sprout marketplace that are pretty neat - there"s a measuring app, an app that allows you to create stop-motion videos, one that lets you convert currency, and many more.

Cons: Sometimes difficult to work with. On the first version, the hardware was a little finicky. I had to have one of the touch mats replaced, but on the other hand, the support staff was really friendly and mailed the parts right away. Hopefully they"ve improved that. Also, the buttons to turn it on and off are in a really conspicuous place, so you should be mindful of how you use it in your space.

Project Ideas: 3D building applications, walk visitors through assembling items, Allow visitors to walk a figurine through a 3D model of a historical site - lots of cool stuff. Also see Sim Pueblo

Cost: Touch screens range from ~$250 for the smallish ones (in which case you should just buy an all-in-one PC) to $1600 for a 55" to $11k for an 80" one!

There are a lot of options for computers. You can get any tower to work with these, or you can look at a small form-factor computer like an Intel NUC. Ballparks - $500 - $800

Pros: You can get exactly what you need to run really awesome software that makes a huge visual impact. They"re also flat screens, so you have a lot of options for embedding it in the wall and making a seamless experience.

Interactive Projections are one of those wonderful and flashy fun things that people love. One of the great things about them is that they don"t really need to cost as much as you think - you just need a projector, a computer, and a 3D camera.

Cons: Software cost will be a little bit higher than a typical touchscreen because you have to spend more time on the installation and testing. Don"t expect to get perfect touch capability unless you buy an expensive all-in-one setup. This is better for more experiential interactives. Also, make sure you plan this for a dark room - if you want to put it somewhere near a window, expect to pay A LOT of money for a projector!

Project Ideas: One of my favorite things I"ve seen with this is an interactive sandbox (shown above). You move the sand around with your hands and then it projects a topographical map on it. A fun program that my colleagues at Highlands did for a museum in Las Cruces is a thing where you step on dinosaur footprints to learn more about what dinosar made them. All kinds of good stuff!

A short-throw projector. You want a short-throw projector so you can mount it close to the wall and not worry about people"s shadows on the projection. I found a bunch of them on B&H photo. Look in to find the ones that are supposed to last a long time. The last thing you want to do is buy a cheap one and have it burn out in a month.

Pros: A lot of software possibilities. Some tables are safe for drinks, and Ideum"s even support tangible objects. They allow for a lot of interaction between visitors, also.

Cons: Expensive, debatable how long they last. I"ve heard that they aren"t projected to last much more than 3 years, but you can replace the touch screen if you need to.

If you really want to make a statement and put something huge in your space, think about a touch wall. They"re not as limited by light as a projection, and they"ll definitely turn heads. These can either be purchased as straight - up video or as touchscreens.

Cost: Goes up exponentially! You"re looking at $50k - 100k for the screens alone. You also need to get a beefy computer with a really beefy graphics card to be able to handle running a program on multiple screens simultaneously.

Cons: Very expensive! You"ll need to talk to a company that specializes in them. For my research, I talked to Planar Technology and they were helpful and great even though they knew I couldn"t buy anything. They make professional grade products, which is important. You don"t want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a product that will break or not be able to hold up to the rigors of a museum environment.

If you’re the owner or manager of a museum, you should know that that installing interactive screens throughout your museum will make the information presented more accessible, more interesting for young people, and more modern. Visitors at your museum will take note of how convenient and easy it was to navigate and understand each exhibit with the help of your interactive touch screen solutions.

Imagine being able to explore the history of each exhibit through the combination of a variety of media. There’s no limit to what you can do with touch screens for museums by Digital Touch Systems. Our touch systems allow total synchronization among all devices, and integration of fully customized features.

However you want the software for your digital screens to work, we can accommodate you with them. Our talented and hardworking touch screen software development crew can make your ideas come to life. Your logo and museum name can be included in each page of your personalized touch screen software. If you choose, you can communicate directly with our touch screen software team to make sure they add all of the functions you want and design it the way you like it.

We can deliver all products straight to your museum. Setting them up takes only minutes. They will include all mounts and everything you need for installation. At Digital Touch Systems, we stand by the quality of our products. Let us provide you with touch screens for museums that bring your displays to life! Take the first step and contact us today!

Something we’re asked quite often over here at blackbox-av is “what’s the best type of touchscreen technology for use in a museum/heritage environment”, so we thought why not write a post that answers that question!

There are currently 4 main categories of touchscreen technology, Capacitive, Resistive, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) and Infrared. Although there’s a new kid on the block called Optical Imaging which is gaining in popularity but hasn’t really taken over the more conventional technologies yet, you should certainly watch this space though.

A capacitive touch screen is a control display that uses the conductive touch of a human finger or a specialized device for input.When a capacitive panel is touched, a small amount of charge is drawn to the point of contact, which becomes a functional capacitor.

The change in the electrostatic field is measured to find the location. In some designs, circuits located at each corner of the panel measure the charge and send the information to the controller for processing. In multi-touch screens, sensors are arranged in a grid to enable more complex input.

With resistive technology the main screen is covered with three layers. Two layers are placed over the screen and kept slightly apart, one is conductive and the other resistive, when the screen is touched these panels are pushed together registering the input. A scratch resistant surface completes the setup.

