Screen Protectors

A screen protector is used to protect the LCD screens of digital, electronic devices. The personal digital assistant (PDA) is, perhaps, the most commonly used gadget for which screen protectors are used because PDAs are operated via a stylus. more...

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The tip of the stylus can often mar or scratch the sensitive LCD screen surface, and so screen protectors were brought to market.

The "first generation" of screen protectors were made from very thin films based on the concept that an extra layer between the two surfaces (screen and stylus) would provide the needed protection to prolong the life of the device. These screen protectors came (and still come) in packs of 10 to 20 protectors and are hand-cut by the end consumer to fit the specific device. Such screen protectors, while offering extra protection, did not completely fill the need in the marketplace. They peeled up easily and they scratched almost as easily as the screens, causing the protector to be replaced often.

The newest generation of screen protectors are made from a much more durable film and are designed to be a more permanent part of the gadget which they protect. The material is a urethane based film which is a little thicker than traditional screen protectors (.008 inches compared to .005 or .003), but the film is hardly noticeable once installed. The film originated when the U.S. military was looking for a way to protect the leading edges of their military helicopter blades from abrasive air-born particles (sand) while traveling at hundreds of miles per hour.

There are benefits to both sides of the proverbial screen protector fence. First-generation screen protectors are generally less expensive and can be purchased in packs, enabling the consumer to fit them to different devices themselves. Second-generation screen protectors are more expensive, but offer better long-term protection and are generally made specifically for each individual device, providing the end-consumer with a better fitting protector.

Read more at Wikipedia.org