There are multiple touchscreen technologies available for LCD monitors, Panel PC or tablet PC. The choice depends on the usage and environment. Here is a simplified presentation to compare the main caracteristics of touchscreen technologies. This document does not intend to present all technologies available.

	4/8 wire resistive	5,6,7 wire resistive	Capacitive	Projected Capacitive	multi-touch Projected Capacitive	surface wave	Infra-red
Detection	pressure	pressure	finger touch	finger touch	finger touch	detect "x, y"	detect "x, y"
Sensitivity	++	++	+++	+++	+++	++	++
Precision	++	++	+++	+++	+++	+	+
Multitouch	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Brightness	~ 80%	~ 80%	~ 90%	~ 90%	~ 90%	~ 100%	~ 100%
Calibration	stable	stable	not stable	stable	stable	very stable	very stable
Scratch	- -	- -	- -	+++	+++	+++	+++
Vandal proof	no	no	no	option tempered glass	no	option tempered glass	option tempered glass
Screen size	< 12''	< 20''		all	< 16'', growing	> 19''	> 19''
Water proof	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+	+

Resistive Technology
It is the most common and cheapest. It consists of 2 thin films that touch each other when pressure is applied. Any pressure above the minimum required can be detected : finger, plastic made passive stylus. Without pressure, the 2 films do not touch - they are separated by small balls. The touchscreen surface must be aligned with the display image - this is called "calibration". Calibration is fairly stable with resistive technology. Over time, re-calibration may be required - it is done with a calibration software. The resistive films absorb around 20% of the light emited by the LCD panel, the display brightness is reduced up to 20% compared to the same display without resistive touchscreen.
Resistive touchscreen can be damaged, i.e. scratched or cut. They cannot be used in public environment with the risk of vandalism.
The pressure needed to be detected varies:
- 40 grammes high sensitivity,
- 80 grammes sensitive to finget touch,
- 120 grammes hardly sensitive to fingers, need a stronger pressure such as stylus pens.
4 and 8 wires resistive touchscreen are less durable than 5, 6 or 7 wire versions that are recommended for frequent usage.

Capacitive Technologies:
Surface Capacitive
This technologie relies on a conducting film on the screen. The change of electrical capacity is detected by the film; the contact of a finger is detected since the human body has an electrical capacity. A finger in a glove is not detected, nor is a passive stylus.
The surface capacitive film is sensitive to scratch, and absorbs a small part of the LCD light. The calibration must be redone from time to time to maintain the alignment touchscreen / display.
Projected Capacitive
The projected capacitive is between 2 glass layers. Again, it detects fingers not inside gloves. It is not sensitive to scratch and can be used on vandal-proof tempered glass.

Surface Accoustic Wave (SAW):
This technology uses the sides to detect the touch location. The glass surface is inactive; the contact location "cuts" accoustic waves circulating on the glass surface. The contact must be large enough : a finger is detected, a stylus is too thin to be detected. This is suitable to touching navigation buttons; handwriting recognition is not possible.
Since the surface is a simple glass, it does not absorb light emitted by the display, it is scratch resistant (like glass) and can be vandal proof if tempered glass is used.
Finally, calibration is stable.

Infra-red :
This technology uses the sides to detect the touch location - the same way as SAW. The glass surface is inactive; the sides detect the "X,Y" location when IR rays that are "cut" - LED are situated inside the frame (IR emission LED, reception). The contact on the surface must be large enough to be detected: a finger is detected, a stylus is too thin to be detected. This is suitable to touching navigation buttons; handwriting recognition is not possible.
Since the surface is a simple glass, it does not absorb light emitted by the display, it is scratch resistant (like glass) and can be vandal proof if tempered glass is used. Calibration is stable like for SAW.
Intense light can conflict with IR LED - it is not suitable to touchscreen in direct sun light .
 
Digitizer
Digitizers were originally in every tablet PC as standardized by microsoft in 2001. The pen is active and detected by the digitizer. No pressure is detected, therefore you can lay the hand on the display while writing.Digitizers can be combined with resistive touchscreen for instance - either one is active at one point in time.

Water / Dust resistance
Capacitive and resistive touchscreen are more adapted to IP protected display. IR and SAW can also be IP protected up to IP54, not more.