Roll-out screen used in actual e-reader
The first e-reader with a roll-out screen is to be unveiled at a trade show in Germany tomorrow. So what will this mean to publishers of novels for cellphone screens? Could the roll-out variety eventually make cellphone-optimized novels obsolete? Not sure, but here are the details about the new gizmo from a division of Philips:
Philips Concept Readius is a prototype of a connected consumer device for business professionals unwilling to sacrifice readability, mobility, performance, or weight in a pocket-sized, e-reader concept.
Polymer Vision does not intend to commercialize this concept as a product in the market. Instead, it is demonstrating the fitness of its rollable displays for use in the mobile devices of tomorrow.
The Readius is the world’s first prototype of a functional electronic-document reader that can unroll its display to a scale larger than the device itself. With four gray levels, the monochrome, 5-inch QVGA (320 pixels x 240 pixels) display provides paper-like viewing comfort with a high contrast ratio for reading-intensive applications, including text, graphics, and electronic maps. Using a bi-stable electrophoretic display effect from E Ink Corp., the display consumes little power and is easy to read, even in bright daylight. Once the user has finished reading, the display can be rolled back into the pocket-size (100 mm x 60 mm x 20 mm) device.
More from Tweekers. Anyone care to translate?
Related: EE Times article and German item via Librie email list.
(Thanks, Romeo!)
September 1st, 2005 at 8:54 am
It’s so frustrating seeing all these devices turn up as tech demonstrators or in markets like Japan. That device design looks excellent though too low resolution in my view. There are high resolution photos here to give a better idea…
http://www.polymervision.com/New-Center/Downloads/Index.html
September 1st, 2005 at 9:19 am
Very helpful, David! Thanks. I totally agree even though I’m confident the res will improve. And meanwhile I’d recommend that people check out your site, blog.org. Talk about a great domain name! I’m jealous. - The Other David
September 1st, 2005 at 9:55 am
I love the marketese these guys use; especially since marketese is often so easy to translate:
- for business professionals = we produce it for 20 euro, you pay 400 euro
- easy to read, even in bright daylight = unreadable in the dark
Then again, I’d love to be proven wrong.
What does “consumer device for business professionals” mean, anyway. Are there any other types of professionals than business professionals? And why would they use consumer models? I guess the Polymer Vision folks have heard of the marketese handbook, but haven’t actually read it.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:44 am
Branko, you’ve made some excellent points. Thanks.
I’m excited by the roll-out capabilities but the word “prototype” is important.” Res could be better. So could contrast (I sold my Librie due to lack of contrast).
As for prices, I don’t think this is all a gouge. At the start the tech is expensive, with R&D costs to be made up for, even if one could argue that PV should take its time.
Marketese? Yep, that’s a worthy battle you have going. Keep it up.
David
September 1st, 2005 at 1:27 pm
In “Gerry Anderson’s New Captain Scarlet,” there are devices they use that have similar pop-out screens (note to the unititated: this is a CGI TV program; but the design is neat).
Two words when they have it higher res and in color: ME WANT!
September 1st, 2005 at 3:13 pm
“Marketese? Yep, that’s a worthy battle you have going.”
It’s not a battle. Marketeers are in that respect like the monkey who cannot get its hand from the jar, because the fist clenches the apple. You can only laugh at such silly instincts and move on. It’s a weakness of mine that I go for easy targets like that.
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:53 am
Basically the tweakers.net post mentiones that the greyscale screen has a frame rate of 2 images per second. Full-color with moving images are not yet possible. Are they at 2 frames per second?
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:49 am
As long as the refresh rate can be sufficient for e-books, that’ll take there of that. As for full motion, I hope it’ll come–but first things first from a book perspective. Of course, the color would help even with books (illustrations and all that). Thanks for your note. - DR
September 6th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Slashdot now has an entry about this device.