Elo TouchSystems Announces Technology Breakthrough for Medical Touchmonitor Applications

Business Wire, Oct 13, 1999

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1999--

New iTouch "Touch-on-Tube" Surface Wave Technology

Offers Precise, Durable Operation

Elo TouchSystems Inc., the global leader in touch technology, today introduced iTouch "touch-on-tube" technology to the medical market. iTouch provides brighter and more precise, durable and reliable operation on Elo TouchSystems' Entuitive touchmonitors. Elo TouchSystems' iTouch touchmonitors are ideal for use on medical equipment and healthcare applications where durability and image quality can help improve productivity.

iTouch builds on the success of Elo TouchSystems' IntelliTouch surface wave technology by eliminating the glass overlay and using surface waves directly on the cathode ray tube (CRT) surface. With 100 percent light transmission and color purity, the user sees sharp, high-contrast images and unaltered color depth. iTouch offers build-in drift-free operation, minimizing maintenance and downtime.

CRT Faceplate Becomes Touch Sensor

iTouch represents a major breakthrough in touch technology development that allows Elo to direct surface waves onto the CRT for touch sensing. The technology has already been proven on Elo's popular iMac with iTouch and on 19-inch and 21-inch high-end computer-grade touchmonitors.

"Having no overlay on the CRT means the highest-quality image possible," says Steve DeLateur, vice president of research and development at Elo TouchSystems. "Durability, another important feature for light industrial environments, will also improve greatly because the CRT faceplate is several times stronger than a touchscreen overlay, making it much less susceptible to breakage or damage by vandalism. Elo TouchSystems' new technology clearly takes surface wave to a higher level of performance."

Greater Stability, More Uptime

"Elo TouchSystems designed the new iTouch technology specifically to enhance brightness and clarity, while retaining the no-drift, stable performance and proven reliability of surface wave technology," says DeLateur. "Keeping applications running with as little downtime as possible is essential in medical and healthcare settings. The touch system's reliability, stability and durability means consistent operation for high service factor percentages that increase patent satisfaction."

One-stop iTouch Touchmonitor Solution

Elo TouchSystems is offering iTouch as a completely integrated touchmonitor. Using Elo TouchSystems as a one-stop touchmonitor solution allows OEMs to reduce purchasing and logistics costs, eliminate the cost of bonding overlay touchscreens, free up valuable manufacturing space and save on training time, inventory and manpower. Elo TouchSystems will work with OEMs to optimize a touchmonitor design for a specific application, allowing them to choose from a variety of form factors depending on their parameters.

About Elo TouchSystems, Inc.

Elo TouchSystem, Inc., global leader in touch technology, develops, manufactures and markets a complete line of touch products that simplify the interface between people and computers. Founded in 1971, the company is based in Fremont, California, with offices worldwide. For more information on Elo TouchSystems' products and services, call 1-800-ELOTOUCH (1-800-356-8682) or visit our Web site at http://www.elotouch.com.

IntelliTouch, Entuitive, and iTouch are trademarks of Elo TouchSystems, Inc. iMac and Apple are trademarks of Apple Computer. All other products and company names referred to herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.