Touch screens that work only with fingers are usually capacitive touch screens—specifically projected capacitive (PCAP) technology, which is the most common type in smartphones, tablets, and modern kiosks.
Why They Work Only with Fingers:
How Capacitive Touch Works:
The screen has a grid of conductive material that stores a small electrical charge.
When your finger (a conductor) touches the surface, it disturbs the electrostatic field, and the system senses the change in capacitance at that point.
The touch controller uses this data to pinpoint the exact location of your touch.
Why Fingers (or Conductors) Are Needed:
Your body conducts electricity, so it can draw charge from the capacitive layer.
Non-conductive objects like plastic pens or gloves do not affect the electrical field, so they aren't detected.
However, special styluses or capacitive gloves (with conductive thread) can simulate a finger.
Summary:
| Works With |
Doesn’t Work With |
Bare fingers
|
Plastic stylus |
| Conductive stylus |
Ordinary gloves |
| Special gloves |
Wooden sticks |
Custom Touch Display product links for reference
https://www.eurotech-lcd.com/industrie.aspx
https://www.eurotech-lcd.com/about.aspx#contact