[Elecraft] The case against touch screens

[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

The argument for is simple, and compelling for a company like Elecraft.

I know that my KX3 has functions that were not even dreamed of when the 
front panel layout and silkscreen were finalized.

They've cleverly added these modes and functions by "overloading" 
buttons -- push twice, push and hold, etc.

If the front panel is a touch-screen with the buttons drawn in, the 
panel layout can be updated as part of a firmware upgrade.

For a manufacturer who releases a new model every few months and never 
enhances the existing products, the argument is not as compelling.

-- Lynn

On 3/25/2019 11:51 AM, Al Lorona wrote:
> I don't think you guys understood me. I shouldn't have veiled my concern with a tongue-in-cheek post.
> 
> So I will be direct. I was referring to the physiological event of touching a screen with a finger. It must be just me, because a large percentage of the time a touch screen does not respond to my finger. I have experienced this at ATMs, at the self checkout at Home Depot, at the airport, on my smart phone, etc. When you have to stand there, tapping over and over to get them to respond, touch screens just aren't as reliable, responsive, accurate, or fast as a control.
> 
> Touch screens are beautiful, but they seem to ignore me. My fingers are low-capacitance, I guess! For that reason, I wouldn't tolerate one any more than I would tolerate a sticky volume control that took three or four twists before the volume turned up. None of us would put up with that.
> 
> I'm a little surprised others haven't had the same experience as Thaddeus. Maybe they're just too shy to admit it.
> 
> The next time you tap something on your phone, and you have to tap again to get it to work, I want you to think of me.
> 
> Al  W6LX
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