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A Practical LCD Writing Tablet

Posted by kdawson on from the write-on dept.

An anonymous reader passes along a word about an innovative LCD writing tablet. The Boogie Board costs $30, can be written on with a stylus or a fingernail, and uses no power in the act of writing. Only erasing consumes power — from a watch battery, which lasts for 50,000 erases. The total cost per "page" comes out to only 1/15th that of steno paper. The writing surface is pressure-sensitive and "highly responsive to variable amounts of pressure," so you can make thick and thin lines.

7 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Automatic erasing etch-a-sketch by EdZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's no way to save whatever you've drawn onto the tablet, so it's the LCD equivalent of carrying around a small blackboard and an infinite supply of chalk. Or a whiteboard with an infinite supply of ink (of only one colour). At only $30, it's reasonably priced enough that it can cater to the niche of "I want to jot down a small note that I can hardcopy later for posterity, but I don't ever want to need to worry about my pen running out of ink, as long as I remember to change the battery occasionally".

    1. Re:Automatic erasing etch-a-sketch by EdZ · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ...And while that would be enough for me to buy one (it would save reams of paper of irritating matrix algebra), their shipping cost to the UK is almost twice the cost of the device itself!

  2. Why oh why can I not save the screen? by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The thing would be awesome if I could save the screen. As it is I don't really see why I would choose it over paper since I can't save paper either, but at least paper I could store for later and write on more paper.

    But it IS pretty cool.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Why oh why can I not save the screen? by oGMo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, I would easily pay $100 if I could save things to a memory card and recall pages from thumbnails. Double that or more if it did some basic diagram aid (draw a rough rectangle, have it neatened). I've been searching for the ideal "electronic graph paper" and I have yet to find anything. It doesn't need to play movies or browse the web or send email... ok, it could have basic wifi and be able to email diagrams... but still. A few functions for drawing and writing and diagramming, some storage and searching, and that's all it needs.

      That said this looks like this product probably can't even address pixels. It's probably lucky to just get enough current to the whole panel so that it clears. I doubt that requires even half the electronics of a 4-function calculator, but then I'm not an EE.

      --

      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

  3. you used the word practical why? by Tumbleweed · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Cuz c'mon, what can you use this for? This is an easier to use version of the Etch-a-Sketch, nothing more. Good for kids to play with, but that's about it. I guess it beats paper and crayons, though, in that you now have an excuse not to have to put up their latest 'masterpiece' on the fridge for years. It's easier to just not have kids, though. Much more PRACTICAL that way.

  4. Re:demo please? by Tjp($)pjT · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sounds like a wax coated cardboard sheet with a plastic overlay. A kids toy. I want to see a demo too. I can just imagine a waxed cardboard toy pad with a motor driven lifter for the erase ... LOL

    --
    - Tjp

    I am in wallow with my inner money grubbing capitalistic pig. ... Oink!

  5. Re:Looks Great! by Gerzel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No way to upload to a computer, no computer assistance, and $30?

    I can give you a device that does the same for a tenth of the amount and the added convienence that it can easilly be digitized using common computer technology.

    I call it a pencil and paper pad.