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Hardware

The Future PC as a Set of Pens? 327

Posted by michael from the pocket-protectors-back-in-style dept.
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."
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The Future PC as a Set of Pens? More

The Future PC as a Set of Pens?

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  • Power Rangers Bastardization (Score:5, Funny)

    by DarkHelmet ( 120004 ) * <<ten.elcychtneves> <ta> <kram>> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:22AM (#8361712) Homepage
    Five pens put together.. Do they do ninja moves Power Rangers style?
    Just imagine, one pen a different color (Red, Blue, Black, Yellow and Pink).

    Camera!
    Virtual Keyboard
    Output!
    Phone!
    CPU!

    I can imagine there would also be Green, Purple and White pens. These would be evil addon pens.

    I can't imagine what they'd fight against. It would be the lamest thing since Gumby.

  • Chew, chew, chew (Score:5, Funny)

    by Reinout ( 4282 ) * <{gro.seernav} {ta} {tuonier}> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:22AM (#8361713) Homepage
    Cool, finally a computer I can chew on!

    Reinout

  • Hey! That's My pen!!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Sir.Cracked ( 140212 ) * on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:22AM (#8361715) Homepage
    And you think you get pissed off now when someone walks off with one of your pens....

    I'm reminded of the old Kids in the Hall sketch. "Hey, That's my pen!!!"

  • A little too out there.... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    The take up for this sort of thing will be very bad.

  • Make it 5 pocket protectors instead (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:22AM (#8361720)
    If you want to sell to geeks, you have to know your market

  • Looks neat, but (Score:5, Interesting)

    by lavalyn ( 649886 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:22AM (#8361723) Homepage Journal
    I can't see the keyboard taking off. I don't know about you, but I like feeling the keys putting up resistance and knowing that I pressed the keys correctly. Well, that's what they've said so far about the infrared projector keyboard, and I certainly don't see anybody using those.

    That projector pen would definitely be nice though, I hope they make it project far and wide (and sharp).

    • Re:Looks neat, but (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Bushcat ( 615449 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:58AM (#8361995)
      You don't have to use the keyboard exclusively. It just has to be one of the options available to you at any given moment.

      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.

      • Re:Looks neat, but (Score:5, Insightful)

        by BoneFlower ( 107640 ) <.moc.liamg. .ta. .ecurbehteinna.> on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:13AM (#8362119) Journal
        Without tactile feedback it is impossible to use a keyboard effectively without looking at it. I can detect typos by the feel of the keys, I know when I hit the wrong one. without tactile feedback, I'll be looking at what I'm doing rather than what I'm typing from. That slows me down a lot.

        No-feedback keyboards have a place, but not for general use.

        • Re:Looks neat, but (Score:5, Insightful)

          by HoldmyCauls ( 239328 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:35AM (#8362338) Journal
          I'm surprised at this. I figured more of the /. crowd was used to typing while looking at the screen. Isn't that the *best* way to know you typed what you meant? Don't you need to know that the *computer* knows that you meant to call the function certainFunction() instead of reference the array cwrtinFunctin[]?

          Just typing this, I must have hit the 'i' key 4 or 5 times incorrectly, but you'll notice no typos after I hit "Submit" because I can see what comes up on the screen in *realtime* rather than stare at the keys until I'm done and then search for the typo in the paragraph-stack (I'm a good speller always, but a bad punner on Monday mornings). Then again, this does explain the massive amount of errors in /. posts...

          Much love all the same!

          • Re:Looks neat, but (Score:3, Interesting)

            by HoldmyCauls ( 239328 )
            I hate to respond to my own post, but I need to cover the lot of people who have been responding that "tactical" recognition and "motor memory" are the best indicators of mistakes.

            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 provid

          • Re:Looks neat, but (Score:3, Interesting)

            by BoneFlower ( 107640 )
            Looking at the screen is fine when writing code, but when typing something off a sheet of paper for a school assignment or office job, looking at what you are typing is the way to do it. Looking at the screen, back to the original, back to the screen to make sure you are typing properly slows you down immensely.

            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 s
        • Detect typos? Who do you think you are, a spell checker? The computers of tomorrow will be capable of detecting common mistakes and correcting them automatically. In this particular case the P-ISM (BTW, "writing" and "letter" [message] in Russian are "pismo") might be able to understand where you think the keyboard is, based on the relative positions of the keys and on valid character sequences. E.g. if I typed "jwtviard" it would understand that I meant "keyboard", but missed the keys.

