Kev,

Font sizes that I use in applications range from 12 point for detailed textual
descriptions, 14 point for general text or descriptions, 16 and 24 point for
titles.    Part of what will determine the font you select will be the screen
resolution that you are writing your application to run in.  The apparent size
of the text will change based on resolution.  The sizes I supplied are used in
apps. running in 800x600x24 resolution.  If you develop your app. at 640x480,
your text will look jaggy.  Using a true-color (24 or 32 bit) video card will
eliminate palette concerns.  Also, are you running Windows or is this a
different platform?  Avoid putting text over a picture background unless you
have some way to make it stand out over the changing background colors. You
should look into techniques for adding shadows, backgrounds or outlines to
your text to make it more readable.

        Screen layout is also very important, the location and size of controls
in a
touch application should be consistent and the controls (buttons, etc.) should
be large enough for finger operation.  Don't forget to take paralax error into
account.  Depending on the type of touch screen you are using, the actual
touch sensitive overlay may be far enough away from the screen to make it look
like a button is being pushed when the user's finger is outside of the target
area.  Use 3D buttons which depress or pictures that change when touched, with
a chime or other sound so that patrons recognize when they have successfully
activated a control to move to the next page, etc.  You would be suprised at
how quickly people will become impatient waiting for the computer to load
information and begin sporadically punching buttons all over the screen - be
sure to carefully test your application under these conditions to make sure it
doesn't crash when a little kid (or adult) starts poking fingers all over the
place and putting their hands on the screen.

        One last thing... the type of touch screen you select is also important.
  I
would recommend a MicroTouch capacitive touch monitor.

        I'd be glad to help you more, but I am leaving town for a week tonight f
or
Oregon.  If you e-mail me directly, I will get back to you sooner, when I
return... it will take me a couple of days to go through a week of Museum-L
digests and I might miss additional discussion on this thread.

Mark C. Vang
Freya Ventures : Interactive exhibit computer software.
2100 Mediterranean Ave. Suite 15
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(804) 340-0099
Internet: [log in to unmask]