The best thing about resistive touchscreens is their ability to register inputs from any object, be it your finger, a pen or a gloved hand. They are also more accurate than other systems although more prone to damage and less responsive to a lighter touch.

When most people think of Infrared touchscreens they think of the classic 1980’s computers with orange/green text and a massive frame around the monitor, the fact is this technolgy still very much has a place in the modern world, it’s one of the more robust options and works by simply setting up a pattern of criss crossing infrared that when broken registers as an input.

There are a number of drawbacks to this technology however, for example bright lighting can interfere with the beams, as can dust and dirt. It’s most useful for applications outdoors where it can detect any input and not just a ‘conductor’ such as a finger (not in a glove!). However for the average indoor museum exhibit it’s a strong option.

This technology utilises ultrasonic waves that are projected over the front panel, when the panel is touched some of these waves are absorbed and receivers register this change while controllers pinpoint where it happened.

If the panel is touched by a finger which then remains motionless, only the initial touch is registered, this can be a positive or negative depending upon the application, for example it can have an effect on the software used with the screen but makes it perfect for use as a workstation where objects are likely to be rested on the panel, such as a hand or elbow etc.

Until recently this could be a tough question to answer, due to technological restrictions and costs involved, the question of “which touchscreen technology is best for the public environment?”could havebeenanswered in various ways, with the ultimate decision depending on a number of factors.

These days however thanks to technological innovations the answer is practically always Capacitive, there’s a reason almost all modern tablets and phones use this technology. On a larger scale this was once more expensive, so for touch tables you might have been tempted by another option such as Infrared however this is no longer the case.

The only time you will want to use a technology other than Capacitive, is if your touchscreen needs to allow gloved use… for example a touchscreen kiosk installed in an arctic research base…

The 22″ All-In-One Touchscreen/PC provides a simple yet elegant interactive platform for use within public displays. Contending with a separate PC and screen and all the associated cabling can be a thing of the past. This unit is easily installed via Vesa Mount fixings or the (removable) panel fixing wings which make it perfect for custom installations. Build it into practically any unique displays easily and quickly.

Free Standing Multi-Touch Kiosks from blackbox-av combine uncompromising technical performance with outstanding design, elegance and style to provide stand-alone, finger controlled, multi touch interactivity and information to visitors on demand. This is the 22″ ‘Modern’ version in our Free-Standing Range. The Kiosk works perfectly with our off-the-shelf multi touchscreen software, Lightbox 3 (perfect for museum environments).

By combining precision touchscreen technology within a professional-grade large format LCD panel this kiosk is ideal for use in high traffic public access environments. Utilising Capacitive touch technology to ensure reliability throughout extended use, the screen supports up to 10 touches and gesture controls.

Engage visitors with our elegant and ‘Sleek’ range of Multi-Touch table. Choose from a 46″ or 55″ multi-touch screen housed in an attractive white or black table unit. Thanks to the powerful inbuilt computer this system is able to run any windows 10 multi touchscreen software including off-the-shelf solutions such as our very own Lightbox 3 software or any bespoke interactives developed for your chosen application.

What use is a touchscreen without software to use with it? Which is why we not only supply cost effective hardware options, but have also developed Lightbox 3, our multitouch off-the-shelf interactive software package perfect for use in Museum environments.

Eliminate your software development costs and say goodbye to outsourcing. Intuiface museum exhibit software really really is easy-to-use. Our software for museums requires no programming skills, you"ll be creating exhibits in an hour!. It is backed by a 400+ article library, educational videos, pre-built templates, an active user community and excellent technical support

Thanks to the wide range of sizes available and the high-resolution support of those devices (e.g. 768p, 1920~1200 pixels), faytech’s capacitive touch monitors are the perfect choice for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to POS systems, kiosk systems, for office/residence automation and as control panels in industrial fields.

All our Capacitive touch screens are made of an industrial A+ HD LCD capacitive multi-touch panel with energy-saving LED technology and a wide viewing angle. These characteristics make faytech Capacitive touch displays perfect solutions when it comes to fashion shows, industrial 4.0 projects, dealerships, wayfinding, supermarkets, sports arenas, interactive visualizations, and digital signage.

The potential use cases of those units are almost infinite. For residencies, condominiums, or apartment lobbies, the Capacitive Touch Monitors could be used as interfaces or as part of a residential automation system. In hotels, these capacitive touch screen monitors could help enhance communications between staff and residents, as well as being part of a security automation system. Beyond residential and hosteling settings, faytech capacitive touch displays would be a great addition to any educational system, being used to improve interactions between students and professors in classrooms, for personnel management, and as interfaces to plan and communicate about curricular and extracurricular events. Faytech Capacitive Touch Monitors are also a great option to make scheduling and inventory management easier, whether in a private company or a public/educational setting.

In retail environments like mall shops and department stores, the technologies provided by faytech Capacitive Touch Monitors will be a great addition not only for customers, helping them to easily check inventory details without having to ask store personnel, but also for managers, being an easy way to cut back on operating costs. One of the multiple advantages of our capacitive touch screens is that they can be easily integrated with external software applications that, in turn, can allow customers to try demo versions of the products or services they contemplate purchasing. All in all, faytech capacitive touch monitors can serve as a great interactive medium to facilitate the purchasing process and multiply your sales.

