KeyTec Makes Any Monitor a Touch Screen by Liane Cassavoy

NEW YORK -- Don't bother using a mouse to control your PC--all you need is right at your fingertips. KeyTec's Magic Touch Add-On Kit, on display here at CeBIT, instantly converts your monitor into an interactive touch-screen display.

The key component of the Magic Touch Add-On Kit is a thin glass panel that fits over your existing monitor. It attaches using either Velcro straps or a plastic bracket (for large displays) and comes with beige or black trim to match your PC.

The Add-On screens are available for notebooks, CRTs, and LCDs, and for screens ranging in size from 12 to 21 inches. Prices vary according to size, from $179 to $409, according to company representatives. The Magic Touch product line is available through the Keytec Web site and with various resellers.
Easy Installation

The Add-On screen requires the installation of drivers, which are available for all versions of Windows as well as Linux and Mac operating systems. The screen does not need its own power source, and the installation does not require you to open your computer's case. The kit features a controller that connects to available USB or COM ports on your computer.

Once installed, the glass screen sits directly in front of your existing display. It features a pressure-sensitive thin film overlay that allows you to use either a stylus or your fingertip to control your computer.

"You don't have to mess with your keyboard or your mouse," says Jim Turpin, product manager.
Coming in Handy

Magic Touch lets you control any application on your PC, and manage the functions of the system itself, by touch. Turpin says he finds it especially helpful when using Photoshop or other imaging applications. Instead of trying to create digital drawings and edit existing photographs using the mouse, he taps the screen and draws with the stylus for faster results.

Magic Touch also offers speedier performance for gaming, he says. Turpin estimates users will be able to control their games three to five times faster than when using a mouse. The kit also is useful for households with young children, who are much more comfortable using their fingers than a mouse and keyboard.

The screen can be cleaned with most available glass cleaners, such as Windex, but the cleaner should not be applied directly to the screen, he adds.

Keytec also markets Magic Touch monitors with integrated touch screen technology. The company sells 15-, 17-, 19-, and 21-inch CRTs, and 12-,15-, 17-, and 18-inch LCDs. Prices start at $495 for the 15-inch CRT, and range all the way up to $1480 for the 21-inch LCD.