A force and location sensitive touch component, comprising: a first transparent layer; a second transparent layer; a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction and adjacent to a first surface of the first transparent layer, each of the first plurality of conductive traces formed in the shape of a ladder with ladder beams and ladder rungs; a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction and adjacent to a first surface of the second transparent layer; a third plurality of conductive traces oriented in the second direction, adjacent to the first surface of the second transparent layer and electrically isolated from the second plurality of conductive traces, one or more of which are arranged between successive ones of the second plurality of conductive traces; a fourth plurality of conductive traces oriented in the first direction and adjacent to the first surface of the first transparent layer, wherein each of the fourth plurality of conductive traces are arranged between and adjacent to successive ones of the first plurality of conductive traces; and a plurality of deformable members juxtaposed between the first surfaces of the first and second transparent layers; wherein the first and fourth pluralities of conductive traces oriented in the first direction partially overlap with the second and third pluralities of conductive traces oriented in the second direction, each of the third plurality of conductive traces overlapping only the ladder beams of the first plurality of conductive traces, and each of the second plurality of conductive traces overlapping the ladder rungs of the first plurality of conductive traces along their full length and width; wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to provide an indication of a force applied to a second surface of the first transparent layer, and the first and third plurality of conductive traces are adapted to provide an indication of a location on the first transparent layer at which a touch is applied; and wherein each of the first plurality of conductive traces are adapted to receive a first drive signal having a first polarity and each of the fourth plurality of conductive traces are adapted to receive a second drive signal having a second polarity opposite that of the first polarity. a first transparent layer; a second transparent layer; a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction and adjacent to a first surface of the first transparent layer, each of the first plurality of conductive traces formed in the shape of a ladder with ladder beams and ladder rungs; a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction and adjacent to a first surface of the second transparent layer; a third plurality of conductive traces oriented in the second direction, adjacent to the first surface of the second transparent layer and electrically isolated from the second plurality of conductive traces, one or more of which are arranged between successive ones of the second plurality of conductive traces; a fourth plurality of conductive traces oriented in the first direction and adjacent to the first surface of the first transparent layer, wherein each of the fourth plurality of conductive traces are arranged between and adjacent to successive ones of the first plurality of conductive traces; and a plurality of deformable members juxtaposed between the first surfaces of the first and second transparent layers; wherein the first and fourth pluralities of conductive traces oriented in the first direction partially overlap with the second and third pluralities of conductive traces oriented in the second direction, each of the third plurality of conductive traces overlapping only the ladder beams of the first plurality of conductive traces, and each of the second plurality of conductive traces overlapping the ladder rungs of the first plurality of conductive traces along their full length and width; wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to provide an indication of a force applied to a second surface of the first transparent layer, and the first and third plurality of conductive traces are adapted to provide an indication of a location on the first transparent layer at which a touch is applied; and wherein each of the first plurality of conductive traces are adapted to receive a first drive signal having a first polarity and each of the fourth plurality of conductive traces are adapted to receive a second drive signal having a second polarity opposite that of the first polarity.