Touch screens are everywhere including smartphones, tablets and computers and they are generatingt billions according to a new report.
Recently released Touch Panel Market Analysis report revealed that touch screen panel’s demand will hit $13.4 billion in 2011 and nearly double in six years time, hitting $23.9 billion by 2017.
“Touch screen penetration has rapidly increased in mobile phones, handheld games, game consoles, and tablet PC applications, which collectively will account for more than $10.5 billion in touch screen revenues this year,” stated the Vice President of Emerging Display Technologies at DisplaySearch Jennifer Colegrove.
DisplaySearch’s research reveals capacitive touch became the leading form of touch screen technology in 2010, with its popularisation a by the Apple mobile device revolution, being incorporated in their iPods, iPhones and now iPads.
Since then, many other manufacturers have jumped ship from resistive technology, with expected growth rates to hit 100 per cent year to year.
Accounting for two-thirds of touch screen shipments, mobile phones have made most use of the technology. DisplaySearch estimate 868 million touch screens are to be shipped in 2011 for mobile phones, which is a 68 per cent rise year to year.
“In addition, we see strong touch screen growth over the next several years driven by demand in larger display applications such as all-in-one PCs, notebook PCs, and consumer gaming,” says Colegrove.
Projected capacitive technology is also being adapted by the touch navigated tablet market, accounting for 26 million units sold in 2010. Forecasts estimate the figure to rise to 72 million in 2011, and a staggering 100 million by 2012: a forecasted 2011 financial growth in excess of $1 billion.
With touch screen technology seeping into the gaming industry, the figures are expected to continue their rising trend. Nintendo’s 3DS currently employs touch screen panels, with Sony’s future Vita to be doing the same. Future growth is also anticipated in touch screen PCs and notebooks, with trends indicating a conforming to the navigation of software through touch gestures.
To read the report, click here.
