Sony reveals prototype 13.3-inch e-ink slate with stylus

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ghero

yep, one can go very far with security options, even more things like:
option to take dynamic password (to be generated by an ios/android app on phone) Which to be carried in pockets always, when not holding the device. This phone can be fingerprint sensitive, and can act on fake user accordingly. (A simple model of doing this is to provide a same pre-entered master static password for both slate and phone, which will derive the common checksum for dynamic passoword) And this app can be easily reseted so other people can no longer to use it to generate valid passwords. This app may also be resetted wirelessly, or remotely, in case the device holder is being tortured (or possilbly being tortured). The master password maybe kept secret for the device holders, and only avaliable for higher security officials, so, if he gets beat up, he cant tell the master password also.

Another security option will be like to be able to cleanly wipeout files (which normal simple deletes will left over recoverable files)

Don't you think you're rather getting into the realm of the absurd here? There are already numerous security systems available (eg full-disk encryption systems) for those who need to deal with sensitive information.

[ghero]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Don't you think you're rather getting into the realm of the absurd here? There are already numerous security systems available (eg full-disk encryption systems) for those who need to deal with sensitive information.

ya, maybe that far is not neccessary, kinda joking with him there, but that thing still seems work .

[Ansileran]

I still do not see how a black&white device is going to make it in the education market.

If we are talking about being able to read classics, a 6" (I would prefer 7") device is perfectly fine. Taking handwritten notes and so on (in "post-it") can be done on such a device.

Replacing notebooks would require something larger (9"-ish at least) but already exists. Of course, A4 size would be great, but not necessary and as such would be hard to sell (for a higher price). Handwritting recognition so far isn't good enough (in my opinion) to allow for notes to be taken and then converted to text. Perhaps in English, but French support is dreadful (accents mess up the recognition).

Now, what would be great is a device on which you can read textbooks, which I believe is what a device this size should achieve. That requires color. Most textbooks have colour in the text, the background, graphs, charts, pictures... Unless you only use very outdated books, you need color display.

Even in companies you would need a color display to make it really attractive...

And for retail even more. What would I want to read on a device this size (which, despite the low weight, won't be very practical standing in the subway)? News papers (color images and charts), comics (color too) and books with two pages displayed at once, like a real book. This device would only be useful for the latest (music sheets also, but most people don't care about that) and since you don't really *need* two pages at once, most people aren't going to want to pay a lot for this...

So as long as we are talking black&white, I don't really see how this device is going to make it, unless it comes cheaper than the existing 9" devices.

[Kumabjorn]

[QUOTE=Ansileran;2548233]Handwritting recognition so far isn't good enough (in my opinion) to allow for notes to be taken and then converted to text. Perhaps in English, but French support is dreadful (accents mess up the recognition).

QUOTE]

Actually both the S-Note app and MyScript Notes app in Android, and I'm sure there are similar for iOS are astonishingly good at recognizing handwriting. It shouldn't be difficult to license that technology.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Actually both the S-Note app and MyScript Notes app in Android, and I'm sure there are similar for iOS are astonishingly good at recognizing handwriting. It shouldn't be difficult to license that technology.

Am I alone in finding it a heck of a lot faster to type - even on a "soft keyboard" - than to use handwriting?

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Am I alone in finding it a heck of a lot faster to type - even on a "soft keyboard" - than to use handwriting?

Have you tried handwriting with a stylus? Same speed, including cursive, as writing on paper.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Have you tried handwriting with a stylus? Same speed, including cursive, as writing on paper.

I hate handwriting . I'd rather type, any day. So much faster.

[Ansileran]

[QUOTE=Kumabjorn;2548304]

Originally Posted by Ansileran

Handwritting recognition so far isn't good enough (in my opinion) to allow for notes to be taken and then converted to text. Perhaps in English, but French support is dreadful (accents mess up the recognition).

QUOTE]

Actually both the S-Note app and MyScript Notes app in Android, and I'm sure there are similar for iOS are astonishingly good at recognizing handwriting. It shouldn't be difficult to license that technology.

It's great... in English or German, which don't have accents. For French, if you want to input accents, you have to write one letter after the other, which is awefully slow. I usually write the whole word then put the accents (which, I believe, is what most people do). Words without accents are recognised just fine though. Even Chinese works way better than French

I own both a note II and a note 10 and have given up using handwriting recognition in French in any of them because it takes more time to go back and edit every other word than use the keyboard... I still take handwritten notes on it though...

