Touch Screen LCD Monitors and G1000

[bgoodwin]

I'm to the point in my cockpit project that I'm preparing to introduce the G1000 onto my panel. I am clearly no expert in these matters but have struggled along and learned as I went. I'd really like to use a couple of touch screen monitors as the PFD and MFD but am unsure of what to buy and how they would actually work. Is it necessary to program/map these touch screens to particular mouse clicks or keyboard functions or do they simply mimic a mouse click on a particular part of the image on the screen such as a panel switch or knob when you touch them. Also how sensitive are they to the touch and is there a potential problem with activating two functions because of the area your finger may cover?

Any advice or recommendations would be welcome.

[twisted8]

I bought a touch panel overlay on ebay, they are much cheaper than buying a whole touch screen. It worked OK. One of the problems I had was that I would accidentally drag the whole panel when trying to click it but if there is a way to lock panels that wouldn't be a problem. And yeah small buttons close to each other can be problematic but overall it works pretty good.
You touch the screen and it acts as a click on that spot without programming anything.

[Rex Flyer]

I struggled with this same consideration. After much thought, I decided not to go with touch screens. Aside from cost, it was just the whole issue of realism. So that I can get up and running faster (you are likely ahead of me by months), I bought two 15.6" monitors for PFD and MFD, and I bought a touch pad that doubles as a numerical pad. In the beginning, I'll use the touch pad to "reach" for the controls on the PFD and MFD. The 15.6" monitors come out to a very close approximation to the size of a PFD or MFD with the controls surrounding the screen being computer generated. Later, using plexiglass or other suitable plastic, I'll build a removable frame with working switches and control knobs to surround the monitors and narrow them to approximate size (10.5" I believe) thereby giving very good realism. If you go to Otpions, then Settings, then Control, then Buttons/keys in FSX (after first choosing "go fly"), you'll see that all of the working functions could be keyboard assigned and then of course accessed by a keyboard hack or other device. Note that not all buttons and switches are functional in FSX, though I did see a 3P add-on making it so. The touch pad could still be useful for in sim tower communications. Other aircraft could be simmed by removing the frame overlays and computer generating gauges or whatever.

[N242AM]

What's a 3p add-on?

If you use FSUIPC, the Mouse Marco feature is great way to assign mouse click spots to a keyboard command. That's providing the panel developer has designed the panel in a manner that FSUIPC can see the click spots. Not all developers do.

What aircraft are you building Bob? I've noticed your posts at MS. I'm still waiting also to see what they do with the turbine G1000.

[Rex Flyer]

3P means Third Party (not original developer, other than Microsoft for FSX)

[Rex Flyer]

I'm still waiting also to see what they do with the turbine G1000.

Turbine G1000. What's a "turbine" G1000?

[gokhotit]

My guess would be a G100 set up for jets.. ie the eclipse 500, or possibly the piperjet

[N242AM]

Gokhotit, you are correct. Mindstar has been promising a G1000 for turbine (jet and turbo-prop) aircraft for almost two years. Still waiting.

[bgoodwin]

Many thanks to all for the feedback. Some interesting ideas. Regarding the use of a touch pad. What advantages would that have over a regular mouse?

[Rex Flyer]

Honestly, the touch pad does not have a lot of advantage. However, unlike a mouse, the touch pad is stationary and therefore takes less space. It is also flat, less obtrusive, and can even be mounted sideways. Finally, if you get one that doubles as a number key pad, you can do your tower responses in FS. Eventually, I hope to limit the touch pad to tower communications only.