All buttons on the iPod (with Dock Connector) model are touch-sensitive. This includes the Select button, Previous/Rewind button, Menu button, Play/Pause button, and Next/Fast-Forward. These touch-sensitive buttons increase iPod's ruggedness and durability because there are fewer moving parts.
Building on the success of the touch wheel, touch-sensitive buttons are not affected by motion. Instead, they are activated when they contact another electrical conductor. Since the human finger is an electrical conductor, when it makes contact with the touch buttons and touch wheel, an electrical phenomenon called capacitance activates the command that has been entered.
When iPod's backlighting turns on, the four buttons above the touchwheel are illuminated orange-red. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 Illuminated buttons
The iPod (with Dock Connector) model's hold switch is not a touch-sensitive button. The buttons on the remote for the iPod (with Dock Connector) are mechanical buttons.
Building on the success of the touch wheel, touch-sensitive buttons are not affected by motion. Instead, they are activated when they contact another electrical conductor. Since the human finger is an electrical conductor, when it makes contact with the touch buttons and touch wheel, an electrical phenomenon called capacitance activates the command that has been entered.
When iPod's backlighting turns on, the four buttons above the touchwheel are illuminated orange-red. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 Illuminated buttons
The iPod (with Dock Connector) model's hold switch is not a touch-sensitive button. The buttons on the remote for the iPod (with Dock Connector) are mechanical buttons.