Laboratory equipment manufacturers may see touchscreen use rise

More touchscreen displays could be used by laboratory equipment manufacturers in light of the maturation of the technology behind such systems.

Research analyst iSuppli notes that professionals such as engineers have a long-held desire to eliminate peripherals such as the keyboard and mouse from the input process.

However, managing to do this in a way that is embraced by consumers has long been an "Achilles heel" for developers.

Now, with popular consumer electronics such as the Apple iPhone, technology including projected capacitance is in the hands of many individuals on a day to day basis.

More sophisticated pressure-sensitive technology could ultimately find its way into the standard features of laboratory equipment manufacturers' products.

For instance, iSuppli argues in favour of sensors that can detect varying levels of pressure, rather than simply the presence of contact.

By detecting the force of the press, a new dimension could be added to the response - such as pressing harder to open a sub-menu than to open its parent.