51Touch

【中国触摸屏网】专业调查公司iSuppli说，触控面板的市场仍将大幅增长。预计到2012年，全球触摸屏销售收入将从2006年的24亿美元增长到44亿美元。本文还介绍了其他很多信息，大家慢慢看吧，我这里就不翻译了。<br><br>Touch screen revenues to reach US$4.4 billion by 2012, says iSuppli<br><br><br>Touch screens have the Midas touch for growth, spurring a flood of competition, technologies and OEM interest, according to research firm iSuppli. The firm predicts global shipment revenues for the leading touch-screen technologies will rise to US$4.4 billion by 2012, up from US$2.4 billion in 2006.<br><br>"Catalyzed by Apple iPhone, sales of touch screens using projected-capacitive technology are growing dramatically," said Jennifer Colegrove, senior analyst for emerging displays at iSuppli.<br><br>"Projected capacitive touch screen technology is more durable and has better transmittance than the more commonly used resistive technology. More touch-screen manufacturers are developing and commercializing this type of screen. Furthermore, the average pricing gap between the capacitive and resistive display types is dwindling, making the technology more attractive."<br><br>Resistive is the most commonly used touch screen technology in the marketplace, noted iSuppli.<br><br>Although it is not very durable and has poor transmissivity, resistive's low price and responsiveness to both finger and stylus touch has made it the number one touch screen technology in terms of unit shipments during the last few years.<br><br>However, the resistive market now is suffering a shortage of indium tin oxide (ITO) film used to make such screens due to production expansions among several major manufacturers and limited numbers of ITO film suppliers.<br><br>With several large manufacturers expanding capacity, other types of transparent conductive materials such as conductive polymer, carbon nanotube and antimony tin oxide (ATO) have an entry opportunity now. In fact, Fujitsu already has started using conductive polymer for some of its resistive-type touch screens.<br><br>Since the iPhone proved that touch" onclick="tagshow(event)" class="t_tag">multi-touch technology can be portable and affordable, touch" onclick="tagshow(event)" class="t_tag">multi-touch has become the hot topic in the industry. Many providers of alternative touch-screen technologies have announced touch" onclick="tagshow(event)" class="t_tag">multi-touch capabilities, such as the optical imaging camera-based touch screens offered by touch screen designer and developer NextWindow. Other examples include IR Touch Systems Technology's infrared touch screen and Stantum – formerly named JazzMutant – which has offered a touch" onclick="tagshow(event)" class="t_tag">multi-touch music controller since 2004.<br><br>Tactile feedback technology is finding usage in increasing numbers of touch-screen devices. The technology delivers a physical sensation similar to that of pressing a physical button. Tactile feedback is the differentiating factor for some new mobile phones, such as the Motorola Rokr E8.<br><br>Although resistive is the dominant touch-screen technology for mobile phones, projected capacitive and infrared began to penetrate the wireless handset segment in 2007. Technological variations being commercialized on mobile phones in 2008 and 2009 include sensor-in-pixel or in-cell touch, bending wave from Elo/Tyco Electronics, and polymer waveguide from RPO.<br><br>Retail, kiosk, public signage, financial, e-book and medical applications are adopting more touch-screen monitors to accommodate consumer preferences for intuitive and easy user interfaces. Consumers want this kind of ease of use when they check out at a grocery store, or check in at an airport. Such touch-screen monitors reduce labor costs for stores or for other institutions, noted iSuppli.<br><br>Despite the total of eight distinct, commercialized touch-screen technologies – resistive, surface capacitive, projected capacitive, surface acoustic wave, infra red, bending wave, active digitizer, optical imaging – even more novel touch-screen approaches have been invented, according to iSuppli. These include new touch technologies from N-trig, Sony, Sharp, TMD and Samsung. Several companies recently have announced plans to commence touch-screen manufacturing. Furthermore, several mergers and acquisitions have occurred, launching new participants into the market.<br><br>For the touch-screen market, with more than 100 suppliers, in excess of 300 OEM/integrators and a wealth of technological alternatives, fascinating times are ahead, noted iSuppli.<br><br><br>Soure: iSuppli, compiled by Digitimes, June 2007<br>