The Future PC as a Set of Pens? 327
Strudelkugel writes "The Wave Report covers a concept PC that NEC is working on, called P-ISM. (Maybe the name doesn't work, but it looks cool.) The design concept uses five different pens to make a computer. One pen is a CPU, another a camera, one creates a virtual keyboard, another projects the visual output and thus the display and another a communicator (a phone). All five pens can rest in a holding block which recharges the batteries and holds the mass storage. Each pen communicates wirelessly with the others."
Looks neat, but (Score:5, Interesting)
That projector pen would definitely be nice though, I hope they make it project far and wide (and sharp).
voice recognition (Score:5, Interesting)
The problem with that (Score:5, Interesting)
What is the benefit of the CPU in a pen? (Score:5, Interesting)
Unless they're planning on making a 9 slot base, so I can have the 4 I/O pens, and 5 CPU pens, I don't see a real benefit. And I'm guessing I'd see more benefit out of having the storage be more expandable than the CPU power. [I could always replace the CPU item, but having the storage segregated makes more sense to me, so I have my work documents on one, personal stuff on another, music on a third, etc.]
Call me a traditionalist... (Score:5, Interesting)
...or even a luddite, but: one creates a virtual keyboard?I happen to like the idea of having some sort of tactile feedback when I write. If I'm going to write so much on this sort of future PDA so much I need a keyboard to do it, I would much prefer either a keyboar like the Psion Series5 [idnes.cz] or a good system for transforming handwritting into input (hey, if they are going to add a camera anyway, why not put it to good use?)
Sorry NEC, but 'hammering' my fingers into the desk isn't high on my list of things to do... which isn't the same as to say that it is a stupid idea for everyone.
Sour Grapes (Score:3, Interesting)
A pen-as-PC makes design sense, for utilitarian and human reasons. People can deal with a pen. We've used them for millenia.
They also could be cell phones as well, with voice, video, and internet capabilities. Wireless, of course.
I was seriously considering applying for a patent on the idea. Ya know, sometimes working for a living gets in the way of living. No time, no time.
Photonic circuitry can someday make them cool and powerful. Should be a pretty thing to see.
Ah, well. Run with the idea, guys! I want to have one.
Re:Looks neat, but (Score:5, Interesting)
Secondly, there are a lot of "keyboards" out there that don't have any tactile feedback yet sell well enough: think of touchscreen ticket machines, for example (ooh er, perhaps there aren't any in the US since there's precious little public transport).
Also, consider decoupling the projector mechanism from the detector: the projected keyboard is simply a guide for the operator. The detector is a robust, solid-state item that can be made extremely rugged. The "keyboard" could be etched on steel for vandal-proof phones with internet access keyboards, for example. Or keypads in extreme temperature/chemical environments. They don't have to be one of NEC's never-see-the-light-of-day toys.
Finally, the sensor doesn't have to be configured as a keyboard at all. It could be a mousepad area, where you don't need a mouse: any object would do.
Why pens? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:What is the benefit of the CPU in a pen? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:The problem with that (Score:2, Interesting)
> not the tactile feedback anyway, so how would a virtual keyboard be a problem?
I think we're talking about two different types of feedback. I look at the screen, not the keyboard, but obviously you can't really feel that you've hit the right key - you see it appear on the screen. But real keyboards provide a sort of cushion against the impact of hitting keys. I'm sure secretaries and other people who type all day every day would get a lot more RSI and related damaged if they were typing on their desks rather than a keyboard.
Re:voice recognition (Score:2, Interesting)
So, basically, speech recognition systems are:
* hard to do well (requires new tech, eats computing power)
* hard to use in many environments (they both cause and are seriously hurt by noise polution)
* harder on the majority of users (your speech apparatus gets tired faster than your hands, and the degradation makes the whole problem harder)
There are some good, nifty uses of speech recognition systems, and you're sure to see them in the future (automated phone service systems based on speech recog are starting to get really interesting, for example). `Replacing the keyboard' for complicated tasks isn't likely to be one of them any time soon, in my opinion.
Re:What is the benefit of the CPU in a pen? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Looks neat, but (Score:3, Interesting)
With a projected keyboard, wouldn't one notice in the same fashion that his or her finger moved to the wrong position? And yes, it is a big learning curve, but this sounds like a device *for* people who are willing to overcome such a curve in order to put it to use.
In that case, the output device would be the only way to provide the stimulus (seeing that the wrong thing was typed) to denote the wrong action was made (finger moved to the 'e' position instead of the 'r') in order to cause the processing and memorizing apparati (whichever parts of the brain those are) to link the two.
So the device works perfectly as what it's meant to be.
Handwriting Recognition (Score:2, Interesting)
I would rather prefer cards than pens (Score:2, Interesting)
Existing technology (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Looks neat, but (Score:3, Interesting)
If what you are typing is all off the top of your head, then look at it, but if you are typing up something off of a hardcopy then you are wasting your time if you can't type without watching the screen.