{"id":4546,"date":"2010-12-18T13:30:58","date_gmt":"2010-12-18T18:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/blog\/?p=4546"},"modified":"2022-12-30T15:48:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T20:48:48","slug":"no-more-touchscreens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/no-more-touchscreens\/","title":{"rendered":"No More Touchscreens?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181213211215\/http:\/\/propertiesofmatter.si.edu\/Zinc.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-110464 alignleft\" title=\"Zinc oxide\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/zincoxide.jpg?resize=110%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Zinc oxide\" width=\"110\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/zincoxide.jpg?w=150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/zincoxide.jpg?resize=75%2C69&amp;ssl=1 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 110px) 100vw, 110px\" \/><\/a>The website <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tested.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tested<\/a><\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110115041155\/http:\/\/www.tested.com\/news\/what-happens-if-we-run-out-of-touchscreen-components\/1226\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">asks<\/a> if tech users can <strong>go back to the days of keyboards and mice<\/strong>. They speculate that the day may be coming when we have to <strong>dump touchscreens<\/strong>. They point out the transparent conductor ceramic material <strong>indium tin oxide<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/wiki\/Indium_tin_oxide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ITO<\/a>) used in touchscreen is <strong>running out fast<\/strong>. The website says that at the current pace, the known supply of ITO will be <strong>gone by 2020<\/strong> warns <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yale.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yale University\u2019s<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/environment.yale.edu\/profile\/graedel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thomas Graedel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-110458 alignright\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\" title=\"No More Touchscreens?\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChemicalsPic.gif?resize=82%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"No More Touchscreens?\" width=\"82\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChemicalsPic.gif?resize=124%2C150&amp;ssl=1 124w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ChemicalsPic.gif?resize=62%2C75&amp;ssl=1 62w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 82px) 100vw, 82px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Telecom Circle<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20201109220039\/http:\/\/www.telecomcircle.com\/2010\/03\/touchscreen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">says<\/a> a capacitive touch screen panel consists of an insulator\u00a0such as glass, coated with a transparent conductor (mostly indium tin oxide). <span id=\"content_parent\" class=\"mceEditor wp_themeSkin\">The touchscreen must be touched by a human finger. Since <\/span>the human body is also a conductor, touching the surface of the screen distorts the body\u2019s electrostatic field, generating a measurable change in capacitance.\u00a0 Some of the advantages of a capacitive touch screen include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Higher clarity display (up to 90% optical transparency)<\/li>\n<li>Supports multi-touch<\/li>\n<li>High touch resolution<\/li>\n<li>High sensitivity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Replace indium tin oxide in touchpanels<\/h3>\n<p>The <em>Tested<\/em> author says that researchers are already hunting for new materials to replace indium tin oxide and for methods to use the current supply more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quora.com\/How-does-a-capacitive-touchscreen-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-110462\" title=\"capacitive touch screen panel\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Capacitive-Touch-Screen.png?resize=250%2C192&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"capacitive touch screen panel\" width=\"250\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Capacitive-Touch-Screen.png?w=150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Capacitive-Touch-Screen.png?resize=75%2C58&amp;ssl=1 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The article lists a number of potential solutions, but so far most of them are held up by one problem or another. <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/wiki\/Zinc_oxide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zinc oxide<\/a> (yes the stuff you put on your nose in the summer) for example, is a similar material, and it\u2019s far cheaper than indium tin oxide. It\u2019s also more brittle, less transparent, and a poor conductor. And since ITO is barely conductive enough to power capacitive touchscreens, zinc oxide\u2019s not going to cut it according to <em>Tested. <\/em>Another option the article suggests is a <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/wiki\/Cadmium_oxide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cadmium oxide<\/a> material that uses far less indium (the expensive, rare part of indium tin oxide) than ITO, but is 3-4 times more conductive. Unfortunately, cadmium is also highly toxic.<\/p>\n<h3>Radical solutions<\/h3>\n<p>Since materials like ITO don\u2019t seem to be ideal solutions, <em>Tested<\/em> reports that some scientists are turning to more radical solutions that could eventually pay off. A team at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.princeton.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Princeton<\/a> is working with <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190109183453\/https:\/\/www.princeton.edu\/cbe\/news\/archive\/?id=2802\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">conducting polymers<\/a>, which are nowhere near as brittle as ITO. But they suffer from degradation due to UV light and oxygen. Other options the <em>Tested<\/em> article cites are <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/wiki\/Graphene\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">graphene<\/a> which is a great conductor and <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/wiki\/Carbon_nanotubes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">carbon nanotubes<\/a> that show remarkable durability and conductivity.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indium.com\/blog\/graphene-an-unlikely-candidate-to-replace-ito-in-flat-panel-displays.php\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-110466\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/graphene.jpg?resize=150%2C103&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/graphene.jpg?resize=150%2C103&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/graphene.jpg?resize=75%2C51&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/graphene.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.manchester.