Guide to Digitizers

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Kinds of Digitizers include the following:

Active digitizers

• Active digitizers emit electromagnetic signals that react to the metal tip of a stylus.
• They can track the stylus without touching the tip, allowing the user to hover over the screen without accidentally pressing buttons.
• They also allow the hand to rest on the screen without affecting the movement of the stylus.
• They are usually installed behind the screen to maintain visibility, although most devices have protective overlays to protect the LCD.
• They can be used with pressure-sensitive pens to create different brush and pen strokes.

• Passive digitizers detect stylus pressure and movement only upon direct contact.
• The pointer usually jumps to a certain location when pressed, which tends to cause slow and inaccurate movement.
• They respond to all forms of pressure, so placing the hand on the screen can move the cursor and accidentally press buttons.
• They are commonly used in small touch screen devices and early tablet PCs.

Sensitivity: Choose a highly sensitive digitizer to accurately detect stylus movement. Smaller screens and fine-point pens usually require more sensitive digitizers for navigation. Look for adjustable or pressure-sensitive surfaces if you frequently use the freehand or handwriting function.

Hover speed: Choose a digitizer that moves the pointer at moderate speeds. Fast-moving pointers can be difficult to control and operate. Look for a lower speed if you have a small screen or poor vision to better track movement.

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