Touch
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4/8/2010
User input is the means by which the user communicates with a device. The OEM determines the specific combination of input devices that are supported by the Windows Mobile device. Different devices support different input devices. For example, some devices support a touch screen for text entry, instead of a keyboard. Other platforms might include handwriting recognition software in place of or in addition to a keyboard.
Windows Mobile devices support touch screens. Users can touch the screen with either a stylus or their fingers. Touch is used to move to new screens, interact with common controls, and input text by using an on–screen keyboard or handwriting recognition.
A stylus is recommended (for a resistive display device) when the display screen is smaller than the minimum size shown in this table:
Screen Type | Resolution | Logical DPI | Minimum Size | Recommended Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
QVGA |
320 X 240 or 240 X 320 |
96 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
WQVGA |
400 X 240 or 240 X 400 |
96 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
320 Square |
320 X 320 |
128 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
480 Square |
480 X 480 |
192 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
HVGA |
480 X 320 or 320 X 480 |
128 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
VGA |
640 X 480 or 480 X 640 |
192 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
WVGA |
800 X 480 or 480 X 800 |
192 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
FWVGA |
854 X 480 or 480 X 854 |
192 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
There are two kinds of touch events recognized in Windows Mobile. The first is a standard touch event in which you use your finger or stylus to select, drag, or manipulate an object on the screen. Examples of this are typing by using a Software-based Input Panel, clicking a link, opening an e-mail by selecting it, or scrolling by using a scrollbar. The second kind of touch event is a gesture. Specific, short, directional motions with the finger or stylus, called touch gestures, are mapped to different kinds of behavior such as pan, and select and hold.**
The stylus or finger generates an input event when the user touches the screen. To an application, touch input is a subset of mouse input. When the user presses and releases the stylus on the screen, the application processes these events as a click of the left mouse button. When the user moves the stylus across the screen, the application processes this action as a movement of a mouse.
In This Section
- Using Gestures in Windows Mobile 6.5
Provides a description of the Touch Screen Gesture programming elements.
Related Sections
- User Interface
Provides information on the ways that a user can interact with a Windows Mobile device and its applications.
- Mouse
Provides information about support for mouse input in Windows Mobile.
- Software-based Input Panel
Provides information about how to input data through the Software Input Panel.