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I think we are just one step away from this advance in underwater camera housings. Might already be out. But a dive computer gets bumped and rubbed too often in my opinion.
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i agree with rich, after awhile of getting scratched an beat up,, will the touch screen still recognize its being touched? as with a cd after enough scratches the laser cant read it, or if its a thermal type pad wouldnt the cold water defeat the thermal sensing?
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I think we will see them but IMO I wouldn’t purchase one if it didn’t come with buttons to navigate around with too. Dive computers are way too expensive to rely on a screen that well I think we’ve all seen with cell phones, they break quite frequently.
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When they first came out with dive computers we all said, salt water and electronics, that’s not going to work!
Two years ago I was going to buy a color display and give one of my older computers to my wife but after the DM hit her with the tank that was the end of her OW training :(
On my Cochran computer you thump the screen to turn on the lighting but I’m not sure how touch screen would work with 7mil or drysuit gloves.
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I am sure they will get to touch screen computers soon. They make a housing to take an ipad underwater, I do not know how the touch screen part works or what good it is to bring an ipad underwater in the first place but if you make a new gadget someone will to buy it.
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Here is a link to one in their product R&D line from a company in Australia (Sea Bear Diving Technology) that they claim has already been tested to 60M underwater.
seabear-diving.com/touch-dive-computer
I agree that I want navigation buttons as well as the touch screen though; I don’t want to rely solely on a touch screen underwater.
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Greg - 1/31/2014 6:54 AM 
From RockRat2008: Here is a link to one in their product R&D line from a company in Australia (Sea Bear Diving Technology) that they claim has already been tested to 60M underwater.
Here is what SeaBear’s website says: "Our Touch Dive Computer (TDC) is the first dive computer with a patented touch display, that can be used even underwater. In 2012 we have finished the feasibility study with successful dives to 60m in the Mediterranean sea and to 120m in simulated dives in an experimental hyperbaric chamber."
I really like the idea of a touch display dive computer. It would allow dive computer software to become much more intuitive. I would not be worried more worried about damaging a touch screen dive computer than I would a normal dive computer. Manufactures would just have to use that tough glass or gorilla glass. And if the sides had ridges that came up a bit, that would help protect it from normal bumps.
And as far as gloves, they make special gloves that work with touch screen displays...so scuba glove makers would have a new product to sell. And having a couple buttons also makes sense, as a backup to perform basic operations while underwater.
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I think it would be awesome pre-dive. My biggest complaint about dive computers is having to deal with 1 or 2 buttons to change the nitrox blend, etc. Programming them pre-dive is a pain so I think an intuitive touch screen interface could make that much better.
Underwater I’d have to try it with gloves to see if I liked it; Small screen, thick gloves (7mm), might make it difficult to touch where you wanted if you had to navigate screens, etc. so that is where the buttons may still be a better option.
For warm water dives though it would be the bomb. :-)
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I want one that will read my thoughts.
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Greg - 1/31/2014 9:08 AM
From RockRat2008: Underwater I’d have to try it with gloves to see if I liked it; Small screen, thick gloves (7mm), might make it difficult to touch where you wanted if you had to navigate screens, etc. so that is where the buttons may still be a better option.
Another thought on glove use with a touch screen...it’s not like we would be programming the dive computer while underwater (ie: we wouldn’t be making intricate changes). If the software interface only allowed a couple large touch areas available while underwater, then thick gloves (designed to work with touch screens) shouldn’t be a problem. Then when you’re on the surface, the regular, more detailed touch options become available.
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Greg - 1/31/2014 9:11 AM
Now that I think about, other than cycling through displays, what more would want to do while underwater? So the whole screen can be one big touch button to cycle between the multiple displays that are available. Then on the surface, the options change and you can "touch" in more places to do things.
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From Greg: Now that I think about, other than cycling through displays, what more would want to do while underwater?
Switch gas mixes, right now my computer changes mixes at a set depth, it would be nice to confirm.
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Oh that sounds interesting. We have been working on some underwater devices of divers. What would be some applications making divers safer and in control of their particular dive?
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VG - 2/02/2014 8:49 AM
Second the motion!
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Today most dive computers are disconnected from our biological performance. As a start could we see computers having sensors from our body (attached body sensor) and air (via an embedded sensor in secondary regulator for example) providing thermal characteristics and say CO levels to the diver? This drives us down a new with regards to protecting the diver. The embedded operating code in some of the newer computers could easily accommodate these additional processing functions. We just to demand it.
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What I’d love to see is a unit that puts everything you need from the computer in a heads-up display, maybe in a full-face mask, perhaps with an alternate display for configuration on the surface (so you don’t have to wear the unit while you’re changing/confirming settings).
Oh, who am I kidding? I want the Iron Man suit, complete with ’Jarvis’ assistant! LOL
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From Progrower: I want one that will read my thoughts.
Well the hoseless already have a pressure sensor on the tank, there are some out there that let you read your buddies pressure but how about it analyzes the mix :) Okay that might get expensive with a pony and deco tank :(
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Oceanic makes a mask with a HUD in the right corner and I saw another company that makes one that clips to your regulator hose and displays a HUD onto your mask as well.
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I like the idea of touch screen, but if all you are going to do is scroll between screens and maybe verify gas mix changes why is a touch screen better than a button?
I think it is cool, but if the price is much higher, is it worth it?
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Greg - 2/13/2014 7:37 AM
From rashley: I like the idea of touch screen, but if all you are going to do is scroll between screens and maybe verify gas mix changes why is a touch screen better than a button? I think it is cool, but if the price is much higher, is it worth it? Underwater, a touch screen wouldn’t really provide much value over a button. It’s above water where a touch screen would prove much better...increasing the ability to make a more intuitive software interface.
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Software, software, software! End point pricing is more a function of who is selling the device. The platform and embedded code is relative and within the design space of the developer. To a degree scuba computers in this regard are no different. Though I would challenge that asking scuba manufacturers to design new software is akin to asking Ford to design a new bicycle. Could they do it? Sure. But why would they do it? As far as getting bumped around? It’s part of the environment and we should expect some abuse. It’s just part of the game. But we should not back down from demanding more functionality. Looking at recent history of OLEDs. The power of our wallets and/or purse string is some thing we can exercise. Just my four cents.
FWIW: Great post
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I fail to see the sense in it.
Even smart phones have touch screens sized for 12 year old girls.
I can hardly use one even with a stylus. The less options and things to go wrong the better.
Maybe for high-end mixed gas use?
I just want to get wet and not drown.
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