Re: Running multiple touchscreens from one PC

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: "Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxx>
> * Terminal services

This would require either a minimal PC or a winterm at each touchscreen.

> * Multiple dual head graphics cards in the PC

This would be my preferred option, but as you have said making the
application appear on the right screen could prove tricky.

> * Multi session software (don’t know what this is called but I’ve seen
something
> before – allows several instances of Windows to run from one PC)

I had one of these bits of software (may still have it), but they are
usually packaged with proprietary hardware too.  I'd be inclined to
overlook
this option.

> I guess the multi graphic card option is easy to setup but may be a
bit
flakey to get the > right app running on the right screen?

Of course, whether you need each screen displaying something different is
another matter entirely.  A way around this would be to create an
application (you said you'd write your own) the same size as all your
screens put together.  Run it centred on the virtual screen, and it will
spill over into the other screens quite happily, and won't need to be run
on
the correct screen.  Then your only issue is making each screen change
correctly.

> With the terminal services option – what’s the minimum extra hardware
I
would need
> at each screen?

You can get away with something as low spec as a 386 with 16MB RAM.  A
PC104
SFF PC would be a good choice for size.  There are other SFF PCs available.
Winterms can be had cheaply, but not as cheaply as a free 486 ;-)

You could locate the terminals at node 0 and run vga/serial to the screens.
I suspect this could possibly be done over one CAT5 cable using KAT5 and
the
spare pair for serial data.

> Anyone got any other ideas?

How about an IPAQ in each location?  You can run it from one CAT5 cable
(network and power), or just run it power and use wireless LAN.  Your
limitation is really screen size.  Of course, it means you can also have a
portable solution that works in the same way as the mounted options.
Probably costs the same as a touchscreen too.

Cheers,
Andy
--
http://www.andylaurence.co.uk