Not so long ago, a user interface (UI) for an electronic product would typically comprise a couple of pushbuttons and a mono alphanumeric LCD displaying a couple of lines of information. This interface was relatively easy to develop in terms of both hardware and software.
Today, the situation is entirely different. Competitive pressures and the availability of more advanced technology at reasonable cost mean that products increasingly have pre-integrated multitouch colour graphics TFT displays. When this reality is added to most people’s experience with their iPhone or other smart devices, it’s not surprising that equipment buyers by default expect to be impressed by a compelling, attractive and easy to use interface. These easy-to-use, but potentially complex to develop UIs can present major challenges to product developers.
It isn’t uncommon that an OEM’s marketing department requests their next generation proof of concept model complete with colour graphics multitouch UI, ready to show senior management in days rather than weeks or months.
The possibility of delivering any type of useful prototype within such a short timescale only exists if the development team has access to a suitable development product such as the andersDX DX4 Evaluation Kit. This kit provides a completely integrated hardware and software environment, so immediately after purchase a designer can hook up his development PC and focus on writing and testing applications code.
The challenges of integrating a colour graphics multitouch UI
But what happens if the developers decide to avoid the relatively modest investment in the Evaluation Kit, and attempt to integrate from component level instead? To answer this, refer to the graphic below; it shows the hardware and software issues that will confront designers trying to ‘go it alone’, compared with how a development platform such as the DX4, backed by high quality, comprehensive documentation and support from a specialist local supplier such as andersDX can remove these barriers – allowing a concept to become reality in as little as 14 days.
The DX4 Evaluation Kit cuts development load and eliminates all the time- and resource-consuming activities of DIY. Sourcing components and hoping that they’re compatible, making up special cables, bonding the touch screen onto the display, arranging mechanical mounting, organising the operating system, middleware and drivers, linking to the development system, locating documentation of adequate quality and detail…..The Evaluation Kit does all of this for its users; they only have to unpack it, connect it up with their development environment and start writing their killer application code.
Fast prototyping with the DX4 Evaluation Kit
The DX4 is a Plug n Play UI product with three key areas – hardware, software and documentation – backed by local andersDX FAE support.
- 4.3-10.1″ wide viewing angle TFT
- PCAP touch sensor with bonded black bordered coverlens
- Supports 2-5 simultaneous touches & gestures
- Powerful ARM Cortex-A8CPU @ 1GHz
- Video and Graphics acceleration
- Multiple I/O and communications
- Debugged Linux Angstrom, Windows CE or Android
- Pre-integrated QT support for GUI development.
When the time comes for moving from prototype to production, andersDX is available to advise on all manufacturing issues from enclosure design to sourcing and assembly of the TFTs, touch sensors, cover lenses, SBCs and all related components. Contact us to find out more:
