Touchscreens and callouses

[St Drogo]

So i just got my first smartphone. It's got a touchscreen. But i'm having some trouble typing with my calloused fingers. It's like the screen wont really register when i touch it with a bit of skin that's hardened. Any of you guys have this same experience? It's having me type with my pinky. Like a chump.

I assume this sort of thing works by running a minute current through the screen, and then registering where something conductive touches it. And perhaps calloused skin is less conductive than soft and meaty skin? Anyone have a better guess?

[ABravado]

I have the same problem with my phone.

[Lemoore-on]

I was just complaining to my girlfriend about that same thing the other day. I have the same problem with my loptop mouse pad. seems as though my right pinky is the only finger I can use on my droid..........

[St Drogo]

Exactly! My right pinky also! Thank god I don't slap, or my right thumb would also be out!

[AlvarHanso]

Guess I'm never getting a smart phone! (I hate cell phones anyway, if I didn't need one, I wouldn't have it, but such is life...)

[deshi00]

Never noticed this, but i mainly type with all thumbs in full keyboard. I have noticed the lap top mouse pad though... If you pick one up that has the option of using a stylus it should work better (I think). Seeing as it doesnt need the heat or anything conductive or what ever else may be nessecary that the others pick up from finger tips.

[lowfreq33]

I sort of use the side of my index finger to navigate, or the tip of my thumb. Both thumbs to type.

[LiamPodmore]

My phone seems to work fine most of the time, although on my old touch screen (LG KP500 Cookie) i used to type with my thumbs so that worked fine.

Liam

[lareamond]

This is why I like resistive touch screens. It doesn't use the electrical current from the body to register touches. Most smartphones these days use capacitive touch screens. Makes it a pain in the @$$ for people to type on them in the winter time with gloves on. Bring back the old touch screens, please!

[littlepope]

I use a number 8 rebar to input data on my itouch.

[Megas3300]

Your calloused skin must be less electrically significant than non calloused skin, not enough to be counted as a "touch" anyways. Moisturizer might help in this case.

[ZanaZulu807]

Just use your thumbs. I've got some of the worst callouses (complete with the crisscross string indentations....) and I have no problem. If your using an android, download something called Swype (you may already have it installed); It's a helluva lot better than typing as you actually...swipe across each letter to form words.