On Touch Screens, Why Aren't We Allowed To Use Gloves?

I remembered watching a video once on why we are not able to use gloves on touch screens...however, I only remember it vaguely and can only remember something about electro-something, of which, I researched and came up with these:

Projected capacitance
Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology is a capacitive technology which permits more accurate and flexible operation, by etching the conductive layer. An XY array is formed either by etching a single layer to form a grid pattern of electrodes, or by etching two separate, perpendicular layers of conductive material with parallel lines or tracks to form the grid (comparable to the pixel grid found in many LCD displays).

Applying voltage to the array creates a grid of capacitors. Bringing a finger or conductive stylus close to the surface of the sensor changes the local electrostatic field. The capacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be measured to accurately determine the touch location. The use of a grid permits a higher resolution than resistive technology and also allows multi-touch operation. The greater resolution of PCT allows operation without direct contact, such that the conducting layers can be coated with further protective insulating layers, and operate even under screen protectors, or behind weather and vandal-proof glass.

PCT is used in a wide range of applications including point of sale systems, smartphones, and public information kiosks. Visual Planet's ViP Interactive Foil is an example of a kiosk PCT product, where a gloved hand can register a touch on a sensor surface through a glass window. Examples of consumer devices using projected capacitive touchscreens include Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPod Touch, HTC's HD2, G1, and HTC Hero, Motorola's Droid, Palm Inc.'s Palm Pre and Palm Pixi and more recently the LG KM900 Arena, Microsoft's Zune HD, Sony Walkman X series, Sony Ericsson's Aino and now Vidalco's Edge, D1 and Jewel, and the Nokia X6 phone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#Capacitive

From my research from other websites too, what I understand is that an electrostatic discharge is needed for a touch screen to work. It seems like there is something to do with circuits. Basically in the touch screen device, there is a circuit inside it. However, it is an "open" circuit. When we touch the screen with our fingers, it closes the circuit and allows the touch screen to work. When we take our fingers off, the circuit is then opened again and it cannot work. This shows that our body is used as conductors for the touch screen device to work.

When using gloves, gloves are made of non-conductors and therefore, cannot close the circuit to make the touch device work. Therefore, removal of the gloves is essential before using the touch screen so that it is able to work properly.

However, there are some gloves specially made so that the use of the touch screen is possible with the gloves still on.
The first option is a special kind of glove that only exposes the tip of your fingertips or only the tips of your thumb and index finger. This way, you can do all the actions on the touch display while the other parts of our hands not exposed still warm.

The next option for touch screen phone users is DOTS – these are again a pair of woolen hand-gloves but unlike Etry Touches, they won’t expose any of your fingers to the biting cold.
Instead, these gloves have "dots" that are fitted at the fingertips to help you navigate the iPhone controls. These dots are smoothly curved so you won’t damage the screen of your touch screen device.

http://www.labnol.org/gadgets/winter-hand-gloves-for-touch-screen-phones/7699/

I also found this website that shows you how to use your existing glove and still be able to use touch screen devices:

Most modern touch screens use "capacitive touchscreen" which you can read about at length here, but in short it means that for a glove to work with a touch screen it needs to complete a circuit with your finger. So that's what we're going to do by putting some conductive thread between the screen and our finger.

Skills
You need to be able to sew a few stitches without killing yourself.

Supplies
You will need:
•A glove.
•A needle.
•12" (30cm) of conductive thread.

Steps
#1 Thread your needle
You don't need a whole lot of thread, just a foot or so.

#2: Sew a few stitches in the finger of your glove.
On the outside try to make the stitches pretty close so it only touches the screen in a smallish area (about 1/4" or 6mm in diameter.) This will help your finger touches be more accurate.

Tip: Don't make it too small! The iPhone, for example, will ignore small touch areas. If it doesn't seem to work very well, try increasing the size of the stitches on the outside.

On the inside of the finger, it's actually good for it to be messy (See #3).

3-5 stitches should be enough.

#3: Leave some extra inside the glove.
You want to make sure the thread touches your finger or your hand on the inside, so leave some extra. Leave danging thread on your knots, etc. You might even tack a bit to the lining of the glove

#4: Repeat on other fingers (optional)
If you use other fingers or thumbs to use your screen repeat the step on them too.

That's it!

Go ahead and give it a try! Put on your glove and see what you can do with your phone.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-A-Glove-Work-With-A-Touch-Screen

This solves the problem of not being able to use those gloves on a touch screen device. It is much cheaper than buying another new glove that has the special function of using it on a touch screen.
Though it won't be as accurate as using your bare hands but it is good enough as now you don't have to take of those gloves in the freezing cold weather just to type or give a call...or press the touch button at the Grand Hyatt Hotel...