          Check out As-U-Type [asutype.com],

    • Geez... (Score:3, Funny)

      by sczimme ( 603413 )

      I don't know about you, but I like feeling the keys putting up resistance

      someone has control issues...!

      :-)

  • Sounds interesting, but goofy. (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I'll stick to my CRTs and AT-style keyboards, thanks.

  • We've come full circle... (Score:5, Funny)

    by chinton ( 151403 ) <chinton001-slashdot@nospam.gmail.com> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:23AM (#8361732) Journal
    You will once again be able to identify a geek by his pocket protector.

  • Pocket Protector Commandoes GO! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Halloween Jack ( 182035 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:23AM (#8361736) Homepage
    Ichihashi-son used as inspiration James Bond and the future of what technology could be. But Ichihashi-son stated that this is closer to reality than what appears in the 007 movies.

    I think he used the Revenge of the Nerd movies. Next up: the slide-rule server.

  • Just what we need (Score:5, Insightful)

    by SFEley ( 743605 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:24AM (#8361740) Homepage
    As often as I lose pens...

  • No Thanks (Score:3, Funny)

    by UncleBiggims ( 526644 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:24AM (#8361741)
    People borrow pens without returning them all the time. I don't wnat someone to fo' shizm my P-ISM.

    Are you Corn Fed? [ebay.com]

  • I wonder (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    How much you can overclock a pen. I guess it depends on how hot it runs.
    • "How much you can overclock a pen. I guess it depends on how hot it runs.

      If it gets to hot I wouldn't want that pen in my front pants pocket.

  • voice recognition (Score:5, Interesting)

    by fgb ( 62123 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:26AM (#8361753)
    If they develop good speech recognition then they wont need a keyboard pen, the pen would then just need to be a microphone.
    • That's right, I want a dozen people saying:
      left right click click left left start run format c: enter yes enter noooooooo!!!!

    • Re:voice recognition (Score:5, Insightful)

      by kinnell ( 607819 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:37AM (#8361845)
      If they develop good speech recognition

      True. Unfortunately, people have been trying to develop good speech recognition for years, and it is still a long way from being viable as the main input method.

    • voice recognition in 'hand', not 'pen' (Score:5, Informative)

      by dpilot ( 134227 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:40AM (#8361865) Homepage Journal
      Reference to "The Demon with the Glass Hand," an Outer Limits episode starring Robert Culp.

      His hand was a computer, and the fingers were computing elements. He needed to get all five fingers in order to make the computer whole and save Mankind from the aliens. He talked to his hand, and it answered.

    • Re:voice recognition (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Inominate ( 412637 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:23AM (#8362227)
      Speech recognition will never replace the keyboard completly.

      Take any action you do on a computer.
      Now figure out a way to SPEAK that action, without any ambiguity. Now compare how long it takes to SAY that, with how long it takes to do via a keyboard or mouse.

      Virtually every action take longer to explain than to simply DO. And the only way to have voice recognition come anywhere close is to have the computer try and guess what you mean. I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer it doing what I tell it to do, even if I occasionally make mistakes. The last thing I want is the computer misinterpreting something I said through no fault of my own.

      As for simple text input, the biggest draw for voice recognition is for people who have bad or nonexistant typing skills. It is a valid issue, however it is one that as time passes becomes less and less important. Keyboard use has become ubiquitous among the young today, who will eventually push out the older people who never developed thier typing ability.

      Also, can you imagine programming, or writing out abbreviations, or non-words with voice recognition?

      int main left parenthesis int argc comma char asterisk asterisk argv right parenthesis left curly bracket printf left parenthesis doublequotes Hello World backslash n right parenthesis semi-colon right curly bracket

      • Re:voice recognition (Score:5, Funny)

        by Haeleth ( 414428 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @11:01AM (#8362532) Journal
        int main left parenthesis int argc comma char asterisk asterisk argv right parenthesis left curly bracket printf left parenthesis doublequotes Hello World backslash n right parenthesis semi-colon right curly bracket

        I take it the syntax error is deliberate?
      • Take any action you do on a computer.
        Now figure out a way to SPEAK that action, without any ambiguity. Now compare how long it takes to SAY that, with how long it takes to do via a keyboard or mouse.
        It may not replace it COMPLETELY but....

        "Power on"
        "Sort ...uh....hot asian lesbian cheerleader pr0n"
        "Power off"

        I can see a big potential in hands-free computing, and frankly, this probably wraps up what, 60% of the market and 80% of /.ers?

