|
I'm a fan of modularity, myself. In some of my novels I've hypothesized portable information storage/computing devices that were worn unobtrusively on the person (perhaps clipped to an ear), with direct verbal IO, to which you would use modules to extend its usability when needed. I see an e-book reader as such a module to the main device.
So the reader would wirelessly connect to the main device to download the desired book on request ("MyDevice, open Canterbury Tales." If you said "MyDevice, read Canterbury Tales", it would dictate it to you instead).
Internal storage would be minimal, enough to store a few books at a time (permanent storage would be in the main device). Since it is a module, bought separately, the user can choose screen type (because some of us prefer LCD, it has built-in backlight, color, etc), touchscreen or no, hard buttons or on-screen controls, keypad, etc, according to preference. The user can even purchase more than one screen module, depending on use (paperback-sized grey-only for basic literature reading, periodical-sized full-color for comics/graphic novels or textbooks, etc). Large readers should have some amount of size reduction capability, either through folding, roll-up, or fanning/accordion methods.
For performance, instant-on; minimum 48-hour constant use battery life, rechargable on the run by solar; less than .5 sec page change; if backlit, multiple brightness settings; adjustable contrast settings (in LCD or e-ink); size/font adjustability; ability to display or hide on-screen menus (to gain screen space, or remove distraction).
|