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| | Name : | Stanley A. Klein | Organization : | N/A | Post Date : | 9/30/2005 |
| Comment : | Note that the 15 kV and 8 kV values are substantially lower than the typical voltage levels
indicated by the Electrostatic Discharge Association. The IEEE P1583 draft (that was provided
to the TGDC) added a requirement that “When memory devices are used to store votes and are
handled by voters or poll workers as part of normal use, these memory devices shall be tested
both while installed and separately from the host equipment.” The TGDC appears to have
ignored this added requirement in preparing their guidelines for the EAC.
Touchscreens are particularly vulnerable to ESD. It is particularly revealing to browse the
Internet for touchscreen specifications. Special steps must be taken to prevent ESD from
disrupting the touchscreen and possibly getting back into the electronics of the equipment using
the touchscreen. An electrostatic discharge is like a low energy lightning hit on the equipment.
People can't even feel discharges below 3000 volts, and manufacturers of electronic components
and computer devices frequently warn users of the potential effects of touching their components
without proper ESD protection. For example, one manufacturer of touchscreen point of sale
terminals explicitly recommends installing antistatic floor coverings in the vicinity of their terminals. | |
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