While faytech Capacitive Touch Monitors can for sure be used for single-touch applications, these touch devices truly shine in more complex use scenarios. These include for instance directories or maps, when the user may have to use finger-scroll, pinch-zoom, and panning functions. Indeed, one of the main differences between Resistive touch monitors and capacitive touch monitors concerns touch technology. While resistive touch monitors are most of the time equipped with a single touch panel, the capacitive touch monitors are on the other side built to effectively register multi-touch, going as high as ten touches at the same time! It is now even possible to use Capacitive Touch Monitors when wearing heavy gloves, which is a significant upgrade given that this feature was formerly the preserve of Touch Monitors using Resistive-touch technology. Thanks to their patented IP65 front with silicone seal, faytech Capacitive Touch Monitor also work under heavy rain, which makes them adapted to use in semi-outdoor environments.

Worth noting, Capacitive Touch screens can most of the time be divided into two sub-categories: Projected Capacitive Touch Screens (PCAP) and Surface Touch Screens.

Based on projected technology, faytech Capacitive Touch Monitors are suitable for use in some highly specialized industries, including the aerospace (including but not limited to avionic systems), medical, military, and industrial ones (serving for example as an automated equipment control). Particularly, the main advantages of faytech Projected Capacitive Touch Monitors concerning these specific industries are the variety of layers stack-up options available, resulting in unparalleled durability and color perception. The Capacitive Touch Monitors manufactured by faytech respond to all the obligations induced by such demanding industries, thanks to several outstanding features. Those include:

Along with these peculiar applications, faytech Capacitive Touch Screens are also ideally fitted for high usage environments when based on surface technology.

Indeed, this technology stands out thanks to the high environmental robustness and increased resilience it offers. Monitors equipped with such a technology are vandal proof and can be used in areas with high traffic, serving in museums as an interactive display for instance. For example, it is now common to find such devices in electronic voting machines, an application in which security is key. Whether they come with a curved or flat surface, these devices are a perfect fit for any graphic-driven applications, such as ATMs (automated teller machines), game consoles, entertainment (including smartphones, tablets, and personal computers), banking, kitchen appliances, automobiles, and automats.

Technically speaking, on top of the front surface is applied a conductive coating, itself composed of wires connected to every four corners where a small voltage is applied. The system relies on the “capacitance” of the human body, which is to say that when one touches the screen, a small current flows to the touchpoint, generating a voltage drop detected at the corners.

This functioning makes screen surface technology more fitted to use on larger size (i.e. over 12 inches) applications. Besides, the single glass layer structure allows these devices to have excellent optical clarity and high light transmission (from 88 up to 92 percent). Of all the available technologies, it has the fastest touch response time. These monitors can also withstand regular cleaning using harsh chemicals. All in all, these functionalities make the capacitive touch monitors using surface technology especially suitable for commercial uses, such as the ones that we mentioned before.

On top of the potential use cases presented in this section, our Capacitive Touch Monitors can easily be integrated into any conceivable application and setup. Faytech NA is specialized in custom-made solutions and we will be glad to help you find the best Capacitive Touch Monitor for your specific needs and applications. Don’t hesitate to contact us to talk with one of our Capacitive Touch Screen Monitor specialists.

Touch panels have been evolving quickly and touchscreen technologies are becoming ever more sensitive to interactions with something as simple as the human finger.

The following are some important points regarding our touch panel company and some of the ways we are developing surface capacitive touch panel displays and devices.

A capacitive touchscreen can be found in many devices ranging from mobile phones to large touch panels to projected capacitive displays to kiosks with surface capacitance technology.

faytech NA specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, and marketing of specific computing solutions such as Touchscreen Desktops and Displays for Capacitive, Embedded, Industrial, Resistive, Rugged, Sunlight Readable, High Brightness, Open Frame, Kiosks and Accessories.

faytech NA currently manufactures 7–22” Monitors, 8–19” PCs, and the 32–42–55” PC LFT Series. Additionally, we have developed our own proprietary PC motherboard, which is manufactured exclusively by ASUS.

Whether it is finding the ideal product for your business, to the installation of the products or to technical support, our entire team works hard to always provide our customers with the best products and service on the market.

At faytech North America, we guarantee customer satisfaction. Our staff is fully trained and knowledgeable about every product we offer, ready to assist you with whatever information is needed. Feel free to contact us at any time with any questions, or to learn more about a faytech NA high-quality display solutions for your unique company.

Thanks to the accurate touch sensors, capacitive touch screen monitors are implemented as a viable solution for situations where the mouse and keyboard systems cannot be used as suitably accurate. Capacitive touch panel touchscreens offer a rapid, or intuitive means of interaction with the content on the screen.

Touchscreens with controller-based firmware and touch sensor have been made available, historically, by a various after-market system integrators, and not by the  motherboard, chip, and display manufacturers.

