Definition of "resistive touchscreen"

In the cell phone industry there are two major categories of touchscreen displays: capacitive touchscreens and resistive touchscreens. Resistive touchscreen displays are composed of multiple layers that are separated by thin spaces. Pressure applied to the surface of the display by a finger or stylus causes the layers to touch, which completes electrical circuits and tells the device where the user is touching. As such, resistive type touchscreens require much more pressure to activate than capacitive touchscreens. Examples of devices with resistive touchscreens are the HTC Touch Diamond and the Samsung SGH-i900 Omnia.