touch screen

[Mikemk]

Since my OS is geared toward tablets, I'd like to implement touch screen functionality. On intel, is there a standard/semistandard method of doing this, or would it vary based on screen/manufacturer/something else?

I have a feeling that it has to do with serial ports or usb, so I may have to get those set up first.

[trinopoty]

Touchscreen is a class of HID (Human Interface Device). More specifically, it is an absolute pointing device that sort of works like the mouse.
It may have a dedicated PCI device or may be connected by USB depending on the manufacturer.

[rdos]

Touch screens are often different between manufacturers. Some touch-screens based on USB could be HID implementations, but even if they are, the HID specification is extremely complex. Other USB implementations could rely on USB-to serial converters, that in the end uses a proprietary format.

For supporting a specific touch-screen on a specific computer, check an existing OS installation for which driver is used, and try to get the spec. In my experience, several manufacturers will send specifications for serial-based touch screens.

[Mikemk]

OK, thank you. About reverse engineering a driver, what legal/licensing stuff would I have to go through for that for my OS to remain closed source?

[bewing]

Always try one of the BSD flavors first -- those have no real licensing issues.

[Mikemk]

Which is the public domain one? Is that BSD?
And thank you.

[DennisCGc]

Which is the public domain one? Is that BSD?

Neither are. The BSD style licenses are permissive licenses, allowing you to do almost anything provided you retain their copyright notices in source and binary form. Check http://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause for more information on what the license actually says.

[Combuster]

About reverse engineering a driver, what legal/licensing stuff would I have to go through

In practice, very little. Reverse engineering is all about separating the functionality (not copyrightable) from the expression in the form of source code or binary (copyrightable), then discarding the latter.

[AbstractYouShudNow]

For touch screens, I think you can take a look at how Android does that. It is based on Linux, Open Source (AFAIK), and has to deal much with touch screens

[Mikemk]

For touch screens, I think you can take a look at how Android does that. It is based on Linux, Open Source (AFAIK), and has to deal much with touch screens

I've been trying to download the source for a couple months. VERY slow and limited access internet in rural areas