However, chip and touchscreen manufacturers worldwide have acknowledged in the last few years the trend toward a wide acceptance of touch-friendly interface components as a highly desirable alternative and have begun to integrate this technology into the design of their products.

A capacitive touch screen monitor can be used similar to a keyboard that is invisible since it displays only as many button choices and as much data as users need to complete a particular task.

This is one of the reasons why touch panels are increasing in popularity in various applications from industrial machinery to kiosks and mobile phones.

In selecting the most suitable monitor for your application, the most important decision is in regard to the type of touch screen technology to use. Touch panels and touchscreens come in several types based on a few different technologies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

A touch screen monitor is made of insulating material covered with transparent conductors. The most common material used as an insulator is glass. As a transparent conductor, indium tin oxide is usually used.

The resulted electric distortion is measured as a change in capacitance. In order to identify the touch display’s locations in a way can be used in various technologies, the location is then sent for processing to the controller of the capacitive touchscreen.

The difference from a resistive touch screen, is that users cannot work with a capacitive touchscreen through gloves and other types of electrically insulating material. In consumer electronics, this is a disadvantage because these smartphone and touch tablet PCs cannot be used in cold weather. However, this disadvantage can be overcome with a special-application glove or a special stylus.

The top manufacturers of capacitance displays continue to develop more accurate and thinner touch screens. For instance, by building the capacitors inside the display itself, mobile devices such as Samsung’s Super AMOLED screens are being produced now with “in-cell” technology that eliminates a layer.

This reduces the visible distance between what the user is touching on the screen and the user’s finger, enabling gestures and taps to be more responsive and creating a more direct contact with the content displayed.

Touch screens based on projected technology deliver interactive solutions for various applications and industries including aerospace, medical, military, and industrial.

Multi-touch projected technology has changed forever the way we interact with machines since the iPhone exploded on the market in the year 2007. Touch monitors with projected technology offer many substrate choices and stack-up options, delivering unmatched durability and outstanding optics.

The more common approach is based now on mutual capacitance. If they are placed close together, the majority of objects with conductive proprieties can hold a charge. When another conductive object bridges the gap (a finger, for example), the interrupted charge field is being detected by the micro-controller.

Surface technology offers environmental robustness and increased durability. These monitors are proven to meet the harsh demands found in vandal prone access sectors, and areas with high traffic.

Curved and flat surface touch screens are suitable for graphic driven applications, such as vending machines, entertaining, gaming, banking, and ATMs. Itcomes with a conductive coating on top of the front surface. The conductive coating features wires connected to each corner. To each of these four corners is applied a small voltage. The operation is based on surface technology relies on the capacitance of the human body. A small current flows to the point when you touch the screen, causing a voltage drop that is then sensed at corners.

This screen surface technology can be used easily on a larger size (over 12 inches) applications. Because the structure is only one glass layer, they provide high light transmission (in the range of 88 to 92 percent) and excellent optical clarity. Of all the available technologies, it has the fastest touch response time. These monitors can also withstand regular cleaning using harsh chemicals.

Because the touch screen display is based on a durable technology, they can be employed in applications that require increased durability. Among their areas of application are included point-of-sale systems, kiosks, and industrial computer machinery. Another advantage is that they have a higher clarity than resistive-type (higher by 88-92 percent).

Interface: Your computer should communicate with the touch screen panels. The most common interface types USB and RS-232. The need for drivers has been eliminated by new HID-compliant touchscreen displays.

Mounting: Among the various mounting options are included free-standing, rack mount, and panel mount. In case that you want to use free-standing, make sure that you use a heavy-duty stand that was specifically designed for touch.

Your decision to select a certain type of display will be based on various factors, including where it will be mounted, the intended users, type of data to be displayed (text, graphics, video), and the operating environment. They can be a great addition to your business if chosen correctly.

faytech North America’s capacitive touch screen monitor solutions will enhance an organization’s productivity. Contact us today to speak with our capacitive touch screen monitor specialists.

Visitors may have appreciated looking, and yet their opportunities to interact, discover, learn and engage were limited. But todaytouch screen solutionsand touch screen kiosks allow museum visitors to interact with exhibitions in ways that could only be imagined. At InTouch we joke with our museum customers that they can now add a new sign “LOOK & DO TOUCH”

Amuseum touch screen kioskis a powerful and effective tool for assisting museum visitors in finding their way to the exhibitions that they are interested in as well as making them aware of other exhibitions that they may not be aware of.

Galleries and museums are now creating virtual touch screen exhibitions where expensive, rare and fragile artefacts, artwork and displays are now presented virtually.

A touch screen display in a museum can bring an exhibit to life in a way that a printed display cannot. Add a map, picture, video, sound or narration. Engage them at a whole new level.

Easy and space effective provision of information in different formats that is suitable for different audiences and demographics (whether they be young children, school groups, adults or experts).

Many manufacturers change their models’ form factor regularly. This means that if you purchase a monitor this year, and then another one next year they are unlikely to match. If you have built one into a display it may not fit. If one breaks, you are likely to get a different look. But at InTouch we rarely change the look and feel.

We back this up with a 3 year 24 x 7 warranty which means that you can expect to run your touch screen monitor day and night, without turning it off, for three years without a problem.

