D7 Demos: Immersion and Plastic Logic
(Credit:
Plastic Logic)
Plastic Logic envisions its e-reader simplifying life for students.
(Credit: Plastic Logic)CARLSBAD, Calif.--In between the big name CEOs speaking at D: All Things Digital, Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg also have a few tech companies on stage to show their wares.
A short while ago, electronic book maker Plastic Logic showed off the user interface of its touch-screen reader, which is due out early next year. The interface seemed simple, although the page turns on the prototype seemed interminable.
The company wouldn't reveal pricing, but did say that the device will have both Wi-Fi and 3G wireless, though it did not specify the carrier. As for color screens, they said they have it working in their labs, but it won't be a next year kind of thing.
Currently, the CTO of force feedback specialist Immersion is showing a couple new technologies, including a prototype touchscreen keyboard. When a user presses a key on the soft keyboard they not only see and hear which key they have pressed but can feel it as well.
"It is a very natural experience," said Immersion CTO Cristophe Ramstein. "Sounds are not as profound as touch to give you this feel."
The second demo was what the company is calling "hapticons," essentially adding feel to an electronic message. He sent a love note to Mossberg, with his screen pulsing to a beating heart.
Plastic Logic demoed its new e-reader at the D: All Things Digital conference Wednesday.
(Credit: Dan Farber/CNET)
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
If it does what they say, and doesn't prove to have some horrible drawback (too expensive, makes the screen too hard to read, makes the screen too thick...) the Immersion feedback thing could be incredibly important. Is there anything more you can say about it? Did you have a chance to try it yourself? How did it feel if you did? Did they say anything about when devices using it might show up, what the price increment might be, how the technology works, or anything else?
I like these devices it's going to be interesting to see how we use these readers in 3 to 5 years. We may not need laptops soon.
- by rfelgueiras May 28, 2009 9:10 AM PDT
- I would take one of those readers with a comic book subscription any day. I have been waiting for someone to take my money for that.
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