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Researchers Demo Flippable-Page E-book Reader

holy_calamity writes "E-readers are getting better but still limit users to keyboard-style interaction. Researchers at Berkeley and Maryland Universities have changed that with a reader that has two 'pages.' The two displays can be moved like a real book's pages to leaf through a document, or detached to compare and share virtual pages. If they are folded back to create a tablet with displays on each side, you can turn it over to flip pages. A video shows it in action." You may be reminded of the promised second-generation OLPC device, which looks somewhat similar.

5 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. Better to allow N readers to work together... by argent · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seems like the logical thing to do would be to simply allow multiple readers to cooperate in document display, so when you snap together (say) 4 readers, you get a 4-page view, split them apart you get 2 2-page views of different documents. You would use proximity sensors to define which pages were "together", and simple mechanical clips to hold them together when not laying flat. You could then hand one side of the page you were looking at to a co-worker, then pull a blank sheet out of your drawer to restore your own reading area, while he walks off with the other page.

    This is becoming more like an extension of the Xerox PAD and TAB.

    The documents mightn't be stored on the device, rather they would be accessed via the office wifi network.

  2. Re:Oblig by Alain+Williams · · Score: 5, Funny

    Its called a library.

  3. Myth by geekoid · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That is a myth, based on confirmation bias.
    Pornographers try EVERY media. So naturally it's on all existing and successful media, but it is also on every form of failed media.
    Assuming it failed after entering the market.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  4. Re:Why? by Joebert · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This makes it much more appealing to a broader (read: older) audience who don't want to "learn something new".

    If they don't want to learn something new, my first piece of advice would have to be quit reading books.
    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  5. wow, who would have thought! by speedtux · · Score: 5, Funny

    Amazing research! With two screens, you can display two facing pages, or two different documents, and you can even rotate pages.

    What amazing innovations will they think of next?