Hello everyone.  I Eric from Gaithersburg, MD.

This is my first try at a touch screen so i could use some help with the design.  First does the projection screen usually go behind the acylic or in front?  Second which OS, linux or windows, has more support?  And Last (for now) is there any non online retailers that sell ir leds?

Thanks to any help you can offer, I’m sure I will have more questions in the future.

Hi Eric, welcome, whats MD?
I think the best way to design is to look at some designs of others NUIgroup members, you’ll probably find some stuff in the showcase section on this forum, see what you like, implement it in your design, and leave out what you don’t like

i don’t know about other users, but i would reckon putting the projection screen on top of the acrylic, but that’s just my thoughts, somebody else may think different. For now i think the most people here work on the Windows platform but lately we are trying to make stuff crossplatform, so it can be used on OS X and linux as well

there are non online retailers that sell ir leds, check with your local elctronics shop, but i’m sure you pay like alot more at a local electronics store opposed to online retailers

Good luck with your project

MD is Maryland, USA. I live about a half hour outside of Washington D.C.

Thanks for the help, what is a good place to get leds online?  I already checked eBay and all i could find was security cameras with leds built in, i was thinking about trying to take one of these apart but i would need an adapter to connect it to my computer.

I would start by putting it behind the acrylic, putting it infront requires finding the correct sort of projection surface (which noone really knows), or making a soft silicone layer to go inbetween the acrylic and projection screen.

I would avoid buying LEDs off ebay, as it can be b-grade stock.  I dont know the american retailers though.

Hi Eric, I would recommend ordering LEDs off http://digikey.com/.  I’m US also. Just type in “Osram SFH485” in the search. Those are what most of us are using I believe.

i heard about people getting their leds from radioshack as well , and yes digikey is also popular

Thanks for all the help, I’ll get started soon and ill keep posted on any progress.