E-book concept combines leather and multi-touch

JSWolf · 02-27-2008, 10:45 AM

Found on engadget by m42, here is a sexy eBook reader with a nice touch screen.

Quote:

It's likely that the Kindle's popularity is going to spawn a whole slew of e-books vying for the eyes of readers. A concept from a student named Nedzad Mujcinovic at Monash University could very well stoke the fires of competition if his Livre ever makes it to store shelves. The system uses an e-ink screen overlaid with a touch surface, thus forgoing the multitudinous buttons of the Kindle for an ultra-simple, gesture-based input scheme. Pages can be turned by sliding your finger from corner to corner, though double- and triple-finger gestures will advance the book by ten and 50 pages, respectively. Most notable for real book fans is the inclusion of a leather stitched cover, meant to evoke the look and feel of the device's analog counterpart. Amazon's designers would be wise to, uh... take a page from Nedzad's book for the Kindle 2.

More photos and information can be found here.

Dave Berk · 02-27-2008, 11:28 AM

I want one. It looks amazing. But why did he design it so thick?

JSWolf · 02-27-2008, 11:34 AM

My guess is to simulate the feel of a real pBook.

arit · 02-27-2008, 11:42 AM

Sexy! Even though I would prefer it being slightly less thick. More like a ~150p paperback, or a Cybook within it's cover. Better start saving money

JAcheson · 02-27-2008, 01:26 PM

Meh. Way too thick, and heavy-looking.

Also, I don't want a touchscreen, if I have to touch the screen every time I flip a page, it will be filthy in no time, and scratched up and damaged soon after that.

Give me a D-Pad and a couple of function buttons any day.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-27-2008, 01:46 PM

It is just a concept, after all. Anyway, the point is well-taken that more of these could stimulate a real improvement in e-book hardware, and it's something I look forward to. If you want me to cough up $300-400 for a reader, it damn well better look and work great!

moz · 02-27-2008, 03:50 PM

I'm more concerned that it has a leather flap instead of a cover, so the first thing you have to add to it is something to protect the screen when it's not in use. And good luck pushiing that into any gap... the leather will just bunch up along the spine.

I assume it's so thick to contain a big battery so that the cellphone runs for longer.

Amalthia · 02-27-2008, 03:59 PM

I'm not sure I like the touch screen concept because well I eat lunch while reading and I like using just one finger to hit the button to go forward. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to turn pages without getting the screen dirty. (I think it would be cool if you had both options.)

SpiderMatt · 02-28-2008, 12:05 AM

The idea of ebook readers is to make books more portable. But here comes a device that looks quite a bit thicker than any reader to date. This does not look like something I could comfortable lug around with me where ever I went. Also, the touch screen probably drains the battery at a faster pace. Even if the thickness is to hold more battery power to compete with other readers, it's still not something I find appealing. I agree with everyone concerned about getting the screen dirty. I think that's one of the big downfalls of the iPhone, as well. I hate smudged up screens. Also, if there's any kind of search function, I prefer a tactile qwerty over pushing "buttons" on a screen. I do see one advantage: if the reader has a dictionary, you can go straight to the word you want to look up and just touch it. That would be nice (if it's a feature that's implemented). The Livre looks like a neat reader, but I don't think it's my cup of tea.

DMcCunney · 02-28-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiderMatt

The idea of ebook readers is to make books more portable. But here comes a device that looks quite a bit thicker than any reader to date. This does not look like something I could comfortable lug around with me where ever I went.

Bear in mind that it's a proof-of-concept prototype by a design student. If anyone chose to actually make this in quantity, I suspect the finished device would be thinner and lighter.
______
Dennis

JSWolf · 02-28-2008, 02:06 PM

I think it's just proof that it can be done. And now that it can be done, if it was done as an actual for sale device, it would be more ergonomically designed.

moz · 02-28-2008, 04:50 PM

It's a design student - in theory this is all about the form of the books, the size, how it looks and so on. If you're lucky there will also be some user interface design, where the designer runs through a few sample screens to show you what the user is supposed to see and do. IME half of them think flash is an appropriate tool for that task, instead of using a page layout tool (Pagemaker or even WordPad).

Actually making it go is the work of engineers. Given the size of this, it almost looks as though the kid stuffed an iLiad inside it and said "yeah, and a multitouch screen".

Cthulhu · 02-28-2008, 10:08 PM

@ SpiderMatt: Your hyperlink dictionary notion sounds magnificent! Let us get some smart-type people to do that.

Personally, the idea of a finger swipe seems neat. Such an interface more closely replicates an actual book--great for those who might shy away from the jarring non-book experience of current Readers. It seems more....'organic' of a motion that pressing a button.

As for smudgy screens, would imagine that someone could easily enlarge the cling-wrap protector vinyl that accompanies smart-phones. With that on my treo, I can clean it with a Clorox Wipe. Otherwise, what do you people *do* with things to make you so nervous?
;-

yvanleterrible · 03-01-2008, 10:29 AM

An other prototype...thick but not bad.

Sigh! There is so much to do, so long an evolution to go through before we get some sort of stable reading device format. In my view, if we compare the actual ebook to the music world, we're still dealing with four track cassette walkmans... Sigh!

