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Why Gloves Don't Work And Stylus Pens Do

Explore how material properties enable or block touch detection—and how to work around it

Part of How Touchscreens Know Where You Tap

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Last updated Oct 29, 2025. Clone to remix or explore the blocks below.
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content

The Insulation Problem

Educational content slides

The Insulation Problem

Gloves = insulator layer between finger and screen

No matter how sensitive the screen, it can't detect through perfect insulation.

The electrical path is broken:

  • Screen ← ✗ Glove (insulator) ✗ ← Finger
  • No conductivity = No field distortion = No touch detected

Why winter is frustrating for smartphone users!

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quiz

Quiz: 3 Questions

Test your understanding with this quiz.

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Why does a capacitive stylus with a rubber tip work on touchscreens?

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Design for Challenging Environments

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Design for Challenging Environments

Material constraints create design challenges—and innovation opportunities.

Think about: Medical, industrial, extreme weather, public health, security, accessibility contexts.