Wacom unveils new touchscreen technology
updated 06:05 pm EDT, Fri April 25, 2008
New touchscreen technology
Wacom today unveiled a new touch-screen technology, dubbed Reversing Ramped Field Capacitive touch – or RRFC – which uses low-power circuitry and reversing ramped electro-static fields to offer precise performance. The technology supposedly prevents cursor drifting, and can be used as a touch display or as a simple touch surface. Wacom states that the surface used for the technology is tougher than glass, allowing for increased durability, while also being able to recognize softer touches.
"Our new proprietary RRFC touch technology is exciting on a couple of fronts," said Shawn Gray, Wacom's director of touchscreen Operations. "New controller processing methods and system design provide extremely accurate pointing at much lower power consumption levels and without increased cost. These factors and others, such as ease of integration and stability, position Wacom RRFC touch as a natural alternative to resistive, surface acoustic wave and infrared touch technologies. "
How Long?
04/26, 01:09am reply
Sounds great, but how long will it be until we see a product with this technology?
I own a couple of wacom tablets and never found them to be "power hogs" by any stretch. I'd liken them to a cord laser mouse or similar, at least on a laptop.
Still, if they are more accurate, have similar or better pressure capabilities and use less juice, I'd consider upgrading. Problem is, I've never had a wacom of any stripe die on me-even my old serial port model. I retired the computer, so the Wacom went with it. I'm sure, it would fire up fine, if I needed to use it.
Monde
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2004
not about tablets
04/26, 04:50am reply
@ monde: This has nothing to do with Wacom tablets. although macnn ingeniously (& unrelatedly) smacked a picture of one onto this article.
This deals with touch-sensitive displays. But I agree with what you say: they do build nice products that seem to last forever.
Jeronimo2000
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
confusion
04/26, 03:01pm reply
Yes, MacNN seems to be really slacking off nowadays. It would have been just as easy to put a picture of Wacom's Cintiq display up there.
Titanium Man
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2001