Ask us about one of our customers in Melbourne who ran an exhibition with over 100 screens for over 3 years without a single touch screen failure. (even with daily busloads of school students engaging with them)

Many museums throughout Australia have entrusted InTouch to supply the commercial touch screens for their projects. In 2015 the ACMI in Melbourne worked with us over a 4 year period to rollout an extensive mixture of touch screens throughout their museum – these included 15”, 19”, 22”, 32” and 42” sizes.  To date there has been a 0% failure rate on all screens and the customer is thrilled with the outcome.

Another exciting project was Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) – they integrated a mix of 22” and 32” into the museum with their major renovation in 2018. The InTouch commercial touch screens were a perfect addition to the newly renovated style with their attractive pure flat edge-to-edge glass and silver trim.

The use of multi touch interactive displays have become widespread in the past few years. They were once seen as devices only used by organizations who had transformed themselves digitally and wanted to live on the technological forefront. Today, interactive LED displays are used in many more applications such as schools, retail environments, hotels, studios, museums, conference centers and so on. In other words, wherever one wants to engage with the public, an interactive LED screen is placed.

First developed in the 1980s, this technology was intended to allow designers to create graphics with their fingers. Gradually, the technology evolved and touchscreens became popular on PDAs, smartphones, computers and tablets. As tablets and smartphones became widespread, even technophobes quickly accustomed themselves to using touchscreens. Although it has not yet come to the point where outdoor LED signs are expected to be interactive or where static signs are frustrating. But there is no doubt that massive multi touch screens are popularly used in fields such as medicine, education and collaborative design.

Touch technology comes in several types: resistive, capacitive detection, perimeter based and so on. In the world of computers, all touchscreens are not created equally. As a result, there are thousands of touchscreen manufacturers across the world.

Just as it was expected with other emerging technologies, the initial costs of interactive LED displays was high but has dropped significantly today. To give you a rough idea – a good quality 42 inch interactive display can be bought at less than $1500.

One major hurdle that prevented companies from making optimum use of multi-touch displays was the expense of programming. For any touch based application, a code had to be written, and this would increase the cost by a considerable amount. Now however, specialized software platforms are available to replace the cost of coding.

Businesses of any size can produce attractive and functional interactive applications for any audience without the need of a single line of coding. Most of these software platforms are compatible with common hardware components. These software offer the option of using pre-existing templates to create content or start from scratch and create your own content design. The content can be created for any size of LED screen that operates with any operating system (Windows, Apple, Android, etc).

There is also the facility to combine multiple screens within one application to produce an interactive display wall. Furthermore, with remote deployment capabilities, businesses can schedule content, identify user experiences, and much more. Active businesses can also create interactive experiences with guaranteed returns.

Settings: Brightness, Contrast, Clock, Phase, H-position, V-position, Auto-Adjust, Aspect Ratio, Sharpness, Color Temperature, OSD Timeout, OSD Language, OSD H-Position, OSD V-Position, Recall Defaults, Video Priority, Information, Touch On Sleep Mode, Touch Thru

TRU-Vu offers the largest selection of industrial-grade small LCD monitors and touch screens in the world. Choose from over 125 models of 8.4 inch to 12″ industrial-grade small lcd monitors, including small HDMI monitors, waterproof monitors, Sunlight Readable monitors, 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio, panel-mount and custom displays.

TRU-Vu offers over 235 standard, off-the shelf 13.3” to 19” industrial-grade LCD monitors and touch screens. Industrial LCD monitors offer many advantages over consumer or commercial-grade displays. They are more rugged, have higher shock and vibration resistance and can be modified or customized to meet your needs. Industrial and medical-grade monitors, Sunlight Readable, waterproof, open frame monitors and more.

TRU-Vu offers the largest selection of industrial LCD monitors and large touch screens in the world. We have an impressive line-up of over 175 off-the-shelf industrial LCD monitors with large screen sizes from 21.5" to 75". This includes Medical-Grade, Sunlight Readable, open frame, bezel-less, waterproof, 4K, custom and OEM widescreen monitors, with a wide range of configurations and enclosure types.

TRU-Vu Sunlight Readable Monitors and Daylight Screens (with Optical Bonding) and touch screen monitors are ideal for use in direct sunlight, or in other high-ambient light environments. These outdoor monitors offer 1,000 nits to 2,500 screen brightness. They are ideal for outdoor digital signage, military, law enforcement, amusement parks, way-finding, marine, and more.

Industrial-grade monitors and touch screens with standard brightness (250-350 nits) are ideal for use indoors or in environments without sunlight or bright lighting. We offer waterproof monitors, panel mount monitors, custom LCD displays, private label monitors, Medical Grade monitors, outdoor monitors, 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio, and more, from 7" to 65" lcd monitor screen sizes.

Our waterproof monitors and water proof touch screens are perfect for use as outdoor monitors, or in industrial settings where high humidity, liquids, and daily wash-downs may exist. Stand-alone or panel mount waterproof enclosures are available in stainless steel, painted steel or aluminum, with protection ratings up to IP68.

