A touch panel is integrated into a flat panel display device having a visual display surface with a front polarizer layer, particularly a liquid crystal display device. The touch panel comprises a flexible transparent membrane containing the front polarizer layer and having a first transparent conductive layer on a lower surface of the flexible transparent membrane and a rigid base comprising the flat panel display device and having a second transparent conductive layer on an upper surface of the rigid base. At least one spacer separates the flexible transparent membrane from the rigid base, keeping the first and second transparent conductive layers in spaced-apart facing relationship. A bus bar and tail communicate a signal from the touch panel to the flat panel display device.