VIRTUAL TOUCH SCREEN

In today’s modern society it is difficult to imagine a world without the touch screen. It can be found in cell phones,computers, tablets and there is also research in flexible and curved touch screens.In the case of using keyboard and mouse ,the physical contact with the devices is not necessary  or important . But that is the most important  thing in the case of virtual  touch-screen. The scenes that we see in movies ,that working on computer-screne that floats on air and we think how amazing in works in them. 

Our dreams are now not just a dream now. It is future and much closer than future.

A Taiwanese technology company has developed the ultimate in hands-free technology: a virtual, see-through touch screen or keyboard display that, when “touched” in mid-air by the user’s finger, transmits that signal directly to the computer or mobile device.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute calls its new product “iAT”—short for “i-air touch” technology. By using a pair of special glasses, users can type on a virtual ”floating” keypad, keyboard, mouse, or touch panel just as they would do with physical keys, maximizing flexibility,  comfort, and convenience. Because the user is the only one who can see the keyboard in virtual space, privacy is guaranteed. This project is completely based on sonar respond .
The inventors have developed a device that tracks the location and detailed trajectory of radio frequency sources (e.g. RFIDs) moving in 3D space. This device can transform any plane or surface into a virtual touch screen, whereby users can interact with a desired computing device by gesturing or writing commands in the air. This interface can be used to interact with a remote screen, to send commands to a cellphone without touching it, or to communicate with small devices (e.g., sensors) that do not have space for a keyboard.

Then you must ask me what is the difference between holographic screen and virtual screen . Both are look same .
A holographic screen is a two dimensional display technology that uses coated glass media for the projection surface of a video projector. "Holographic" refers not to a stereoscopic effect (for that, see Holographic display), but to the coating that bundles light using formed microlenses. The lens design and attributes match the holographic area. The lenses may appear similar to the fresnel lenses used in overhead projectors. The resulting effect is that of a free-space display, because the image carrier appears very transparent. Here we found that holographic screen need a transparent background but it is not in the case of virtual screen float in mid air.

USAGE:

The Kinect sensor, commonly used in many virtual touch screen applications

Currently, virtual touch screens (VTS) are used primarily for entertainment and research purposes. A popular virtual touch screen system is the Kinect system made commercially available by Microsoft. The Kinect system is primarily used for consumer entertainment such as playing games and using the menus found on the Xbox system.However, in recent years the Kinect has been used for research projects in the field of robotics and 3-D interactions outside of the field of games such as browsing the web, and medical practices.

There is a potential for the technology where the 3D visualization and physical interaction with the objects is necessary, such as teaching students introductory calculus.

In medical practices, virtual touch interaction has been applied to allow users to view and manipulate digital data such as 3D images used in medical scans, allowing medical staff to interact with the data without any physical contact, thus avoiding the need for re-sterilization.

ADVANTAGES

• Touch screen enables people to use computers with out any training.

• This technology is simple and user friendly

• This is becoming more popular because of its ease of use , proven reliability, expended                        functionality and decreasing cost.

• Touch screen virtually eliminates operator errors, because users selecting from clearly defined            menu.

• Touch screen provides fast access to any and all type of digital media.

• It ensures that no space is wasted as the input device is completely integrated into monitor.

• Touch screen provided sufficient security.

• Text can be displayed on variety of languages depending upon user needs.

• The touch screen interface can be updated with simple software changes.

DISADVANATGES

• Althogh user friendly, touch screen can not be used to enter large amount of data

• This technology has not found in real world applications because system designers have not                carefully considered how the system will function.

• Another failure of the industry has been not getting fast enough processing behind the buttons

• A touch screen system will cost about two or three times of the amount of an existing keyboard          display.

• Touch screen and monitors together are expensive ranging from two and half times the price of            a standard computer.