Can I adapt a TouchWindow to fit a larger monitor?

[forumuser]

In our district, we have been using TouchWindows on older computers.  Now, we have new computers with 19”  monitors.  The TouchWindows are 15” and are too small to cover the entire screen of the computer.  Is there any way to adapt the TouchWindows so that they can fit onto a larger monitor?  We are wondering because it would be very expensive to replace all of our TouchWindows to fit all of our new monitors.  Any suggestions?   
   

[Jerry]

This is a tough one - I'm writing as I think through this.  You'd have to do some modification of the TouchWindow in order to attach it to the monitor and then the user could only access a portion of the screen.  I'm not sure that it is really a viable idea.  I suppose you could attach it on just two adjacent sides and then try and position the software's activity window in that corner of the screen. It sounds a bit problematic to me, depending on the software.  But, I guess I might try that before investing in new TouchWindows.  In fact, I wouldn't buy TouchWindows or other add-on touch screens.  I recommend purchasing touch monitors (a monitor with touch screen access integrated into the monitor.  They work much better and cost less than a new monitor and TouchWindow combined.  However, it sounds like you already have the new monitors so that's not much help to you.  Sorry - I just don't have a really good solution to your situation.  Perhaps someone else can add some more helpful advice.

[Julie]

I tend to agree with Jerry. I would hang on to the old monitors for some students to use with your current touch windows and if you can afford it, purchase touch monitors. They are more accurate and less temperamental (though somewhat more expensive). Another thing to consider is that many students who use touch windows could learn to use a large USB roller ball mouse which takes less physical effort, is cheaper, more like a regular mouse, and easier to transport. I like the Bigtrack trackball, which costs 79 dollars and is available from Infogrip (www.infogrip.com) and others. I often download a free large cursor to go along with it.

[barbaralyn]

I don't know if this would work, but couldn't you go into the control panel and identify the display size as smaller than the current display so that the active window on the screen would match the touch window size?  The other option might be to use the monitor that fits the touch window as an external 2nd monitor.  All of this would be controlled through the control panel and displays or mirroring.  I have no idea if it would work but I certainly have had to use separate monitors to display from laptops.  I just don't know if the CPU would receive the information from the touch window appropriately.