| Even those that can provide an acceptable on-screen | | | | e-Reader: A First with Touch-Screen Navigation", it |
| representation of real paper are plagued by problems | | | | has large 7-inch screen because of the elimination of |
| such as the clunky buttons of the Kindle, the glare of | | | | most physical controls, offering instead navigation |
| touchscreen systems (due to dual layers) and the | | | | with a touch screen: the user can make notes in the |
| potential loss of pens from those that require them. | | | | margins, turn pages, and highlight text using his |
| E-paper was developed to reduce the glare of | | | | fingertips (Digital Book Readers). Another was the |
| regular screens, but the display technology did not | | | | Iliad that attempted to resolve the glare problem by |
| advance with the development of E-paper and e-Ink. | | | | means of a light-pen, although they were pricy to |
| However, touchscreen technology is now developing | | | | replace when lost. |
| with coatings that can reduce glare, such as the | | | | One of the best solutions, if not THE best, is the |
| screen that is offered with the new Be-Book Neo, a | | | | Touchco system that uses IFSR (interpolating |
| Wacom touchscreen that combines well with its 6" | | | | force-sensitive resistance), a technology that detects |
| e-Ink panel to offer clear reading with minimum | | | | the level of pressure used on the screen, and thus |
| screen glare. In fact, it could be argued that while the | | | | enables a greater degree of sensitivity and dynamics |
| development of E-paper and the E-Ink to go with it | | | | to be employed in the interface. In simple terms, |
| were very significant factors in the surge of | | | | when you press or push on the screen, the signal |
| popularity in eReaders, the newer anti-glare | | | | detected, and hence the resultant action, is |
| touchscreen developments have really brought these | | | | dependent on the hardness of your touch or push on |
| developments to their full potential, or at least close | | | | the surface of the touchscreen, and the different |
| to it. | | | | levels of pressure can be scanned. |
| EReaders have frequently been referred to as | | | | Not only that, but the battery demand depends on |
| e-Book readers, as though they were a better way | | | | the level of pressure used and so power can be |
| to read PDF files, for example. The majority of | | | | conserved by using less pressure on the screen. It |
| people using the internet are familiar with eBooks in | | | | works by means of force-sensitive resistors, akin in a |
| terms of the PDF publications that are very common | | | | way to regular load cells that respond to pressure, |
| in the world of internet marketing. However, eBooks | | | | and it not only works, but it is also the least |
| are now just a part of the overall eReading | | | | expensive of the current touchscreen technologies. |
| experience, many people preferring their newspapers | | | | Several eReaders will be launched this year that are |
| to be offered in a format that is easy to read on a | | | | using the IFSR technology, including sketching and |
| 5" - 8" display screen in a bus, train or cab and then | | | | drawing devices that can distinguish between the |
| pocketed or stored in a purse or bag, particularly the | | | | hardness of pencils, brushes and pens. The IFSR |
| smaller versions. | | | | technology has a lot going for it, and future |
| In fact, the storage convenience is one argument | | | | developments offer exciting possibilities, particularly in |
| against eReaders offering increasingly larger screens, | | | | respect of input feedback. |
| since it is not as simple to carry an 11" reader, such | | | | Then Touchco system can be used with any of the |
| as the new Sprint Skiff, as it is the 6" Acer, BeBook | | | | current E-paper devices on the market without |
| Neo or even the original Sony LCD portable if you still | | | | added glare or the eye-strain that such devices have |
| have one. That was the original argument for | | | | caused to many people in the past. Multiple layers on |
| eReaders, but now that they are increasing in screen | | | | the screen can be avoided, and single touch points |
| size, what is the USP other than size? Will they | | | | will be possible without the need for pens that can |
| eventually become tabloid size, so that the next | | | | be lost. |
| development will be those than can fold under your | | | | When you consider the advances made in E-Ink and |
| arm? | | | | E-paper technology over the past year, 2010 is going |
| However, let's leave the fantasy (for now) and get | | | | to be an exciting year and we wait with baited |
| back to reality. There have been several attempts at | | | | breath for what is to come next. What is certain is |
| solving the glare problem of touchscreens with | | | | that more players will enter the field, and that new |
| E-paper, one of which was the Nook with its | | | | technology will emerge that will not only rival the |
| touchscreen compressed into the bottom of the | | | | iPhone for touchscreen technology, but will likely |
| device with its problems of eye movement between | | | | combine several new technologies into one device |
| that and the reading area. Next example is the Sony's | | | | that will meet the needs of all - but let them forget |
| Daily Edition device. It offers an E Ink Vizplex e-paper | | | | the convenience of size at their peril! |
| screen. According to the review "Sony's Latest | | | | |