Ever since the creation of the smartphone, touch screens have become an integral part of our lives. Instead of being confined to high-tech companies, they have found a place in our as phones in our pockets, kiosks in restaurants, and maps in shopping malls. All of the above, in fact, are examples of a touch screen directory, or a screen that allows for human interaction to access applications, view charts, take pictures, and more. These directories have gotten bigger and better over the past few years, and according to Buildings.com, the average touch screen directory size has grown from 15 inches to 22 inches just of two years.
Where Can You Find Touch Screens?
Other than obvious places such as in our phones and tablets, you can find touch screens:
- in restaurants as kiosks as a skip-the-line ordering option
- at a mall, so you can find the bathroom, food court, or the store you want to go to
- at the bank in the form of an ATM
- at stores that allow for express self-check-out
- at train stations and other ports of transportation to buy tickets
- also in the movie theater to select movies and print out your tickets
- perhaps in your own house in the form of a touch screen TV set
- used in many portable video game consoles for intuitive gameplay
- in the airport to fill out surveys regarding customs and check in your bags
- inside a reception room for a large office or hospital, so visitors can determine where to go
- used in experiments, such as the Lincoln Park Zoo’s study on primate cognition!
Touch screens have become perfectly integrated into our lives. They are sleek and aesthetically pleasing, customizable in software and in appearance, and are developed for our convenience. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see touch screens at more places and new contexts.