We offer a wide range of rugged and waterproof Touch Screen monitors for both indoor and outdoor use. Select from 5-wire resistive touch, surface capacitive, P-Cap, IR touch and SAW touch screen technologies in order to best meet your specific application requirements. Large touch screen monitors up to 46", and small touchscreen monitors down to 8.4".

TRU-Vu Medical-Grade displays and Medical touch screens are certified to the latest UL and IEC 60601 standards. They are ideal for use in hospital surgical operating rooms as surgical displays, on medical diagnostic equipment and medical cart monitors. Their bezel-less monitor design provides added benefits of improved aesthetics, and increased safety and hygiene, and IP65 liquid protection.

Panel mount monitors and panel mount touch screens can be flush-mounted into doors, walls, kiosks and cabinets for improved ergonomics and safety. They are available with standard and high brightness screens, waterproof front face, and 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio, in a wide range of sizes and configurations.

The Pro is Ideum’s most powerful high-performance interactive table. It has a workstation computer and options for expandability. Quality built with an all-aluminum frame, it has a patented design and uses the best available commercial components. Available with 49", 55", 65" and 75" 8K touch display configurations.

Teguar provides touch screen computers and monitors that are built to last, even in the harshest settings. With durable, IP65 rated front panels, Teguar Interactive Displays are ideal for touchscreen applications in public areas, such as restaurant ordering boards and interactive venue maps. They are also suited for applications in high traffic areas where hundreds of users may interact with the touchscreen daily, including employee clock-in/out and interactive room signage. For outdoor interactive displays, Teguar has computers that are fully waterproof, have high-brightness screens for readability in sunlight, and can operate in a wide temperature range.

Interactive displays can come in two forms: all-in-one panel PC, or rugged box PC plus industrial monitor. Both forms provide high processing power and rugged bezels. Teguar provides interactive displays that are fanless and fully sealed, allowing them to function in dusty or dirty environments and protecting the system’s internal parts from sprays or spills. Teguar industrial computers are available with resistive touchscreens, which are highly durable and will register touch, even if the user is wearing gloves. Or, Teguar’s panel PCs can have a projective capacitive touchscreen, which allows multiple users to use the touch screen at once.

Teguar’s interactive displays can be found all over the world in settings including museums, amusement parks, conference rooms, restaurants, and even inside a monkey habitat, where primatologists are using innovative touchscreen technology to research and interact with primates. Whatever your application, Teguar has an interactive display that can provide a long-lasting, reliable solution.

Settings: Brightness, Contrast, Clock, Phase, H-position, V-position, Auto-Adjust, Aspect Ratio, Sharpness, Color Temperature, OSD Timeout, OSD Language, OSD H-Position, OSD V-Position, Recall Defaults, Video Priority, Information, Touch On Sleep Mode, Touch Thru

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. These professional-grade displays provide vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior decor.

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

LED video wall solution with advanced video wall processing, off-board electronics, front serviceable cabinets and outstanding image quality available in 0.9mm pixel pitch

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

Carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility for various installations including virtual production and extended reality.

a line of extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays that provides a video wall solution for demanding requirements of 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments

Since 1983, Planar display solutions have benefitted countless organizations in every application. Planar displays are usually front and center, dutifully delivering the visual experiences and critical information customers need, with proven technology that is built to withstand the rigors of constant use.

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. These professional-grade displays provide vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior decor.

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

From cinema content to motion-based digital art, Planar® Luxe MicroLED Displays offer a way to enrich distinctive spaces. HDR support and superior dynamic range create vibrant, high-resolution canvases for creative expression and entertainment. Leading-edge MicroLED technology, design adaptability and the slimmest profiles ensure they seamlessly integrate with architectural elements and complement interior décor.

Advanced LED video wall with MicroLED models in 0.6, 0.7 and 0.9mm pixel pitches, and 1.2mm pixel pitch standard LED; with powerful processing, proprietary alignment technology and off-board electronics.

LED video wall solution with advanced video wall processing, off-board electronics, front serviceable cabinets and outstanding image quality available in 0.9mm pixel pitch

Planar® CarbonLight™ VX Series is comprised of carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility, available in 1.9 and 2.6mm pixel pitch (wall) and 2.6mm (floor).

Carbon fiber-framed indoor LED video wall and floor displays with exceptional on-camera visual properties and deployment versatility for various installations including virtual production and extended reality.

a line of extreme and ultra-narrow bezel LCD displays that provides a video wall solution for demanding requirements of 24x7 mission-critical applications and high ambient light environments

Since 1983, Planar display solutions have benefitted countless organizations in every application. Planar displays are usually front and center, dutifully delivering the visual experiences and critical information customers need, with proven technology that is built to withstand the rigors of constant use.

Over the years, a wide range of Pro Display’s products have been specified for museums. For a number of reasons, many products that Pro Display offer are ideal for creating some of the best museum displays possible, from interactive projection touch screens that make up entire displays, to supporting screens that supplement a museum exhibit display, it is quite probable that Pro Display offer a product that will suit, and often even surpass your museum display needs.

