Microsoft Research Codex project tries two screens on for size

A handheld device with two screens isn't nearly the radical notion it once was, but Microsoft Research's Ken Hinckley seems to think there's still plenty of untapped potential with the idea, and he's actually taken things so far as to build an actual prototype device. As you'll notice, however, he didn't exactly build the so-called "Codex" from scratch, choosing instead to use two OQO Model 02s and folding case to hold 'em together. That, notably, lets him arrange the two screens into various positions that he calls "postures," like a laptop posture (which also lets him take advantage of the OQO's sliding keyboard), or a "battleship posture" that gives two people sitting across from each other their own screen. The big idea there being that the device adapts to different tasks, and actually uses the dual screens as two screens as opposed to one large screen. As should be clear, however, this is very much a research project, and there's no indication of an actual product in the offing, although, as Ken points out, there's not much stopping anyone from building their own -- you'll just have to bring your own code.

[Via GottaBeMobile]

[crazyfishmolester @ Oct 1st 2008 7:57PM]

wow in winmo 7 u can hook any 2 winmo devices and make a superphone?

[deyanimay @ Oct 1st 2008 8:08PM]

Nope, but with wm7 you can split your phone in two, this special feature is called "bad manufacturing."

[dennis @ Oct 1st 2008 8:31PM]

The OQO doesn't run Windows Mobile, it runs Windows.

[deyanimay @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:33PM]

O come on i was just joking. Personally i own a wm6 device and i'm loving it.

[Bill @ Oct 1st 2008 8:05PM]

Meh... can the 2-screen concept and just give me one big super high rez foldable OLED screen.

[john @ Oct 1st 2008 8:08PM]

I'm not sure why this is so impressive (this is the 3rd or 4th place I've seen this posted today).

How is it so different from:
1) having two monitors
2) being able to use a second computer for your 2nd monitor

The "new" part is #2. And that's not really such a big deal, it's really something that should have happened a while ago. I would expect to see this pop up on other platforms really quickly, if anyone finds it to actually be useful. Afterall, any OS that that can support dual monitors and remote displays (ie. all of them) just needs to combine those two features into one.

[Nathan @ Oct 1st 2008 8:32PM]

because it's with a phone, and there's no cable

[john @ Oct 1st 2008 8:48PM]

Those aren't phones, those are OQO UMPC's. Ie. Windows boxes.

And, remote display technology doesn't require a wire either.

Again, no new amazing thing here, as far as I can tell.

[Robert Abramson @ Oct 1st 2008 9:45PM]

uhh, not even the second bit is new... software for controlling two desktops from one set of input devices over a network is pretty common, as can be found at http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ . I think the idea is, as the article notes, to use two screens as two screens (as a way for organizing data or user interaction stuff) instead of treating them like a huge panorama.

[frankXchange @ Oct 1st 2008 10:22PM]

I assume this is in relation to that patent MS filed last week (or so) about using clusters of such devices to share screen space and computing power. The two units would work in tandem, providing you with a larger, more flexible screen space and a faster machine.

Having multiple small screens is something like using multiple desktops. And if I understood the patent article, you could even add a third (or more) screen to form your own mini-cluster. Either way, this solution has some intriguing new and useful abilities.

[szamot @ Oct 1st 2008 8:10PM]

I bet I could make MS like $100 million dollars on this in a flash - literally! Here is how - Kill it now, I mean like right now. It is not going to work, it will not sell. If Smart Screen, Tablets and UMPC are any indication of where this pen based writing innovation and other brilliant ideas are going learn from the past. Put some of the money into XBOX and kick ass. Honestly do it. Do it now.

[noyp @ Oct 1st 2008 8:52PM]

What about non gamers? There are probably people that like this.
I know it's hard to believe there are people that DON'T game.

[MioTheGreat @ Oct 1st 2008 9:02PM]

Don't knock tablet PCs. They're amazing. I love mine.

[TareX @ Oct 1st 2008 8:12PM]

A dual screen laptop with one for a haptic multitouch keyboard should have been done a long time ago. It would have a "book" form factor, and you can actually have thousands of books stored on it. What's wrong MS, waiting for Apple to do it first?

Waiting for OLPC's XO-2... it was covered here on Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/27/olpc-xo-2-to-include-multitouch-and-possibly-haptic-screen-from/

[Greg Mcp @ Oct 1st 2008 8:18PM]

Obviously in a final product you'd hinge them together, Nintendo DS style.
Sure. It makes sense to me. A bit more screen real estate in your phone/iPod Touch gadget thingie is of course welcome.

Or maybe leave the screens detached, allowing you to add more screens as you wish. Concertina them up like a wallet of credit cards. It'd be a nice marketing strategy. Buy the single screen gadget for $400 bucks, then you can add screens for another $100 a pop.

[mko @ Oct 1st 2008 8:39PM]

Could this be Nintendo DS redesign... well no I guess

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 1st 2008 8:40PM]

Not one but two OQO !!! I bet he also lights his havanas with 100 dollars bills, He does'nt even seem to have connected the HDs of the 2 devices. WOW that's a real experiment!

[iEye @ Oct 1st 2008 8:40PM]

I think I should patent the idea on using 3 screent, in a decade I'll be able to sue someone and chi-ching!

* I just took a petent out on a 7 blade Shave system... I predict in 2 years Gillette/Shiek will be getting a call from my legal council...

[DrWatson @ Oct 1st 2008 9:48PM]

What an inspiration! I will tie two of my coworkers to each other and pretend they've became a new employee, twice as productive. I'll leave the "postures" part out of my research, thank you very much.

[Benson @ Oct 1st 2008 9:56PM]

Somehow I read the title as Microsoft "Research Codex"... well, you could use LexisNexis on it, I suppose.

[fred @ Oct 1st 2008 11:37PM]

This, plus OLPC's XO-2, plus Fujitsu concept phone... Apple how about
allowing bluetooth tethering? With the army of developers it would
already be on the market. This was on the message boards early on for the first gen. Iphone
Many use already a protection cover, making it easy to add the second 'thin' touch screen or for those who want a key board similar to what was there for pda's.

Or is it waiting for Android?

While we're at it: overall size not larger than a Mid (i.e.plain 4.8" screen) plus a detachable bluetooth earpiece.

[Quix @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:36AM]

A dual screen computing device? From Microsoft? THE INNOVATION IS STAGGERING!

Thanks, Microsoft, for blazing the trail. If not forward, at least sideways.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:18AM]

worthless... and whats with the stylus? Leave that crap in the 1990's where it belongs...

[Josh @ Oct 2nd 2008 7:26PM]

Every day we get closer and closer to Penny's computer book from Inspector Gadget!

Braaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnn!!!!!!!