Optical touch technology will gain the upper hand over projected capacitive touch technology in terms of cost for touch panel applications over 15-inches within the next 3-4 years, according to Geoff Walker, marketing evangelist and industry guru for NextWindow in Taipei.
Current quotes for optical touch solutions are US$1 per inch for single-touch panels and US$2 per inch for dual-touch panels, while those for projected capacitive solutions are US$4 per inch, Walker noted. Quotes for dual-touch optical touch panels are expected to drop to US$1 per inch in 2-3 years, Walker added.
Kevin Kao, sales director for Asia for NextWindow, noted that optical touch will become a standard specification like webcam for all-in-one PCs and LCD monitors when the quote for dual-touch optical touch panels drop to US$1 per inch.
NextWindow shipped about 750,000 optical-touch products in 2009, and it expects shipments and revenues to increase significantly in 2010 amid surging demand for touch panels, as well as an increased number of branded clients offering products, Walker said. NextWindow is the leading optical touch supplier for the global IT (notebook and monitor) industry, and the company accounted for 70-80% of the touch-function Windows 7 products in 2009, he noted.
NextWindow has production lines in Thailand and China with a monthly capacity of 200,000-300,000 units, Kao said, adding that NextWindow will adjust its capacity according to client demand as capacity expansion can happen too quickly, though its current capacity should be able to fulfill the demand in 2010. Global all-in-one PC shipments are expected to reach 10-12 million units, of which 50-60% will be equipped with touch functionality, and NextWindow expects to account for over 70% of the market in 2010 amid limited competition, Kao mentioned.
Canada-based interactive whiteboard provider Smart Technologies recently acquired NextWindow. Walker indicated that NextWindow and Smart can complement on each other's clients, business and patents as both companies use optical touch technology but focus on two different industries. He added that 90% of NextWindow's business is in the consumer electronics (CE) industry, while 90% of Smart's business is for educational and business whiteboards. Despite the acquisition, NextWindow's brand, business, production and development will remain the same, he said.