As the technological landscape changes, so do desired display solutions and the transition from printed to digital signage has been a huge step in this direction. Few industries feel this transition as keenly as museums, who often rely heavily upon signage to direct and inform visitors. Indeed, for museums, signage makes up a significant part of their experience, so the media that is used for this central aspect of business is highly important for the general customer as well as the organisation’s reputation.

An effective museum display can take on many forms, from a high brightness screen to contend with ambient light to an interactive freestanding kiosk for self-service or self-educating means. The uses of all these technologies within a museum environment also varies drastically, such as being used for wayfinding, as part of a museum exhibit display, or even the exhibit itself – the applications are only limited by the choice of technology. Luckily, Pro Display have many years of experience working with museums and designers to help supply them with the best museum displays available using the most cutting-edge technology on the market.

A great example of a cutting-edge product that is becoming increasingly popular in museums is Pro Display’s Transparent LCD Display Cases. These breath-taking visual marvels offer an effective, backlit display unit that overlays white content as transparent on the screen. Using this feature creatively, museums can virtually eradicate the need for additional exhibit space, combining the display case and supporting screen into one unit. Ideal for displaying high value or fragile items out of reach, Transparent LCD display cases are a great way to impress visitors using a museum display that is as effective at communicating information as it is building excitement in, for example, a reveal and conceal exhibition application.

Likewise, Switchable Smart Glass technology offers a highly effective reveal and conceal privacy product, serving as frosted glass that changes to clear on command. Using various activation methods, such as voice or sensor, museums can tailor this technology to suit their exacting needs, enhanced with various glass options as well as the retrofit Self-Adhesive Smart Film as available possibilities. Combine this with the option of using this amazing glass as a projection screen and the applications become a lot more exciting than a basic reveal and conceal application.

However, perhaps the most popular development in recent years has been museum touch screen displays, which are widely used in these environments due to their interactive nature. Using Pro Display’s intouch range, most display options can be granted interactivity, including the above-mentioned Transparent LCD Display cases and Switchable Smart Glass. People often peruse museums at their own pace and therefore a self-service interactive display can be a highly effective tool for the interested and meandering visitor alike. A touch screen display allows museums to offer visitors infinitely more information, more entertainment and more control over the way and pace that they digest this information when compared to traditional signage. It is little wonder, therefore, that touch screens are becoming a central part of the museum experience.

Visual effects are also highly popular in this environment due to the on-going challenge of creating a memorable museum display. Specialist visual effects are a great way to immerse visitors who crave a new experience that they can take away with them. Offering a memorable visual experience can help to drastically change the way exhibitions are perceived and is a cornerstone of the museum model. Visual effects can also help museums respond to challenging environmental conditions such as high ambient light or reduced space.

A very popular choice for museums, Pro Display’s Holographic Effect Projection Screens provide a floating image visual effect. Also known as ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ effect, this technology is ideal for creating effective ghostly images to re-tell stories of their history, for example. Alternatively, using this screen for hi-tech or hologram-styled displays is also incredibly powerful. As a semi-transparent projection screen, these displays can show bright, sharp and vibrant 2D images that appear to float as an Iron Man-styled hologram, with superior performance, definition and no critical angle of projection to boot.

Due to the remarkably visual aspect of the museum experience, high ambient light is often a requirement of the environment so that visitors can clearly see what is on display. However, this can often clash with the high reliance on digital signage displays seen by museums. Many forms of digital signage can be affected by the glare often associated with environments that suffer from high levels of ambient light; Pro Display offer a range of products that can help combat this. Depending on the nature of the high ambient light and the technological requirements, the range of products are vast enough to help combat this for most applications. A High Brightness LCD Screen, for example, offers an effective alternative to standard LCD signage in areas of high ambient light. An Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) Projection Screen, at the same time as rejecting ambient light and displaying images with stunning contrast, colour and resolution, also offers the ability to edge blend using a UST projector, which enables uniquely shaped and intriguing displays. Our Anti-Glare options, on the other hand, are a retrofit based product that helps existing screens deal better with glare so museums don’t have to change their exhibit too much to accommodate high ambient light.

As an ultra-short throw (UST) projection screen, Digital Glass offers museums an incredible space saving display solution that delivers high brightness and unparalleled contrast in brightly lit environments without creating hotspots. Ideal for professional, high quality displays, these screens provide a robust digital signage and exhibition solution that are great for large format projection, simulation applications and even as an alternative to video walls. The polished edges of these rigid screens enable multiple panels to be installed side-by-side, allowing designers to create huge seamless screens without bezels. Factoring in the ability to convert these screens to accommodate 3D and edge blending, they are perfect for simulation or CAVE projection applications that require visitor immersion, so it seems obvious that they would perform exceptionally well in a museum environment.

Imagine this: you’ve just installed a touch screen monitor for your customers to use in your outside shopping area. Everything seems to be going well…until a storm comes through and damages the monitor screen. Unfortunately, water and dust can affect touchscreen functionality. If you’ve ever dropped your smartphone in water and found that the colour was a little off or it was less responsive to touch, you know what we’re talking about.

There are many environments and applications where you need an IP65 touch screen monitor that is resistant to water and dust. These include touch screens used in industrial settings, as well as in commercial settings. In these commercial settings, a customer might come across the touch screen display at Point-of-Sale, at kiosks in entertainment venues, at restaurants, and more.

