HP to present "e-book reader" featuring an intuitive interface

vranghel · 05-15-2007, 11:26 PM

Another e-book reader goodness!

Quote:

Although there've been lots of eBooks the past year, none of them have had this HP concept that was demoed at the HP Mobility Summit. Instead of pressing a button to turn the page (which you can presumably still do) there are touch strips on the top, bottom, and sides of the ebook that you can slide to virtually turn the page.

HP to present ‘ebook reader’ featuring intuitive interface

[via Gizmodo]

NatCh · 05-16-2007, 12:23 AM

Interesting, it looks like an LCD screen to me ... anyone else have an opinion?

It seems to me we've seen that sort of flip-strip before ... or perhaps I'm constructing the memory based on "like to have" type discussions around here.

Bob Russell · 05-16-2007, 01:06 AM

I remember something like that also, but it may not have been from HP. Might be that it's the interface being highlighted, not the display.

astra · 05-16-2007, 06:22 AM

It happened to me only once, but I laughed so hard!

A few days ago when I was reading a book (sony reader) I was immersed so deeply into the book that when I finish a page I tried to actually "turn" the page by reaching the top right corner of the reader and trying to turn the page. Obviously it didn't work and I started to do it again assuming that my fingers just slipped at the first attempt, only when I reached the corner of the reader and touched it again I realized what I was doing!!!

rexcrieg · 05-16-2007, 07:22 AM

Looks good, what does everyone think regarding color + video speed of this compared to grayscale slow eink? a la Irex Iliad? I think they both have their merits.

Thoughts?

yvanleterrible · 05-16-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Interesting, it looks like an LCD screen to me ... anyone else have an opinion?

It seems to me we've seen that sort of flip-strip before ... or perhaps I'm constructing the memory based on "like to have" type discussions around here.

It does have the silvery green tinge of LCD but the contrast ratio looks closer to eink's.
Eink is not limited to the actual proponents we know. I am sure that everydisplay lab across the world has some type of eink prototype being studied.

yvanleterrible · 05-16-2007, 08:28 AM

That screen is about the Sony's size, rotated.

I like the touch strips, it would allow reading from any position. That is good ergonomics. There is a drawback to it though. If its too sensitive, one will have a tendancy to wreak havoc in one's reading linearity by inadvertantly touching strips at the wrong time and place.

That would make it hand under manipulation only.

Of course at this point in time the display should be colo(u)r!!!

The only drawback for me is it being HP. They're specialists at outdating their wares too quickly.
And what about their software being separate from the hardware? They usually get out of situations by blaming one against the other!

astra · 05-16-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

That screen is about the Sony's size, rotated.

I like the touch strips, it would allow reading from any position. That is good ergonomics. There is a drawback to it though. If its too sensitive, one will have a tendancy to wreak havoc in one's reading linearity by inadvertantly touching strips at the wrong time and place.

There is a solution to the problem. They should make it so it is sensitive only to wet fingers and each time you want to turn a page you have to spit? on your fingers

rexcrieg · 05-16-2007, 08:48 AM

Been doing some digging, see here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3173835.stm

It turns out this device was first demonstrated in 2003! (It seems) Imagine what they have in the pipeline by now????

NatCh · 05-16-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexcrieg

Looks good, what does everyone think regarding color + video speed of this compared to grayscale slow eink? a la Irex Iliad? I think they both have their merits.

Thoughts?

The biggest drawback to LCD is the dismal battery life it affords, particularly compared to e-ink.

The second biggest is that a lot of people find staring at the backlight uncomfortable.

nekokami · 05-16-2007, 10:46 AM

Very funny, astra_lestat.

I'd rather a touch screen with fingertip sensor than strips along the edge. I think Yvan is right, it would make it too hard to hold onto the thing. Plus a touch screen can be used for lots of other functions, whereas edge strips are pretty limited in value for the amount of tech required.

bingle · 05-16-2007, 02:36 PM

Well, it's cool tech... but am I the only person who thinks that we don't need to maintain *every* aspect of reading books? I personally like the clean, easy, digital nature of pressing a single button to turn a page.

To me, this is like putting reins on a car so it drives more like a horse ;-P

yvanleterrible · 05-16-2007, 03:00 PM

I can just picture that! Two leather straps on the steering wheel and the driver in the back seat!

I like buttons too but they're never at the right place. It's like those designers only read seated with two hands holing the device. Actually that might be their lab's fault. They have nowhere to lay down and try the design.

Wouldn't you agree that an ebook reader should be usable with just one hand? There are no pages to turn for peoples sake!

vranghel · 05-16-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexcrieg

Been doing some digging, see here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3173835.stm

It turns out this device was first demonstrated in 2003! (It seems) Imagine what they have in the pipeline by now????