    • Re:voice recognition (Score:5, Insightful)

      by vidarh ( 309115 ) <vidar@hokstad.com> on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:31AM (#8362305) Homepage Journal
      Yes, because I really want people all around me to hear exactly what I'm "writing" at any moment... And I really want to hear the e-mails and documents everyone around me are dictating...

      Frankly, speech recognition has some good uses for AUGMENTING input, but it's useless as a keyboard replacement for nearly every usage area.

  • Size (Score:3, Funny)

    by Tarwn ( 458323 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:26AM (#8361754) Homepage
    And these will be even smaller then my handheld....or not. Sure you will be able to manipulate them into differant shap[es in your pocket, but what happens on the day you forget one of your pens? And imagine all the wierd looks you'll be getting at the laundramat when you go insane, not because of the ink splotch, but because of the cost :P

  • Open channel D! (Score:5, Funny)

    by kinnell ( 607819 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:27AM (#8361756)
    He was really inspired by the man from u.n.c.l.e. A james bond pen would dispense acid, and have a built in laser, super electromagnet and rocket launcher.

  • hack (Score:3, Funny)

    by millahtime ( 710421 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:27AM (#8361761) Homepage Journal
    Wonder if I could hack the wireless connection to another persons pens at their desk.
  • when it runs Lin---s, will we have to call it...

    PdashISM?

  • The problem with that (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Threni ( 635302 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:28AM (#8361770)
    is that `virtual keyboards` are horrible. The idea just doesn't work. I have a friend who plays the piano and you should hear the BS that people with cheap, shitty keyboards come up with when they try and get him to play the piano on their horrible $200 midi keyboards.
    • So how does a $200 shitty keyboard compair with a virtual keyboard? They are different. A keyboard makes the same char no matter how you press the key, a piano makes different sounds depending on how you press a key. I just don't see how you can compair them.

  • pocket protector (Score:4, Funny)

    by millahtime ( 710421 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:29AM (#8361778) Homepage Journal
    Can I also get a pocket protector that acts as a firewall to prevent my pens in my pocket from getting hacked?
  • Demolition Man II. Hey, HE doesn't know how to use the five pens!!!

    Jeff

  • What is the benefit of the CPU in a pen? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by oneiros27 ( 46144 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:30AM (#8361780) Homepage
    I can see the need to put the other components into a container that can be easily moved and repositioned -- but the CPU?

    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.]
    • When you get down to this level of miniaturization design decisions can't be arbitrary. I'm convinced that if we had more information about the product a reason for a "CPU pen" would be clear, especially if the actual contents of the "CPU pen" were known.

    • P-ISM :
      A Pen-style Personal Networking Gadget Package
      It seems that information terminals are infinitely getting smaller. However, we will continue to manipulate them with our hands for now. We have visualized the connection between the latest technology and the human, in a form of a pen. P-ISM is a gadget package including five functions: a pen-style cellular phone with a handwriting data input function, virtual keyboard, a very small projector, camera scanner, and personal ID key with cashless pass

  • Workplace theft (Score:4, Insightful)

    by clemster ( 584028 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:30AM (#8361785)
    Think how easily supplies disappear from the workplace..... this just makes it easer to fit a "box" of computers in your briefcase/purse. Clemster.
  • I can't help but think this is nearly as poor a design as the three sea shells [imdb.com]...

  • Call me a traditionalist... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by WegianWarrior ( 649800 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:31AM (#8361791) Journal

    ...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.

    • 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?)

      When speaking of good handwriting recognition, I think the fact that a camera is included should take back seat to the fact that say...

      there are 5 pens included!

    • Chorded keyboard instead of projection? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Reinout ( 4282 ) * <{gro.seernav} {ta} {tuonier}> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:42AM (#8361878) Homepage
      Not that those things have taken off, but this might be an possibility for chorded keyboards. Typing on a projected keyboard on your desk surface won't be so much fun either...

      (A chorded keyboard [handykey.com] is something you hold in one hand. You have to press a few keys at the same time (just like a piano chord) to get a character. With just a couple of keys you can apparently type pretty well. Perhaps you could fit this in an overlarge pen...)

      Reinout

  • Already slashdotted.... (Score:3, Funny)

    by The Fun Guy ( 21791 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:32AM (#8361800) Homepage Journal
    I always thought the old "exploding pen" trick was a lame joke left over from Get Smart.

    Plus ca change...