Thank You :D

On Touch Screens, Why Aren't We Allowed To Use Gloves?

I remembered watching a video once on why we are not able to use gloves on touch screens...however, I only remember it vaguely and can only remember something about electro-something, of which, I researched and came up with these:

Projected capacitance
Projected Capacitive Touch (PCT) technology is a capacitive technology which permits more accurate and flexible operation, by etching the conductive layer. An XY array is formed either by etching a single layer to form a grid pattern of electrodes, or by etching two separate, perpendicular layers of conductive material with parallel lines or tracks to form the grid (comparable to the pixel grid found in many LCD displays).

Applying voltage to the array creates a grid of capacitors. Bringing a finger or conductive stylus close to the surface of the sensor changes the local electrostatic field. The capacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be measured to accurately determine the touch location. The use of a grid permits a higher resolution than resistive technology and also allows multi-touch operation. The greater resolution of PCT allows operation without direct contact, such that the conducting layers can be coated with further protective insulating layers, and operate even under screen protectors, or behind weather and vandal-proof glass.

PCT is used in a wide range of applications including point of sale systems, smartphones, and public information kiosks. Visual Planet's ViP Interactive Foil is an example of a kiosk PCT product, where a gloved hand can register a touch on a sensor surface through a glass window. Examples of consumer devices using projected capacitive touchscreens include Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPod Touch, HTC's HD2, G1, and HTC Hero, Motorola's Droid, Palm Inc.'s Palm Pre and Palm Pixi and more recently the LG KM900 Arena, Microsoft's Zune HD, Sony Walkman X series, Sony Ericsson's Aino and now Vidalco's Edge, D1 and Jewel, and the Nokia X6 phone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#Capacitive

From my research from other websites too, what I understand is that an electrostatic discharge is needed for a touch screen to work. It seems like there is something to do with circuits. Basically in the touch screen device, there is a circuit inside it. However, it is an "open" circuit. When we touch the screen with our fingers, it closes the circuit and allows the touch screen to work. When we take our fingers off, the circuit is then opened again and it cannot work. This shows that our body is used as conductors for the touch screen device to work.

When using gloves, gloves are made of non-conductors and therefore, cannot close the circuit to make the touch device work. Therefore, removal of the gloves is essential before using the touch screen so that it is able to work properly.

However, there are some gloves specially made so that the use of the touch screen is possible with the gloves still on.
The first option is a special kind of glove that only exposes the tip of your fingertips or only the tips of your thumb and index finger. This way, you can do all the actions on the touch display while the other parts of our hands not exposed still warm.

The next option for touch screen phone users is DOTS – these are again a pair of woolen hand-gloves but unlike Etry Touches, they won’t expose any of your fingers to the biting cold.
Instead, these gloves have "dots" that are fitted at the fingertips to help you navigate the iPhone controls. These dots are smoothly curved so you won’t damage the screen of your touch screen device.

http://www.labnol.org/gadgets/winter-hand-gloves-for-touch-screen-phones/7699/

I also found this website that shows you how to use your existing glove and still be able to use touch screen devices:

Most modern touch screens use "capacitive touchscreen" which you can read about at length here, but in short it means that for a glove to work with a touch screen it needs to complete a circuit with your finger. So that's what we're going to do by putting some conductive thread between the screen and our finger.

Skills
You need to be able to sew a few stitches without killing yourself.

Supplies
You will need:
•A glove.
•A needle.
•12" (30cm) of conductive thread.

Steps
#1 Thread your needle
You don't need a whole lot of thread, just a foot or so.

#2: Sew a few stitches in the finger of your glove.
On the outside try to make the stitches pretty close so it only touches the screen in a smallish area (about 1/4" or 6mm in diameter.) This will help your finger touches be more accurate.

Tip: Don't make it too small! The iPhone, for example, will ignore small touch areas. If it doesn't seem to work very well, try increasing the size of the stitches on the outside.

On the inside of the finger, it's actually good for it to be messy (See #3).

3-5 stitches should be enough.

#3: Leave some extra inside the glove.
You want to make sure the thread touches your finger or your hand on the inside, so leave some extra. Leave danging thread on your knots, etc. You might even tack a bit to the lining of the glove

#4: Repeat on other fingers (optional)
If you use other fingers or thumbs to use your screen repeat the step on them too.

That's it!

Go ahead and give it a try! Put on your glove and see what you can do with your phone.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-A-Glove-Work-With-A-Touch-Screen

This solves the problem of not being able to use those gloves on a touch screen device. It is much cheaper than buying another new glove that has the special function of using it on a touch screen.
Though it won't be as accurate as using your bare hands but it is good enough as now you don't have to take of those gloves in the freezing cold weather just to type or give a call...or press the touch button at the Grand Hyatt Hotel...

Thank You :D