Stylus or finger

**kiwiuser** · 05-27-2007, 10:00 PM

Hi,

I have been around for a bit and have been developing some software for a special car-pc project. I have finally got around to ordering some hardware (that has not yet showed up) and it has just dawned on me that one of my assumptions may have been wrong! I have always assumed that everyone uses their touchscreens with their fingers...is this not the case?

I have just noticed that the documentation for my LCD talks about using a stylus - this would not work for my project.

Do all touch screens work ok with just finger use? (I realise tablets require stylus?

Thanks for your help,

Kiwiuser.

**rijndael** · 05-27-2007, 10:06 PM

your touchscreen will work with your finger...it does for mine. I personally like using the stylus over my fingers because it keeps the screen nice and clean. with my fingers, prints get everywhere and it keeps me from seeing everything clearly...i personally dont like that. The stylus that came with my screen i just keep in my center vents right above the screen...it stays in there and its nicely out of view...

hopefully my explanation helps...

**lbridges** · 05-27-2007, 10:14 PM

I haven't found a good place to keep a stylus in my car. I've gotten pretty use to bending the top of my finger and just touching the screen with the tip of my fingernail - works fine, and seldom do I get fingerprints smudges.

**rijndael** · 05-27-2007, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by lbridges

I haven't found a good place to keep a stylus in my car. I've gotten pretty use to bending the top of my finger and just touching the screen with the tip of my fingernail - works fine, and seldom do I get fingerprints smudges.

well then that should also work for your LCD screen as well...you will be able to calibrate it through your software anyway, so you realloy shouldnt have anything to worry about...

**Marassa** · 05-28-2007, 01:43 AM

I was surprised to read the following in the draft G4 manual:

Never touch the LCD screen with anything besides your finger when operating the Touch Panel functions. The LCD screen can scratch easily. The supplied stylus is for calibrating the touch screen. Do not use the stylus for normal operation.

I am using stylus all the time as my G4 still sits on my desk at home. Will probably use it less once it's finally in the car, but I will still have to use it to install/configure software.

**Maheriano** · 05-28-2007, 04:06 AM

I use my finger for everything except I used to use the stylus for the small buttons in iGuidance 2.1.3 before I upgraded. Now it's finger for everything. I just use a microfibre cloth that came with my screen to clean it every few days. It's usually one big smudgefest.

**2k1Toaster** · 05-28-2007, 07:31 AM

I use finger for everything as well, and I try to get fingerprints on my screen. Being too poor to buy a transflective, mine is not. It works fine most of the time, but when in the glaring sun, you can barely make it out. What you can see however, are the fingerprints. So it is basically a glare resistant oil coating marking where the buttons are.

So I see the blob where the volume is, and I know where the controls are.

But every week or so I wipe it off with that nice cloth that came with the screen. I dont think I have used my stylus even once.

**jwlionking** · 06-03-2007, 12:45 PM

Typically in the front ends I use my finger. Whenever I exit,usually I need to use a stylus or a soft plastic tipped pen to navigate XP.

**rijndael** · 06-03-2007, 01:34 PM

hey...i dont know if its been mentioned yet...im too lazy to look through 8 posts..lol...i was at walmart the other day and noticed that the Nintendo DS has a pen that wraps around your finger for 12 bucks...im gonna get it once i have my motherboard back and everything operational again...

Edit: and my PSU when MP3car decides to contact me about my RMA...

**nobb** · 06-03-2007, 01:37 PM

I keep a stylus in the car when I need it for higher precision stuff, such as navigating XP when Centrafuse is not running. The stylus I am using is actually homemade =). I took a wooden dowel (the size of a pencil), sharpened it, then tightly wrapped a piece of fine cloth on the tip so that it does not scratch the screen. Then I took a piece of heatshrink over the stylus, just to keep everything secure.

During normal useage, a finger works just fine. I think it would be a hassle to be driving then have to pick up a stylus each time you wanted to change tracks or whatever.