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Grades K–2 · Computing

How does a touchscreen use the place you touch?

A touchscreen is both a display and an input surface. When it is touched, it can report where the contact happened. Software uses that location to choose something on the screen.

D20 visual explanationThe reported touch is column 1, row 1, counted from the screen’s top-left. In this toy screen the point lies in the Music region. The software chooses a region by location; the touch does not read the printed word or know the user’s intention.A screen uses the location of a touchColumn 1, row 11234123MAHM: MusicA: ArtH: HomeThis touch selects Music.Columns count across; rows count down from the top.

In the diagramA screen uses the location of a touchColumn 1, row 11234MAHM: MusicA: ArtH: HomeThis touch selects Music.Columns count across; rows count down from the top.

The reported position, column one and row one, lies inside the Music region.

Our small screen has columns across and rows down. Counting starts at the top-left. The shown touch is in column one, row one. That position is inside the region marked M for Music.

Other positions can fall inside Art or Home. The screen does not read a person’s thoughts or simply hear the region’s name. The place touched connects this input to a particular on-screen region.

About this explanation

Starting knowledge: Count four columns and three rows and identify across and down with adult support.

Sources

  • World Wide Web Consortium — Touch Events: positional touch input
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