Notouch

Notouch is a term used to describe technologies and practices designed to enable interaction or operation without direct physical contact with surfaces. It covers hardware sensors, communication protocols, and software interfaces that detect non-contact inputs and translate them into actions.

Applications include contactless payments using near-field communication or RFID; proximity sensing and gesture control using cameras, infrared, millimeter-wave radar; voice-controlled interfaces; touchless biometric authentication such as facial recognition; and public-facing kiosks and door access systems that operate with waveforms or sensors rather than touch.

The concept has roots in public health and human-computer interaction. It gained momentum with the spread of smartphones and embedded sensors and has been widely deployed in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and workplace settings. The term notouch is frequently used in industry discussions about hygienic design, accessibility, and user experience.

Benefits include reduced risk of contamination, faster interactions, and improved accessibility for users with mobility impairments. Drawbacks include privacy and security concerns, sensor accuracy, environmental constraints, and potential exclusion of users who cannot use certain modalities.

Related topics include contactless payment, touchless interfaces, gesture recognition, and privacy considerations.