stuart@rennet.cs.wisc.edu (Stuart Friedberg) (04/24/91)
Clearly we have the technology to put a PC-class machine in a wristwatch, but we don't have any way to type at it or see what it says. HP's recent pocket-sized computer (with teensy keys and display) brought to mind the following question: Do the membrane and LCD technologies allow the creation of a keyboard and display that can be rolled up? Specifically, could we build a full size keyboard not more than 1/32" thick, with a radius of curvature not more than 1/4", to tolerate 100,000 cycles of rolling and unrolling? And could we build a 25x80 character (60x80 would be nicer) display with similar physical characteristics? If so, full-size devices could be stored in a cylinder about 5" long and 2.5" - 3" in diameter. The obvious application is for a REALLY small computer, where you unroll the peripherals, slap them on the most convenient hard surface (a transmission-type display simply could be hung from the back of a chair, or something), plug them in and work. I realize that the appearance and ergonomics of a roll-up keyboard and display would be poor, but today's alternatives (teensy chicklet keys less than a finger width apart and a tiny 14x40 character display) are pretty bad themselves. An alternative keyboard and display for travel (I'm not thinking about permanent installations here) would be welcome. Stu Friedberg (stuart@cs.wisc.edu)
ardai@teda.Teradyne.COM (Mike Ardai) (04/27/91)
In article <1991Apr24.011712.20352@spool.cs.wisc.edu> stuart@cs.wisc.edu writes:
[looking for a roll-up keyboard and display for portable computers]
- An alternative keyboard and display for travel (I'm not
-thinking about permanent installations here) would be welcome.
How about using the Private Eye (from Reflection Technology)? It is a
small head-mounted display that uses a bar of LEDs and a vibrating mirror
to give the wearer the impression of looking at a full 80x25 screen. I
am currently looking into interfacing one to my pofo for just that reason.
/mike
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\|/ Michael L. Ardai N1IST Teradyne EDA East
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