There still appears to be a firm belief out there that people really want and need a system that leaves their screens covered with smeary fingerprints – ever seen how revolting a touch-screen exhibition guide becomes in no time? – and Digital Equipment Corp has announced DECtouch hardware, a box of tricks that fits under the front of MS-DOS-based monitors and turns them into touch screen input devices: it provides transparent compatibility so no special application software or modification to the monitor is required – it simply plugs into the serial port and calibrates itself to the size and weight of the monitor – it works with any monitor measuring 12 to 19 weighing up to 90 lbs, offering 40 touch points per inch with pressure sensitivity user selectable up to 256 levels; it is $900.
