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mogui · 06-10-2007, 12:39 AM

I think there is a market for an A4-sized dumb screen that connects via WiFi. It would be touch-screen operated so you could select your application and reading material. It would sit nicely on a music stand or rest comfortably in your hand for reading.

The firmware would be nothing more than a VNC client (here or here). One would hope for a color screen so those PDFs would show up in their intended form.

All of the software support for this device would reside on the PC. The dumb screen would only show what was on the PC's screen. The touchscreen would operate the PC remotely. There are many passive PC applications for which this remote screen would be useful.

Would a remote screen be expensive? Maybe not. We have $100 picture frames that contain LCDs, though they are usually smaller. The addition of some firmware and a WiFi interface ought not cost too much more. If Asus can produce the Eee with WiFi for $200, we should surely be able to see one of these for the same price or less.

Hardware list:
LCD screen, color
Microprocessor with system flash and RAM
Battery and charging circuitry
Touch screen
WiFi

There would be no OS. The firmware would seek and establish a WiFi connection to the master PC. There would be a setup screen for establishing WiFi and VNC parameters. This would only be done one time.

The device would run off of the battery or as a plugged-in device

The case and screen would be ruggedized because it would probably be knocked off of the music stand frequently. Velcro backing would be convenient.

06-10-2007, 12:39 AM	#4
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	A4-sized dumb screen (VNC over WiFi) I think there is a market for an A4-sized dumb screen that connects via WiFi. It would be touch-screen operated so you could select your application and reading material. It would sit nicely on a music stand or rest comfortably in your hand for reading. The firmware would be nothing more than a VNC client (here or here). One would hope for a color screen so those PDFs would show up in their intended form. All of the software support for this device would reside on the PC. The dumb screen would only show what was on the PC's screen. The touchscreen would operate the PC remotely. There are many passive PC applications for which this remote screen would be useful. Would a remote screen be expensive? Maybe not. We have $100 picture frames that contain LCDs, though they are usually smaller. The addition of some firmware and a WiFi interface ought not cost too much more. If Asus can produce the Eee with WiFi for $200, we should surely be able to see one of these for the same price or less. Hardware list: LCD screen, color Microprocessor with system flash and RAM Battery and charging circuitry Touch screen WiFi There would be no OS. The firmware would seek and establish a WiFi connection to the master PC. There would be a setup screen for establishing WiFi and VNC parameters. This would only be done one time. The device would run off of the battery or as a plugged-in device The case and screen would be ruggedized because it would probably be knocked off of the music stand frequently. Velcro backing would be convenient.