Gerry,
 
The debate here has been between trackballs and touchscreens. There are pros
and cons to both.
 
Touchscreens are a bit more intimate and allows the visitor to connect with
what is on the screen. On the other hand, buttons must be a bit bigger because
touchscreens are not known for precision. Also, touchscreens DO wear in places
where buttons are, so some spots on the screen lose their sensitivity.
Replacing a touchscreen can range from the cost of the screen ($500-$1000), but
this may only have to be done once during the life of a monitor (say 5 years).
Also, visitors, especially young children, will be more fascinated by moving
the cursor across the screen with a touchscreen. Also, kids working in teams
may compete to move the cursor rather than work the program. This may not be
all bad, but certainly the content may get lost because of the input device. It
is easy to hide the cursor, which is often done with touchscreens.
 
Other input devices do not have the life of a touchscreen. Trackballs,
joysticks, mice wear out under constant use in a high traffic institution. The
argument of "it is less expensive to replace a trackball than a touchscreen"
fades if you are replacing trackballs at the rate of once every six months. At
a $75 to $100 each, this adds up over the life of an exhibit. On the plus side,
most people are familiar with joysticks and trackballs, and screen and program
design does not depend upon the input device.
 
Just a few thoughts and observations.
 
--john chadwick
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