  • Be honest! (Score:3, Funny)

    by Lurker McLurker ( 730170 ) <.allthecoolnames ... .at. .gmail.com.> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:33AM (#8361809)
    Who else saw the headline as
    The Future PC as a Set of Penises
    Come on, I know it wasn't just me.

  • slashdotted (Score:2, Funny)

    by Ween ( 13381 )
    16 comments and slashdotted already. There doesnt appear to be a google cache either. I guess I must make the obligatory comment about them running their server on one of these pens.
  • Imagine a beowolf cluster of these. The supply closet could be the most power computing system in a company.

  • Projected keyboard (Score:5, Informative)

    by Bushcat ( 615449 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:37AM (#8361849)
    Odd that the NEC article would show links to a Canesta solution, with a news release way back in 2002. I hesitate to post the links because both sites will get slashdotted instantly, and the latter site has a silly activex, but this [i4u.com] shows a VKB solution for a PDA. VKB itself can be seen here [vkb.co.il].

    I've seen and used VKB technology. It's very compact and an elegant solution. Unlike Canesta, it doesn't need a stereoscopic view of the target area, which means it really could fit into a pen sitting in a charger or other holder.

    • Re:Projected keyboard (Score:3, Informative)

      by vidarh ( 309115 )
      The slashdot effect only works from the front page. Seriously. Links from comments draw just a small, puny, trickle of hits compared to a link from the front page, driven by the fact that most people reading Slashdot rarely even click on the comments section, and even then few people will bother going through all the comments. So don't worry about posting links....

  • Remember (Score:4, Funny)

    by mikeophile ( 647318 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:38AM (#8361851)
    My pen is

    is mightier than the sword.

  • Imagine your embarassment when you reach into your pocket, grab your pen, and realize it's of the ink-less variety. If it's got no ink, there's no point in calling it a pen. But then...what happens when you bust the tip and the computer is fried by it? Worth the risk, I'd say.
  • Upcoming titles include "Poke the Guy Next To You In The Ribs", "Ink Flick Mayhem" and "Draw on The Unconscious Drunk Guy". Still, it's better than the N-Gage.

  • Ha! One-upped! (Score:4, Funny)

    by NoData ( 9132 ) <_NoData_@nOspAM.yahoo.com> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:41AM (#8361869)
    P-ISM? A computer built into pens?! That's nothing! I invented a computer that's built into your jeans! I call it J-ISM, naturally.

    What? It comes in your pants!

  • Great! Just when geeks... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Chris_Stankowitz ( 612232 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:41AM (#8361874)
    Just when geeks were gettin away from pocket protectors and becoming socially aceptable. Now I'll never get laid. Nevermind, wasn't much chance of that anyway.

  • Wizardry (Score:4, Funny)

    by dapyx ( 665882 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:43AM (#8361880) Homepage
    I propose replacing "pens" with "magical wands".

    Ordinary people think that computing has to do with magic anyway. (must be those pesky "wizard interfaces")

  • But where the components of the computer are small bricks that fit together like Logo. Assemble anything you like out of a pile of bricks, plug it in and it boots and does something fun. Ideally the bricks should be plastic and unbreakable, and made to a standard so that different vendors can produce speciality bricks.

    Apart from the minor technical details involved in implementation, this would make the use of computers much more flexible. Not to mention fun, as we replace the computing brick in the bos
  • Even though they look cool, to impress me, they should be able to run a web server that doesn't go down when mentioned on /.

  • What about Storage? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Lurker McLurker ( 730170 ) <.allthecoolnames ... .at. .gmail.com.> on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:45AM (#8361899)
    The storage seems to be in the base unit, which would seriously reduce the portablity, as the unit also contains a power supply. So it's really 5 pens and a brick.

    Of course, there could be some sort of storage in the CPU pen, but not that much, surely.

  • Sour Grapes (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Catbeller ( 118204 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:47AM (#8361918) Homepage
    Damn. I cam up with the computer-in-the-pen idea a few months ago. Input by penstroke, display by an intelligent led projector in the top of the pen, above the hand, that could compensate for hand movement. I was going to use it in a SF story. If I had been smart as a yoot, I would have an EE and made the bloody thing. The prototype would probably have weighed ten pounds, which would have been amusing in itself.

    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.

  • I can just see the pocket protectors now. (Score:5, Funny)

    by nlinecomputers ( 602059 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:50AM (#8361935)
    Like geeks don't have enough baggage stuck on our image. I can just see the pocket protectors with cooling fans and neon lights on them....*shudder*

  • I just hapPENed to wonder.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by hardcode57 ( 734460 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:51AM (#8361946) Journal
    ... if configured as servers, will they be mightier than the blade?

