Activate Two Cursors in Windows on Multiple Touch Screens
Do you need to use two mouse cursors on Windows with multiple touch screens? It’s a challenge that can be increasingly prevalent, especially in retail / point of sale (POS) environments where POS systems have two touch screens. Let’s explore some different ideas on how to solve this. This post is slightly focused on POS environments where this issue is commonly found; however, the solutions provided strive to suit most situations where two cursors may be needed on a Windows cash register on multiple touch screens.
Why Two Mouse Cursors?
Before diving into solutions, it’s important to grasp why two cursors might be advantageous. In retail and checkout settings, cashiers and customers often need to interact simultaneously with the touch screens. Two mouse cursors enable both the cashier and the customer to interact independently, ensuring no disruption to the cashier’s workflow when the customer interacts with the screen. Another instance in which having two cursors on a Windows PC can be beneficial is within gaming, where having two cursors can allow players to play on the same device via separate cursors without interference from one another.
Overcoming Default Settings
By default, Windows shares a single cursor across the two touchscreens. This means that when a customer interacts with the customer-facing screen, the mouse cursor is moved away from the cashier’s workspace on a Windows based multi-touch screen cash register. This can be time consuming and inefficient for the cashier since they would have to wait for the customer to input their information for the transaction. It could also cause mistakes in the procedure since any interruption could distract the other party’s interaction with the system.
Solutions
Enabling two cursors on Windows with multiple touch screens may be easier than you think. There are different types of software available, which are designed to handle multiple displays and mouse cursors. An alternative is software from ID24, known for their expertise in retail environments featuring cash registers with two touch screens where two cursor activation is essential.
There are also other solutions that may suit you better. The screen manufacturer Ctouch has a page that shows the instructions you need to follow in order to activate multiple touch screens (link).
Multiple Cursors
There are also solutions for those interested in using several computer mice on one system. This again includes using third party drivers such as EitherMouse. Many of these drivers support both left- and right-handed mice, which is appreciated by those who want to use both hands at the same time when interacting with the system.
A Better Cashier Environment
Having two active mouse cursors on Windows with multiple touch screens can improve your cashier work environment. It creates a smoother and more customer-friendly experience while making the cashier’s work more efficient. The solution is within reach with the right customization and software. When you are faced with the challenge of two touch screens and an active second display for the customer, there are options to solve this obstacle.
The company ID24 often receives requests from various checkout providers on how best to solve this challenge. There is both a more generic solution for POS that you can try from ID24 – and one that is a bit more customized based on the hardware and version of the operating system that you use. For more information, visit their website. Their solutions extend to different versions and distributions of both Windows and Linux.
Closing Thoughts
Using two cursors can increase your productivity in various environments. I hope you found this text helpful and that you discovered some solution that will work best for you.
