Dynabook Usability

Stephen Pair stephen at pairhome.net
Thu Aug 28 19:57:05 UTC 2003


Jecel Assumpcao Jr wrote:

>On Thursday 28 August 2003 13:54, Doug Way wrote:
>  
>
>>Speaking of hardware innovations, though, one idea I've thought would
>>be interesting:  If you had a truly flexible screen technology, you
>>could have a dynabook with the form factor of a scroll.  When rolled
>>up, you'd have a very portable (say) 6" long stick, which you could
>>then unroll into a 12"x6" screen.  It could have a little brace which
>>unfolds to hold the screen in place.  I'd think that a flexible,
>>rollable screen technology will be available before a screen which
>>can be perfectly folded with no gaps.  I suppose this is more
>>interesting from a portability perspective than a usability
>>perspective, though.
>>    
>>
>
>Check out the TV series "Earth: Final Conflict" or the movie "Red 
>Planet" for very nice visualizations of your idea.
>
>http://members.aol.com/nokomiss/Palmcorder.gif
>
>I would prefer it if the scroll were slightly conical, so when you 
>unroll it you would get something similar to the attached picture.
>
>-- Jecel
>

If these flexible displays had wireless capability, then they wouldn't 
need to be physically attached to the computer.  I could imagine that in 
your home, you'd have a number of 8.5 x 11 displays that you could 
spread out on a desktop, or hang on a wall.  You could also throw a few 
in a folder or your luggage to carry with you.  Displays of a smaller 
dimension could roll up into a cylinder for even more portability.

- Stephen



More information about the Squeak-dev mailing list