An e-ink primary display on a cellphone? Eh, that's
so 2006. On display at Japan's
CEATEC show this week is a prototype clamshell that flips the concept on its head, moving the e-ink down below. The benefits are pretty obvious -- different keypad configurations can be shown in different phone modes, a tactic that's been
explored before -- but unlike phones that use OLED or LCD displays, e-ink only requires power when it's being changed, so you get the combined benefit of configurable keys while consuming virtually no additional energy over a standard layout. Combine the concept with physical ridges between keys and we figure this could be a pretty killer setup since you wouldn't be losing tactile feedback, either. We see a good fifteen or twenty concept phones for every device that actually sees production, but since some folks bothered to throw together a physical prototype here, we're cautiously optimistic this thing might see the light of day.
[Via
Ubergizmo]
posted Oct 3rd 2007 4:51PM
genius!
Optimus Keyboard, eat your heart out.
File this one under dumbest invention ever
You wouldn't recognize innovation if it bit you in your behind, huh?
its thicker than your head dude
Reading is not among your stronger skills apparently...
"We see a good fifteen or twenty concept phones for every device that actually sees production, but since some folks bothered to throw together a physical ****prototype**** here, we're cautiously optimistic this thing might see the light of day."
Prototype = tinkered together thingy to illustrate and refine the idea. NOT the end product.
*pfff*
yeah I see its a prototype...its a prototype for a product that only appeals to a very small segment...so, if your actually using multiple keyboard layouts maybe your excited about this ***prototype*** in my mind its nothing more than a novelty...so i still say you can file this one under dumbest invention ever...im glad it means enough to you to keep replying..didnt mean to hurt your feelings there guy
"only appeals to a very small segment"???
Yeah, no one would ever want a dynamic touch interface... **cough**iPhone**cough**
Wow, and I thought E-Ink would make a phone thinner...
e-ink???
That should be also thrown into computer keyboards! So you can see the keys change from one keyboard layout/language/IME to another. I sometimes switch from English-US to Russian to Korean-IME to Tamil to ..., and it's often hard for me to memorize which key is which on each layout/IME without having to pop up an onscreen soft-keyboard (which sometimes fails to refresh text; especially Windows On-Screen keyboard for which you can't even adjust the keys' size!) or even physically replace the keyboard hardware itself! e-ink will solve it all without going the costly, power-hungry optical way...
You better patent that idea real quick if it's not patented already.
That graffiti pad on the read link is tops!
I can't remember the last time my PC was starved for power....and I've never used an external keyboard without a power outlet around.
I hit the reply button! I swear!
ok? what does that have to do with anything???
It was a reply to Leroy Vargas.
This will be way better in color.
i think they already have it in color.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/27/hitachi-showing-off-color-version-of-albirey-e-paper/
there are a couple more articles, but im lazy and dont feel like posting them =D
I need this, I always never charge my phone.