A living book through E-Ink

Alexander Turcic · 08-27-2005, 10:14 AM

Biz Stone, cofounder of the blog site xanga and now Google employee, comes up with an ingenious idea that could give the term e-book new meaning: Think about a traditional dead-tree book that is somehow equipped with E-Ink (or any other e-paper technology, for that matter) and a WiFi receiver. So far, unimpressive. But then,

Quote:

The story inside the book is collectively edited online just like Wikipedia. The on-board receiver picks up the signal and the e-ink makes the necessary edits. The result is a kind of living book. The story changes over time. So if you want to find out how the version of the story you are reading *right now* ends then you'd better not put the book down. It's like magic.

In other words, you could carry for instance a "paper" version of Wikipedia with you and be assured that its entries are always up-to-date whenever you have access to some WiFi connection. Does this sound realistic?

derekweb · 08-27-2005, 11:29 AM

With e-ink being able to keep print on it's 'screen' without power, once it's set, this could give a whole new GREEN concept to traditional bound/cover books!

I for one would definitely like to see this thought carried through to some type of marketable conclusion. I only hope that it's logical and well-thought out. /shrug/ We'll see.

rlauzon · 08-27-2005, 05:43 PM

Didn't Neil Gaiman write a story about something like this?

As a wedding present, a couple get a book about their lives. They put it away, but every few years, they take it out and it's been magically updated to include events in their alternate lives.

doctorow · 08-28-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlauzon

Didn't Neil Gaiman write a story about something like this?

Gaiman has always been ahead of his time... great author!

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08-27-2005, 11:29 AM	#2
derekweb Groupie Posts: 160 Karma: 3134 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United States Device: Palm Treo 700p & iPaq hx2755	With e-ink being able to keep print on it's 'screen' without power, once it's set, this could give a whole new GREEN concept to traditional bound/cover books! I for one would definitely like to see this thought carried through to some type of marketable conclusion. I only hope that it's logical and well-thought out. /shrug/ We'll see.

08-27-2005, 05:43 PM	#3
rlauzon Wizard Posts: 1,018 Karma: 67827 Join Date: Jan 2005 Device: PocketBook Era	Didn't Neil Gaiman write a story about something like this? As a wedding present, a couple get a book about their lives. They put it away, but every few years, they take it out and it's been magically updated to include events in their alternate lives.