Whats key though is the possible handwriting keyboard they might build into the iPad OS. I know there are apps that do this, but the lack of built in functionality prevents you from using it within more complex applications. If they bring this to the iPhone device I think many providers would appreciate it, would be nice for writing scripts using care360 and other eprescribing methods.

Also, I’m going to look into this more for a future post, but in terms of accuracy capacitive screens aren’t technically “more accurate”. However, they are still relatively new technology, and apparently Apple’s screens are extremely accurate compared to its competitors.

I’m wondering what situation would make it good to be using a touch pad with a gloved hand. Presumably, you have a glove on because you have some exposure to bodily fluids so whatever surface you are touching will become contaminated, won’t it? It almost seems like it would be better to cover your iphone with a disposable wrapper if necessary than to turn your smartphone into a fomite.

Good question. This is actually a topic we should consider turning into a post so our medical readers have a better idea of the difference between a capacitive touch screen and traditional (“resistive”) touch screens.

The quick difference is that resistive touch screens require physical contact to register touch (e.g. using a plastic stylus), while the capacitive screen uses the conductivity of your finger. Thats why it won’t work when you are gloved up in the hospital/clinic. The reason apple is using the capacitive touch screen is because they are more accurate, with the obvious benefit of being able to use your fingers w/o requiring any sort of pressure on the screen.

This will be a good topic to discuss in detail in the future, thanks for the question!