  • Mitch Hedberg (Score:3, Funny)

    by DanThe1Man ( 46872 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @09:52AM (#8361951)
    This article remindes me of a standup line by Mitch Hedberg.

    "I bought an expensive pen the other day because I keep loseing pens and I was tired of not careing"
  • ...it becomes a gun that shoots a golden bullet.

  • Has anyone even looked at the "Realizability" ??? "Near Term" and "Slightly Farther Out Than the Phone and Camera" both equate to "Not in your lifetime, bozo!" in my book. Pretty much like diamond-based processors, solid state storage, quantum computing and DNF.

  • my CPU needs a 600 gram heatsink to run cool. This CPU pen is going to melt it's casing before the OS even thinks about starting up.

    Assuming it manages to start, I think this [wired.com] is going to become a lot more common! (Oops! Time for a meeting. Better pocket m' pens. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!)
  • " Three Pens for the Elven-kings under the sky,
    Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
    Five for the Mortal Men doomed to die,
    One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
    In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
    One Pen to rule them all, One Pen to find them,
    One Pen to bring them all and in the darkness bind them,
    In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. "

    (emphasis mine)

  • original info at NEC (Score:4, Informative)

    by snub ( 140826 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:05AM (#8362042)
    Here is the info directly from NEC:
    http://www.nec-design.co.jp/showcase/

    and a quote: "These are concept models and not planned to be commercialized at this point"

  • Conceptualization Stages (Score:4, Funny)

    by subjectstorm ( 708637 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:08AM (#8362079) Journal
    Man: Dude . . . i just had a sweet idea.

    Dude: Lay it on me man.

    Man: You know how superman has all those crystals that he can like, plug into stuff in the fortress? and it like . . . does stuff?

    Dude: That is totally sweet.

    Man: Oh yah, i know - but what if, like, EACH one of those crystals was also . . . A FULLY FUNCTIONAL PEN!!!!

    Dude: . . . . You have just totally blown my mind man.

    --- and if you don't like that, how about this ---

    Infinium Labs: Behold the majesty of our new, always on, super-terrific awesome badass pen computer thingy!

    Person: um . . . that's just a bunch of ball point pens shoved into a styrofoam block.

    Infinium: LIES! don't you see the battery?

    Person: It's just held on with scotch tape. you don't even have a wire running to it or anything.

    Lawyer: You will cease and desist from disparaging Infinium Labs.

    Person: whatever.

    Darl: excuse me gentlemen, but . . . would that be running linux by any chance?

  • Before computers, no Japanese manager was complete without his box of brushes on the desk. In those days, hand-crafting a memo really meant something. And then, what of the US middle manager with his hideous onyx block on the desk with the pen holder? Remember the days (most of you won't) when the VP would slowly draw out his Mont Blanc (huge, cigar sized phallic substitute) to sign things impressively?

    No, this isn't about pocket protector land. It's about fitting the retro needs of management. The projecti

  • Smaller Not Always Better (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Dun Malg ( 230075 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:15AM (#8362144) Homepage
    In the future, computers will be made out of small, disconnected, easily lost parts.

    Anyone else see anything wrong with this plan?

  • I have a better idea (Score:3, Insightful)

    by drinkypoo ( 153816 ) <drink@hyperlogos.org> on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:21AM (#8362212) Homepage Journal
    Instead of five pens, which you are not going to carry on your person, make it a couple pens, some glasses, a watch, and a wallet or something. (Remember all the fuss about e-wallet technology? h0 h0) Who the fuck carries five pens? Given that they're also computers, if they actually work as pens, I'll bet a dollar they're shitty pens. (And no, I didn't RTFA. It's a dumb idea.)

  • Alternate site for P-ISM information (Score:5, Informative)

    by nutznboltz ( 473437 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:28AM (#8362281) Homepage Journal
    since we're all slashdotted and stuff...

    http://www.nec-design.co.jp/showcase/ [nec-design.co.jp]

  • Hey Guys! (Score:3, Funny)

    by nanojath ( 265940 ) on Monday February 23, 2004 @10:41AM (#8362379) Homepage Journal
    Hey Guys! Is she statisfied with the size of your P.E.N.S.?!

    Is that a hard drive in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

    The possibilities for jocularity seem endless. Oh, and I'm really looking forward to a computer I can lose 1/5th of through a moment of innatention. "No, waiter, I REALLY need MY pen back. It's got all the third quarter earnings numbers on it!"

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