Touchscreen Application Tips

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Touchscreen Application Tips.

Ten simple tips that can make your touch enabled kiosk applications a Success!
By Elo TouchSystems

1.  Run your application full screen.

Remove title bars and menu bars so your application can take full advantage of the entire display area.

Bright backgrounds in your application will hide fingerprints and reduce glare. Dithering or other patterned backgrounds (for example, the "crumpled paper look") help the eye focus on the screen image instead of reflections, even in areas where there are no icons or menu choices.

Dragging, double-clicks, scroll bars, drop-down menus, multiple windows, or other elements can confuse the typical user and detract from user-friendliness and efficiency.

A cursor on the screen makes the user think, "How do I get the arrow to do what I want?" Remove the cursor, and the user's thinking and actions become direct instead of indirect -- thereby unlocking the true power of touchscreens.

Immediate feedback is critical to reassure the user that a touch has registered. Responses can be visual, such as 3-D button effects similar to those found on a standard Windows button. Or you can provide an audio response, such as a ''click'' or other sound output whenever a user touches the screen. Be sure that the display clears immediately and that the screen shows an hourglass (or similar icon) while the next screen loads.

Users will walk away from a sluggish system. You can keep their attention with a quick response to touches. Speedy systems also reduce vandalism. Graphics modes offering excessive colors or high resolution only slow down your system. Using more colors is typically more effective than using higher resolutions.

Test your application on focus groups. If users pause in confusion -- even for a moment -- you've identified the areas than need improvement.

Because the human brain can simultaneously process voice while absorbing an image, there is something almost magical about a user interface that provides voice prompts and touch response. The better kiosk applications exploit this knowledge for maximum effect. For example: "Touch the first letter of the company you are looking for." Click. "Now touch OK." Click. . . .

Animation and large fonts help attract users to kiosk applications. The actual design of the kiosk cabinet should also be attractive and sturdy.

Are you using forced-air ventilation? Put your fan at the top, near the monitor's vents. To minimize the airborne dust from footsteps, keep the intake away from the floor. Keep air from entering around the monitor face. Point your speakers in the direction of your user's ears.

Use an Elo Kiosk touchmonitor. Otherwise, allow for variations in the physical dimensions of monitor models because they change frequently. The display should also be mounted securely or have a steady base so it feels solid to the touch. Finally, choose a finish that does not show fingerprints -- avoid polished stainless steel, chrome, or glossy black paint.