Touch screens ahead for Kindle, Sony Reader, other e-book machines, via F-Origin’s technology?
Update, 9:20 a.m.: Also see Kindle, Sony Reader, others to use Wacom pen-input tech—despite F-Origin announcement?
Amazon’s Kindle, the Sony Reader and other E Ink machines might get much easier to use in navigating books. Just touch and tap with your fingers? Rely less on buttons and menus?
It could happen through Prime View International’s new partnership with an American company that supplies force-sensing technology.
PVI is the display vendor for the Kindle and other E Ink machines, and with exceptions such as iRex’s iLiad, such devices do not work with styluses. Nor do they let you use your fingers to move the cursor
But now a North Carolina company called F-Origin will offer its zTouch 3.0 technology to PVI.
Page-turning by touch, other wrinkles
The upshot, according to a news release from F-Origin, is that users will be able to "control book navigation and numerous management functions, such as turning pages, making selections or simply making edits or comments via touch and through gestures and hand writing recognition. The ease of use and high-functionality of zTouch are an ideal match for eBooks by PVI."
As described by PVI separately, "When a user touches the display, proprietary software calculates the location and intensity of the touch with input from the sensors. There is no additional layer of materials on top of the display as there is in traditional touch technologies; as such, there is no impact to the reflective qualities of the display. This technology requires no ITO (the most fragile component in traditional touch panels), hence exhibits superior robustness. Unlike capacitive touch panels which requires the touch medium be conductive (such as a finger), this force sensing technology works with either stylus or fingers."
No specific mention of the Kindle and others, but…
The comments from F-Origin and PVI do not specifically mention new touch capabilities ahead for the Kindle, the Sony Reader and the others. But I would be surprised if they did not appear in those devices or successors. On top of that, keep in mind that separately Epson and E Ink corporation has announced new technology to make E Ink displays faster. Combine that with greater contrast, another issue, and yet more progress perhaps, and might we see E Ink laptops or general-purpose e-paper tablets with touch screens?
Back to the touch screen capabilities from F-Origin. In the words of the North Carolina company’s news release, issued on behalf of both companies, F-Origin’s technology can offer:
–"Extremely high-design flexibility
–High durability
–Simple interface touch gestures
–Low battery consumption
–Variable touch sensitivity and high resolution
–Optimal light throughput
–Handwriting recognition and variable touch sensitivity
–Software-controlled activation level
–Easily integrated with virtually any operating system."
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Thanks to Alex at MobileRead. Meanwhile, ahead, I’ll reproduce the joint news release, then the separate PVA statement:
| Press Release | Source: F-Origin, Inc. |
F-Origin and PVI Partner to Implement New zTouch 3.0 Technology Into ePaper
Tuesday May 20, 12:04 pm ET
Patented zTouch Technology Offers Force-Sensing Touch Screens for Wide Range of Mobile and Fixed Display Devices
The functionality and flexibility in design provided by zTouch is the perfect solution for ebooks and other products that utilize PVI’s ePaper displays. zTouch enables users to control book navigation and numerous management functions, such as turning pages, making selections or simply making edits or comments via touch and through gestures and hand writing recognition. The ease of use and high-functionality of zTouch are an ideal match for eBooks by PVI.
"PVI is excited to partner with F-Origin to further enhance the designs and features of our eBook and ePaper products," said Scott Liu, Chairman and CEO of PVI. "The user interfaces of our eBooks are constantly becoming more and more advanced. By implementing zTouch 3.0 by F-Origin, PVI is able to provide the end-user with the ultimate in design and user-functionality, and our global leading position in ePaper business is further consolidated."
"Our partnership with PVI allows us to deliver simple and intuitive user-interface solutions for ePaper displays," said Joe Carsanaro, President and CEO of F-Origin. "F-Origin touch screens also support Anytouch(TM), which recognizes a variety of touch inputs, be it finger, glove, stylus or pen on any display device."
The zTouch 3.0 demo unit — as well as a 15" point-of-sale device — will be on display at the SID International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition from May 20-22 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. F-Origin and PVI will be exhibiting the zTouch 3.0 demo unit at booth number 627 on the showroom floor. In addition, Scott Liu will be speaking at the Exhibitor Forum to explain the details and benefits of the F-Origin solution for PVI’s ePaper displays. The forum, titled "A Human Interface for eReader — PVI’s Innovation in Making eReader more User Friendly," will take place in West Exhibit Hall B at 12:00 PM on May 20th.
Additional zTouch 3.0 Features:
-- Extremely high-design flexibility
-- High durability
-- Simple interface touch gestures
-- Low battery consumption
-- Variable touch sensitivity and high resolution
-- Optimal light throughput
-- Handwriting recognition and variable touch sensitivity
-- Software-controlled activation level
-- Easily integrated with virtually any operating system
About Prime View International
Established in June 1992, PVI is the leading maker of small-to-medium-sized TFT-LCD as well as e-Paper display products. As a pioneer of TFT-LCD technology in Taiwan, PVI established Taiwan’s first TFT-LCD factory in Hsinchu, Taiwan in 1994. PVI’s TFT-LCD products have a wide range of uses, from consumer electronic devices, such as mobile phones, global positioning devices, to industrial applications for use in the aviation and maritime industries. PVI is the pioneer and global leader of ePaper display. Its tradition of innovation now continues with the development and commercialization of an ever friendlier of ePaper display by using the zTouch technology. PVI is listed in Taiwan Stock Exchange with code number 8069. More information is available at http://www.pvi.com.tw.
About F-Origin, Inc.
F-Origin is the leading supplier of force-sensing touch screens that enables OEMs and ODMs to rapidly and cost-effectively develop intelligent interface solutions for mobile and fixed display devices. F-Origin’s proprietary touch screen technologies improve OEM and ODM profit margins by increasing device marketability, improving product design, functionality, performance, ease of use and reducing product development costs and product returns. F-Origin has offices in Silicon Valley and North Carolina. More information is available at http://www.f-origin.com.
F-Origin is a trademark of F-Origin, Inc. All other registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Andy Coffaro
FortyThree, Inc.
831.401.3175
acoffaro@fortythreepr.com
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Leading global ePaper display vendor PVI will announce new product Touch EPD in the 2008 Society of Information Display Exhibition in Los Angeles. “Touch Reader combines innovative touch panel technology and PVI’s existing e-paper product.” says PVI Chairman and CEO Scott Liu, “By humanizing e-paper’s user interface, we expect this new product to spur demands for e-books and solidify PVI’s leadership position in the global ePaper market.”
2 Responses to “Touch screens ahead for Kindle, Sony Reader, other e-book machines, via F-Origin’s technology?”
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Great!
May 21st, 2008 at 1:30 pm
touchscreens?
Makes me wonder…
Do these guys already know something?
Are they trying to compete with an upcoming Apple product… something like the current iPhone just with bigger screen - maybe even OLED?
I’m just speculating here…
Anyways, if it’s a closed system then they can forget about having me be their customer.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
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