[WillAdams]

Time was, that handwriting notes was far more socially acceptable than typing them --- a number of my professors in college wouldn't allow laptops, but none of them complained of my using an NCR-3125 (running PenPoint) or Newton MessagePad for note-taking.

Also, a lot of notes are difficult to capture using just a keyboard:

- art history --- I'd always make a quick sketch of a given work of art
- mathematics --- while I know (La)TeX fairly well, it's quite a bit faster to just write out an equation than to try typing the code for it
- diagrams /flow charts --- an outline doesn't have the necessary flexibility

Handwriting recognition works fine, so long as the words are in the dictionary --- I just wrote out résumé w/ little difficulty on my Tablet PC --- even if it gets it wrong, it's fairly simple to click on a given recognized word and select the proper text from a list.

Chinese (characters) are of course even easier, since the number of strokes, their order and direction are rigorously defined.

William

[ApK]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

Time was, that handwriting notes was far more socially acceptable than typing them --- a number of my professors in college wouldn't allow laptops, but none of them complained of my using an NCR-3125 (running PenPoint) or Newton MessagePad for note-taking.

Could that have been more to do with the large distracting laptop display and annoying keyboarding noises, then with any particular preference for handwriting?

[ghero]

I think this kind of device is also useful for art/literature students, and writers of all kind that does alot of writing. Sure you are likely to type, but I took some art/literature courses which does a lot essay writing, one of the prof. suggested that after we finish our writing, it is better to print it out and do the editing on a real page before finalize it into the computer. I found that true. So I think this kind of device can also be marketed to writers of all kinds for editing purposes.

Also, for note taking, as many has point out already, the math symbols/charts/chinese characters/eye friendlyness... there are other advantages. Many laptops now days still lasts 3-4 hours on a full charge (however, the new macbook air/pro are exceptions). That is not a comfortable battery life for students to bring to full day classes and use it to take notes. And they took much longer time to do full charge (including macs, I assume) than e ink devices. And even macs should cost more than this notepad (I assume).

An advantage this device for company on productivity than traditional tablets/computers, is that it is less distractive. Employees will less likely to use this device and wasting their time on games/interesting apps/web surfing etc.

That is all I can think for now.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by ghero

OK, I just thought another potential use of this kind of device: to be used as a music book for music performing industry/music bans, as well as music lovers.

February 17, 2012

If you think of E-ink as being just a company that makes eReader screens, think again. E-ink announced yesterday that one of their lesser known products, a music stand using an E-ink screen, won a 2011 Good Design award.

Rosie is a concept design. It’s based on a pair of 9.7″ E-ink screens sitting side by side. E-ink came with the idea for the obvious reasons, and they made Rosie in the hopes that it would spark interest.

And it has. Several companies are reported to be working on designs similar to Rosie, but none have announced a launch date or price.

Concept Music Stand by Continuum

The Music Stand using E Ink Active Matrix Display presents sheet music in high contrast similar to actual paper, but with added digital benefits such as: the ability to store a large library of music the ability to add notations and share them with other musicians the ability to zoom in on the passage being played An embedded microphone "hears" the music and automatically advances to the next page. No more page turning! Uses E Ink Pearl Active Matrix Display.

From Nov 7, 2011

You see the music stand at 1:12

[Dulin's Books]

literally have tabs open right now to paste in here info about that ^^^ thanks for saving me the typing etc here's one more image

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by ApK

Could that have been more to do with the large distracting laptop display and annoying keyboarding noises, then with any particular preference for handwriting?

I've seen some lectures where the professor specifically stated those reasons for banning laptops.

[Ansileran]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

Handwriting recognition works fine, so long as the words are in the dictionary --- I just wrote out résumé w/ little difficulty on my Tablet PC --- even if it gets it wrong, it's fairly simple to click on a given recognized word and select the proper text from a list.

Yes, but imagine doing that every other word... The dictionary on the note is also a big problem: words are suggested that do not exist, some (seldom used) conjugations are not recognised and names are a nightmare if they are not the usual "Marie", "Jean"... I wonder how it does with Russian ^^

I quite like the music sheet application. No more carrying tons of sheets, no more inconvenient turns of the page... But using a detection program to find out where we are in the piece must use quite a lot of battery, doesn't it? And what if you have a "Da capo" or a repeat sign? Could be a good, though limited, market for the new device...

Otherwise, I still think it needs color to really work...