Napkin PC Enables High-Tech Doodling
January 5, 2008 by Lisa Zyga
The Napkin PC: "No inhibitions, it´s just a napkin."
Designer Avery Holleman has developed the concept of a Napkin PC, a device that uses e-paper and radio frequency (RF) technology to enable creative groups to collaborate more effectively.
The technology includes a "napkin" holder filled with e-paper napkins, as well as a place for colored pens. When someone gets an inspiration, they simply grab a napkin and start doodling with one of the pens. The pen uses short-range RF technology to send data to the napkin interface. The pen and napkin can also communicate to a base station PC in the napkin holder using long-range RF.
Holleman hopes that the Napkin PC concept could enable creative groups - such as architects, artists, and engineers - to collaborate better because the doodles can be easily shared. Another perk of the concept is that the napkins are modular, so designers can connect them to create large-scale layouts. For example, a block of napkins can be hung side by side on a wall to create a large display.
Another advantage is that the Napkin PC requires very little power. It doesn´t even use a battery, but instead relies on a single-layer flexible circuit board for inductive power. The pen itself wirelessly powers the napkin when it comes within close range. The e-paper napkins can retain their bright, full-color images without power for an indefinite period of time.
When doodling, users can sign their name on any napkin to load personal features such as settings and bookmarks. The pens also keep track of who draws what, so that credit can later be given to the appropriate person.
Holleman is hoping that the concept could reduce paper waste, and cut down on the need for printers. The product would be sustainable for several years, with only the napkins occasionally needing to be replaced, which would be done in an environmentally friendly process since no batteries are involved.
via: Yanko Design
-
You might be 'fluphobic' if ...
Oct 23, 2009 |
2.3 / 5 (3) |
0
-
The greenest paper of them all
Mar 09, 2009 |
1 / 5 (2) |
3
-
Tribal war drove human evolution of aggression
Sep 09, 2008 |
3.8 / 5 (65) |
51
-
Knee brace generates electricity from walking
Feb 07, 2008 |
4.4 / 5 (34) |
2
-
Valentine's day is the worst time to kiss, says disease expert
Feb 02, 2012 |
4 / 5 (1) |
4
-
Engineers build first sub-10-nm carbon nanotube transistor
Feb 01, 2012 |
4.9 / 5 (30) |
30
-
Something old, something new: Evolution and the structural divergence of duplicate genes
Jan 31, 2012 |
4.6 / 5 (7) |
1
-
The hidden nanoworld of ice crystals: Revealing the dynamic behavior of quasi-liquid layers
Jan 30, 2012 |
5 / 5 (3) |
1
-
Stock market network reveals investor clustering
Jan 27, 2012 |
3.9 / 5 (23) |
8
-
Of microchemistry and molecules: Electronic microfluidic device synthesizes biocompatible probes
Jan 26, 2012 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
-
Empirical data regarding shower heads and water
3 hours ago
-
feed hold button on CNC lathe
23 hours ago
-
RFAC in Fortran
Feb 09, 2012
-
dynamics 2/32
Feb 08, 2012
-
dynamics
Feb 08, 2012
-
Vibration Absorbtion Problem
Feb 08, 2012
- More from Physics Forums - General Engineering
More news stories
Japan scientist makes 'Avatar' robot
A Japanese-developed robot that mimics the movements of its human controller is bringing the Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar" one step closer to reality.
56 minutes ago |
not rated yet |
0
New Kindle Touch is an impressive e-reader
When it comes to reading digital books, tablets are all the rage. But there's a lot to like about simple e-readers, which over the past year have become both a lot cheaper and a lot less clunky.
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
18 hours ago |
5 / 5 (2) |
1
Apple to debut 'iPad 3' in March: report
Apple will unveil a new version of its market-ruling iPad table computer in March, according to a report in Dow Jones-owned technology blog All Things D.
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
19 hours ago |
2 / 5 (19) |
0
Google to make home entertainment system: report
Google will mirror Apple's winning hardware-software formula with an Android-powered entertainment system that wirelessly streams content through homes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
12 hours ago |
4.5 / 5 (2) |
0
Barriers fall between TV, Internet
You say TV, I say Internet. Toe-mate-o, toe-mah-to.
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
15 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Humans may have helped the decline of African rainforests 3000 years ago
(PhysOrg.com) -- Large areas of rainforests in Central Africa mysteriously disappeared over three thousand years ago, to be replaced by savannas. The prevailing theory has been that the cause was a change ...
Metastatic breast cancer hitches a free ride from the immune system
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most lethal form of breast cancer . It spreads easily through the lymphatic and blood vessels, forming metastasis which can lead to multi-organ failure. New research published in BioMed ...
Sleep breathing machine shows clear benefits in children with sleep apnea
Children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea had substantial improvements in attention, anxiety and quality of life after treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP)a nighttime therapy in which a machine ...
Neurologic improvement detected in rats receiving stem cell transplant
In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Dallas, Texas, researchers will report that early transplantation of human placenta-derived mesenchymal ...
India's global pharmacy role threatened by EU pact
(AP) -- Efforts by India and the European Union to strengthen trade are threatening India's ability to deliver lifesaving medicines to the world's poorest, analysts say as the two sides push through protracted ...
US video game sales fall 34 percent in January
(AP) -- U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories fell 34 percent in January from a year earlier to $751 million due to the lack of new game titles, according to market researcher NPD Group.
Jan 05, 2008
Rank: 4 / 5 (1)