torn ribbon connecting to screen sensor on 1st gen ipod touch

mind identifying which cable? Draw an arrow using paint over this image indicating which one -> http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/N4gGJyrTEKUg1G2C.large

If it's the orange one on the bottom left corner with the rectangular sticker on it, then you can replace it. You'll need to order a new touch screen, which are cheap ($15 or less) from eBay. While you're doing that repair, you might want to order a new midframe too, since you'll get adhesive with that, and it'll make the ipod look like new. If you want it to look totally new, then you can also order a new back. Overall, you'll probably spend $25 or less on those parts.

 

That's just the wifi antenna, you should be fine without it, the only thing is that wifi will not work. I did the same thing to a friends ipod touch.

 

3M 9703 conductive tape will do the trick. You'll need to dissolve or scratch away (I'd worry about scratching the copper away too) the plastic that's covering the coper trace on both ends of the ribbon, and use the conducive tape to stick them together. Of course, I don't know what chemicals will melt a ribbon cable (which is made of kapton I think). I know acetone will dissolve plastic, so maybe try using a qtip and acetone to rub away the plastic coating.

Of course, it would be possible to solder from the last component on the antenna trace onto the small board, but without schematics there's no way to tell where to solder