Projected Capacitive (PCAP) touchscreens have better protection when it comes to the intrusion of dust, dirt, and other types of debris. This is even more so than many other touchscreen device types. Additionally, PCAP touchscreens are often designed with an emphasis on water and moisture resistance.

The resistance of touch panels against particles and water is usually described through the Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which consists of two numbers. How do you find the right number?

The IP Rating, short for the Ingress Protection Rating, is used to rate the effectiveness of the sealing properties of an electrical enclosure against the intrusion of foreign bodies (dirt, tools, etc.), as well as against the intrusion of moisture. There are two different numbers in the IP Rating. Each one means something different.

The first number, which ranges from 0 to 6, represents the level of protection against solid objects. This is according to the size of each object. The higher the number, the better the item is better protected against these objects.

The second number, which ranges from 0 to 9, is related to the level of resistance in relation to liquid ingress. This type of ingress includes drips, sprays, and submersion. The amount of the liquid, as well as its direction toward the enclosed item, determines the protection level against liquids. The test also specifies the delivery pressure, the distance between the enclosure and the nozzle, the nozzle sizes for defining the water jets or spraying water, and the testing time. Let’s review each of these now:

When it comes to the IP rating you need for a touch screen monitor, the highest protection isn’t necessary. In places that will have a lot of dust, debris, or where there’s the potential that the screen will be in contact with any solids or liquids, you need to ensure:

Depending on your space, you will need low or high IP ratings. Low IP ratings are mainly for indoor settings, where jetting water will never be an issue. Temperature-controlled areas like office buildings would not require high IP ratings.

High-IP-rated touch screen monitors, on the other hand, are used for outdoor locations that are subjected to greater amounts of liquid and dust. These are usually areas with heavy foot traffic, wet locations, and high-contact areas. High-contact areas are ones where many people will be touching the touch screen monitors. These include areas such as transportation facilities and dirty warehouses.

The most common IP ratings are IP65, IP66, and IP67. When you have a touch screen with the IP65 rating, it’s water-resistant. When it has the IP66 rating, it’s water-resistant specifically against powerful jets. When the rating is IP67, the touch screen can resist complete submersion for a certain period of time. The IP68 rating is sometimes used too, which means that the touch screen can resist complete submersion for an even longer period, and down 3 metres.

However, you may now be wondering: which one is best for my commercial space? You know if you need a high or low IP rating, but you don’t know exactly which one. We’ll cover this now.

How do commercial users use touch screen monitors? There are many different ways, such as self-service kiosks, wayfinding, information kiosk, point-of-sale, or digital POP display. The scenarios also vary depending on what type of commercial space you run.

If you have a retail store, you can use a touch screen with the brightest and most colourful light industry technology to draw people into your store. Also, with an interactive screen, your customers can have fun while they shop or find out about what you have in stock.

Additionally, your employees can use the touch screen for great productivity. You can also provide service to customers 24/7 and speed up your customer experience, allowing them to make orders fast.

If you have a transportation facility, your visitors can check in with a simple process and easily find shops using an interactive map. They can also enjoy a drink or meal while they wait for their train or plane while also getting real-time updates of their departure time and gate.

On the other hand, if you install a touch screen monitor in your museum, your visitors can learn more about exhibits, play educational videos, and find their way to different parts of the museum, such as the gift shop.

If you have a hospital to run, touch screens can help to improve activities such as check-in, registration and information distribution. A touch screen monitor can assist patients’ friends and family quickly find where they need to go to see a loved one. This takes essential time off your hospital administrative staff’s hands.

You can also use a touch screen to inform your patients about procedures before they go in for an operation. In pediatric offices, you can make the touchscreen interactive so that children learn a bit more about the human body.

Most retail and restaurant environments need hardware that has a minimum of an IP54 rating. However, you may need an even higher rating. How do you know?

IP ratings that are higher than 54 are proper for locations with flying particles and debris. This is because of their high level of durability. This makes them perfect for areas with a large amount of foot traffic, like stadiums, convention centres, and transportation facilities.

Additionally, they’re great for wet work areas, such as bars or recreational facilities. They can also be used in places where the screens will be touched by many people, such as hospitals and airports.

Ratings within the IP54 to IP65 range can keep the screen dry and safe. These ratings are also strong enough to stop airborne particles from damaging the inside and outside of the screen.

When it comes to using a touch screen for industrial applications, things are a little different with the light industry. Most consumer-oriented manufacturers work in this industry, including manufacturers of home appliances and consumer electronics. Also included are manufacturers of furniture, automobiles, clothes, and food.

Touchscreens are used by manufacturing and distribution facilities in industrial control applications. This is because they rely on uncomplicated interfaces so they can minimize intervention and error. These control interfaces make it possible for industrial workers to improve efficiencies, simplify processes, reconfigure operations, and control devices. They are an economic alternative to switches and buttons, which are traditional.

Touch panels used by workers in industrial environments have to be resistant to chemicals, liquids, dust, and dirt. They must also be highly durable and long-lasting.