Gladtobemom · 03-01-2008, 12:45 PM

If we could have a decent sized touch screen, touch to choose book/link/turn page, and make it idiot proof.

Just put the books on the SD card and go--all formats (html, pdf, mobi, lit, rtf/doc, etc.)

Read all formats, sort on Author, title, genre, subject, path, filename etc.

And it has to be idiot proof.

02-27-2008, 11:28 AM	#2
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	I want one. It looks amazing. But why did he design it so thick? Last edited by Dave Berk; 02-27-2008 at 11:32 AM.

02-27-2008, 11:42 AM	#4
arit Cybook Warrior Posts: 46 Karma: 446 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wiesbaden, Germany Device: Nokia E65, HTC Universal, Cybook G3	Sexy! Even though I would prefer it being slightly less thick. More like a ~150p paperback, or a Cybook within it's cover. Better start saving money Last edited by arit; 02-27-2008 at 11:46 AM.

03-01-2008, 12:45 PM	#15
Gladtobemom Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Cybook, Palm Z72	And remember to make it idiot proof! If we could have a decent sized touch screen, touch to choose book/link/turn page, and make it idiot proof. Just put the books on the SD card and go--all formats (html, pdf, mobi, lit, rtf/doc, etc.) Read all formats, sort on Author, title, genre, subject, path, filename etc. And it has to be idiot proof.

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02-27-2008, 11:34 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,945 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	My guess is to simulate the feel of a real pBook.

02-27-2008, 01:26 PM	#5
JAcheson Tech Writer Posts: 211 Karma: 1745785 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Device: Palm TX, Nook Color, Nook Simple Touch, Vizio Tablet, Nexus 10	Meh. Way too thick, and heavy-looking. Also, I don't want a touchscreen, if I have to touch the screen every time I flip a page, it will be filthy in no time, and scratched up and damaged soon after that. Give me a D-Pad and a couple of function buttons any day.

02-27-2008, 01:46 PM	#6
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	It is just a concept, after all. Anyway, the point is well-taken that more of these could stimulate a real improvement in e-book hardware, and it's something I look forward to. If you want me to cough up $300-400 for a reader, it damn well better look and work great!

02-27-2008, 03:50 PM	#7
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	I'm more concerned that it has a leather flap instead of a cover, so the first thing you have to add to it is something to protect the screen when it's not in use. And good luck pushiing that into any gap... the leather will just bunch up along the spine. I assume it's so thick to contain a big battery so that the cellphone runs for longer.

02-27-2008, 03:59 PM	#8
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,180 Karma: 32196 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	I'm not sure I like the touch screen concept because well I eat lunch while reading and I like using just one finger to hit the button to go forward. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to turn pages without getting the screen dirty. (I think it would be cool if you had both options.)

02-28-2008, 12:05 AM	#9
SpiderMatt Grand Arbiter Posts: 447 Karma: 1574837 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Device: iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, Motorola Droid	The idea of ebook readers is to make books more portable. But here comes a device that looks quite a bit thicker than any reader to date. This does not look like something I could comfortable lug around with me where ever I went. Also, the touch screen probably drains the battery at a faster pace. Even if the thickness is to hold more battery power to compete with other readers, it's still not something I find appealing. I agree with everyone concerned about getting the screen dirty. I think that's one of the big downfalls of the iPhone, as well. I hate smudged up screens. Also, if there's any kind of search function, I prefer a tactile qwerty over pushing "buttons" on a screen. I do see one advantage: if the reader has a dictionary, you can go straight to the word you want to look up and just touch it. That would be nice (if it's a feature that's implemented). The Livre looks like a neat reader, but I don't think it's my cup of tea.

02-28-2008, 02:06 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,945 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I think it's just proof that it can be done. And now that it can be done, if it was done as an actual for sale device, it would be more ergonomically designed.

02-28-2008, 04:50 PM	#12
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	It's a design student - in theory this is all about the form of the books, the size, how it looks and so on. If you're lucky there will also be some user interface design, where the designer runs through a few sample screens to show you what the user is supposed to see and do. IME half of them think flash is an appropriate tool for that task, instead of using a page layout tool (Pagemaker or even WordPad). Actually making it go is the work of engineers. Given the size of this, it almost looks as though the kid stuffed an iLiad inside it and said "yeah, and a multitouch screen".

02-28-2008, 10:08 PM	#13
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	@ SpiderMatt: Your hyperlink dictionary notion sounds magnificent! Let us get some smart-type people to do that. Personally, the idea of a finger swipe seems neat. Such an interface more closely replicates an actual book--great for those who might shy away from the jarring non-book experience of current Readers. It seems more....'organic' of a motion that pressing a button. As for smudgy screens, would imagine that someone could easily enlarge the cling-wrap protector vinyl that accompanies smart-phones. With that on my treo, I can clean it with a Clorox Wipe. Otherwise, what do you people do with things to make you so nervous? ;-

03-01-2008, 10:29 AM	#14
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	An other prototype...thick but not bad. Sigh! There is so much to do, so long an evolution to go through before we get some sort of stable reading device format. In my view, if we compare the actual ebook to the music world, we're still dealing with four track cassette walkmans... Sigh!

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