The pics in the article looks like the screen is LCD (theres some backlighting visible)

By recreating the 'paper-book reading experience' they're making things unneccesarily complicated for both themselves and the end-users.

delphidb96 · 05-16-2007, 05:11 PM

If it *is* e-ink, think of the problems. First there's the whole 'it takes a half second or more to update the page' problem. Then there's the 'every page-flip sucks out power' problem. And there's the "you can't efficiently scroll an e-ink screen' problem. Nope. Not a good think for an e-ink device. I can see it working well with an LCD though. Although I must admit that having to get that level of sensitivity in my ham-sized thumbs and fingers would probably drive me to shatter the danged thing over my knee within a few days.

Derek

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"First Wave" - A New Comic Book Series Featuring Doc Savage	Solitaire1	Reading Recommendations	3	03-02-2010 12:13 AM
"A new network interface has been detected" when connecting my BeBook to my Mac	bigmoney	BeBook	2	09-07-2009 04:13 PM
Fictionwise "Buywise" club better than free at present - NOW ENDED	HarryT	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	79	09-19-2008 01:06 PM
Brother Japan to present an A5 "Electronic Document Reader"	igorsk	News	20	09-05-2008 08:20 AM

05-16-2007, 12:23 AM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Interesting, it looks like an LCD screen to me ... anyone else have an opinion? It seems to me we've seen that sort of flip-strip before ... or perhaps I'm constructing the memory based on "like to have" type discussions around here.

05-16-2007, 01:06 AM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I remember something like that also, but it may not have been from HP. Might be that it's the interface being highlighted, not the display.

05-16-2007, 06:22 AM	#4
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	It happened to me only once, but I laughed so hard! A few days ago when I was reading a book (sony reader) I was immersed so deeply into the book that when I finish a page I tried to actually "turn" the page by reaching the top right corner of the reader and trying to turn the page. Obviously it didn't work and I started to do it again assuming that my fingers just slipped at the first attempt, only when I reached the corner of the reader and touched it again I realized what I was doing!!!

05-16-2007, 07:22 AM	#5
rexcrieg Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007	Looks good, what does everyone think regarding color + video speed of this compared to grayscale slow eink? a la Irex Iliad? I think they both have their merits. Thoughts?

05-16-2007, 08:28 AM	#7
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	That screen is about the Sony's size, rotated. I like the touch strips, it would allow reading from any position. That is good ergonomics. There is a drawback to it though. If its too sensitive, one will have a tendancy to wreak havoc in one's reading linearity by inadvertantly touching strips at the wrong time and place. That would make it hand under manipulation only. Of course at this point in time the display should be colo(u)r!!! The only drawback for me is it being HP. They're specialists at outdating their wares too quickly. And what about their software being separate from the hardware? They usually get out of situations by blaming one against the other!

05-16-2007, 08:48 AM	#9
rexcrieg Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007	Been doing some digging, see here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3173835.stm It turns out this device was first demonstrated in 2003! (It seems) Imagine what they have in the pipeline by now????

05-16-2007, 10:46 AM	#11
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Very funny, astra_lestat. I'd rather a touch screen with fingertip sensor than strips along the edge. I think Yvan is right, it would make it too hard to hold onto the thing. Plus a touch screen can be used for lots of other functions, whereas edge strips are pretty limited in value for the amount of tech required.

05-16-2007, 02:36 PM	#12
bingle Addict Posts: 273 Karma: 499 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Device: Sony Reader	Well, it's cool tech... but am I the only person who thinks that we don't need to maintain every aspect of reading books? I personally like the clean, easy, digital nature of pressing a single button to turn a page. To me, this is like putting reins on a car so it drives more like a horse ;-P

05-16-2007, 03:00 PM	#13
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I can just picture that! Two leather straps on the steering wheel and the driver in the back seat! I like buttons too but they're never at the right place. It's like those designers only read seated with two hands holing the device. Actually that might be their lab's fault. They have nowhere to lay down and try the design. Wouldn't you agree that an ebook reader should be usable with just one hand? There are no pages to turn for peoples sake!

05-16-2007, 05:11 PM	#15
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	If it is e-ink, think of the problems. First there's the whole 'it takes a half second or more to update the page' problem. Then there's the 'every page-flip sucks out power' problem. And there's the "you can't efficiently scroll an e-ink screen' problem. Nope. Not a good think for an e-ink device. I can see it working well with an LCD though. Although I must admit that having to get that level of sensitivity in my ham-sized thumbs and fingers would probably drive me to shatter the danged thing over my knee within a few days. Derek

Advert

Advert