As the history of the technology time line plays out, it starts out with a few inventions from time to time and leads up to such a jumbled mess that its hard to tell when certain things where created. It is no secret that technology has evolved at an exponential rate and continues to grow each day.
This blog post will take you back about 33 years ago to 1977 when General Digital, a manufacturer of LCD rack mount monitors, invented the first gas plasma, flat panel, touch screen serial LCD computer monitor and terminal. (Click here for a look at the schematic, an exclusive to Display Alliance). This innovative piece of technology was for military purposes only at the time, and would pave the way for military touch screen LCD monitors to come.
Specifications – VuePoint I
As time passes, 33 years later we are now capable of supporting technology that well exceeds the VuePoint I. Lets compare the Acer T230H 23” Widescreen Touch Screen Monitor, a monitor equipped with today's technology.
The Acer T230H may not be military grade equipment but now technology that was originally only available to the military is now in consumers hands. It is amazing to think back and realize what other type of technology was available at this time. Television sets where being used as monitors for the Apple II PC. The Military was using the first Global Positioning System on the market. Voyager 1 & 2 were launched into outer space. Illinois Bell Company introduced their Cellular Phone which weighed 35 Ounces, now cell phones weigh about 3 ounces.
As you can see, technology has allowed us to enhance the capabilities of our past. It has created smaller versions of older forms of technology such as the cell phone. Most of us use touch screens on a daily basis these days, either from our cell phones or on a ATM, even as we check our selves out at the grocery store.