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manchester University<\/a> Professor Andre Geim who won the 2010 <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130607182355\/http:\/\/www.nobelprize.org\/nobel_prizes\/physics\/laureates\/2010\/geim.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Nobel prize for physics<\/a> for his work on graphene <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/sponsored\/motoring\/ford-future-sessions\/future-of-science\/8207121\/Graphene-our-miracle-material.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">described<\/a> it to the UK&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Telegraph<\/em><\/a>, as having \u201ca range of superlatives which no other material can be proud of\u201d, including its incredible thinness and conductive qualities which see electric currents passing 100 times faster than copper manages. The <em>Telegraph<\/em> reports that since the iPhone made buttons unfashionable, touchscreen interfaces for smartphones, tablets, and even computer monitors have proved extremely lucrative for many consumer electronics companies. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.samsung.com\/us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Samsung<\/a> believes graphene could be perfect for the company\u2019s many touchscreen devices.<\/p>\n<p>Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tiny hollow cylinders of carbon with tremendous electrical and optical properties. CNT&#8217;s are attractive to touchscreen manufacturers because they can be as thin as 10 or 20 nanometers, transparent to visible light, and can conduct enough electricity to make them useful for touch screens <a href=\"http:\/\/www.physorg.com\/news158587561.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according<\/a> to <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.physorg.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Physorg.com<\/a><\/em>. Carbon nanotubes are remarkably robust and flexible. The material can be applied 50 times faster than ITO films, and are almost unbreakable when flexed, tapped, strained, or smashed with a hammer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.physorg.com\/news10452.html\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-110468\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/carbon_nanotubes.jpg?resize=150%2C122&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/carbon_nanotubes.jpg?resize=150%2C122&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/carbon_nanotubes.jpg?resize=75%2C61&amp;ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rbach.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/carbon_nanotubes.jpg?w=300&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>Researchers predict that the first commercial applications for these transparent CNT films will be as the electrodes in touch screens. <em>Physorg.com says t<\/em>his is because they already meet all technical requirements, and ITO has an issue in that it tends to crack after repeated use, thus degrading the touch screen response. By the end of the year, CNT films will begin to replace ITO in touch screens. As the technology continues to improve it will continue to take market share from ITO.<\/p>\n<p>Carbon Nanotubes have their issues as well. <em>Physorg.com h<\/em>as a discussion about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.physorg.com\/news158587561.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">health concerns<\/a> over the new technology and transferring electrons from tube to tube proved difficult. These issues led a team of researchers at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HP<\/a> to ditch nanotubes and go with silver nanowires instead. Researcher <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20211025185217\/https:\/\/www.tcd.ie\/Physics\/research\/groups\/1d-nanostructures\/group\/coleman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jonathan Coleman<\/a> of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Trinity College<\/a> in Dublin, who works in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard is <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210218185222\/https:\/\/www.gizmodo.com.au\/2010\/10\/10-years-to-save-the-touchscreen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quoted<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gizmodo.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Gizmodo<\/em><\/a>, \u201cWhen we started, industry thought that carbon nanotube films would be it \u2013 but no longer.\u201d After trying various ideas to get around the problem of high resistance between the tubes, the team changed paths,\u00a0 \u201cWe realized that, if instead of nanotubes you had metal nanowires, then where they touch you might get some bonding, giving electron transfer between them,\u201d he says.\u00a0 Experimenting with silver nanowires, his team discovered that they could get transparency of 85 percent and a conductivity only a fraction behind that of ITO. \u201cOptically and electrically, the silver was almost identical to high quality commercially available ITO, but totally flexible,\u201d Coleman told <em>Gizmodo.<\/em> \u201cHewlett-Packard is now looking at silver nanowires as a material of choice,\u201d Coleman concludes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>rb-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>There are a few years left for researchers will find a replacement for indium tin oxide. Since most of the indium mines are located in China there are likely to be exorbitant price hikes long before the supply\u2019s completely exhausted. What will Apple do to produce a better, cheaper, stronger iPad?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><a title=\"Ralph Bach\" href=\"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/new-resume\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ralph Bach<\/a>\u00a0has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his\u00a0<a title=\"Bach Seat\" href=\"https:\/\/rbach.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bach Seat<\/a> about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on <a class=\"broken_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rb48334\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ralph.bach.14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rbach48334\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>. Email the Bach Seat\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:\/\/bach.seat@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The world may run out of the transparent conductor ceramic material indium tin oxide (ITO) used in touchscreens by 2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[3240,3026,3028,35,3027,22,293,292],"class_list":["post-4546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hardware","tag-3240","tag-cadmium","tag-carbon-nanotubes","tag-china","tag-graphene","tag-hardware","tag-rare-earths","tag-touch-panel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4546"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132928,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4546\/revisions\/132928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}