Discussion on non-working-prototype---alphagrip-handheld-computer
Mark
Fantastic concept, though I would stick to the original AlphaGrip key
layout as much as possible. Also loose the stickers and get that
screen as big as possible.
If you could fit genuine wireless and PDA levels of storage and
processing power in to it, I will leave a deposit now!
Mike W
try to incorporate our technology into a form factor that can fold up
and fit into your pocket. It might not be as comfortable to use as
this full-size AlphaGrip UMPC would be, and the screen wouldn't be as
big, but there may be a lot of interest in something that could fold
into your pocket and than unfold for 50-70 wpm texting.
Unfortunately, something like this is at least 2 years away - unless
maybe we win this Yahoo! Ultimate Connection Contest and get some
company interested in helping us develop an AlphaGrip smartphone or
UMPC ASAP.
Mark
Best of luck with your Yahoo contest. I am still learning my AlphaGrip
but am a big fan.
The idea of a more compact, folding AlphaGrip is a good one. I assume
it will be smaller than the existing one. However I feel there are
some intrinsic obstacles for mobile phone computing.
Email and internet have been available on mobile phones for years now.
I myself am a big fan of computing and technology and have attempted
to adopt mobile internet and email on my phone. It never works though.
A phone should be small and capable of voice calls and SMS with a good
battery life. A mobile computing device needs a big screen and an
efficient input method and the flexibility to upgrade and install
software.
I have felt for some time that a Phone and a Mobile computer are in a
conflict of interests. Palms new Foleo is a classic example of a poor
attempt to plug the gap. It has no true OS so it's not a computing
device. You can surf the net and email but you still need to have a
phone. Its large display and full size keyboard are its only redeeming
features. It's getting bad reviews and so it should. It does nothing.
Personally I see mobile phones reducing to the point where they are
little more than a keypad and ear piece. I don't imagine people
wanting to pull out an AlphaGrip, even a smaller foldable one, to plug
into it just to send some SMSs or an email, especially on a tiny
screen. I can imagine however, people whipping out a foldable
AlphaGrip, linking via wireless to a PDA or UMPC or even a desktop
near buy and typing up an email or doing a quick net search. Or better
yet a AlpgaGrip PDA/UMPC that offers full data input and mobility.
Your Prototype picture is most exciting. If I were a PDA or UMPC
manufacture I would seriously consider building a device around the
AlphaGrip. I hope that your recently renewed advertising campaign
improves your sales and leads to new versions of the AlphaGrip. A
Wireless powered version being an excellent next step.
Its an inspiration that you invented and developed this product so
far, keep up the great work Mike!
Cheers,
Mark
> > processing power in to it, I will leave a deposit now!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Mike Willner
I am in complete agreement with your comment, "Or better yet an AlphaGrip
PDA/UMPC that offers full data input and mobility." That's what I want to
build. It may be easier to try to meld our technology with an existing
PDA/UMPC than to build an AlphaGrip UMPC from scratch. Maybe something like
an AlphaGrip-enabled OQ0 (www.oqo.com). Or what about an AlphaGrip-enabled
iPhone? It's going to run OS X. Or the Nokia N800:
http://www.nokiausa.com/N800/1,9008,feat:1,00.html.
But I still believe there's a big market for a smartphone that lets you text
message at 50-70 wpm.
Thanks very much for the encouragement.
Mike
Lars Krueger
> try to incorporate our technology into a form factor that can fold up
> and fit into your pocket.
You may design the folding mechanism so that it unfolds to accommodate different hand size, i.e. unfold more for larger hands.
Additionally you should either strictly limit the weight of the device and thus limit its battery capacity and therefore run-time or add some "feet" to it. Otherwise it might be a bit straining to hold the device for some time.
One possible (prototyping) approach would be to use a GP2X (Handheld gaming device for self-made games, www.gp2x.com), rip it apart and put it into a new housing with the electronics of an AG5. Add a GSM module and some software and you have a phone. Since the gp2x is 160 gram (5.7 oz) and has a USB host connecting, it should be rather easy to mate these devices at a reasonable weight. The major drawback here is, that this is no PC. It will never run Windows, it runs linux and that's it.
A different approach would be to make the device a wifi/bluetooth/usb keyboard-and-display combo. You keep your laptop/phone/whatever in your backpack, unfold the alphagrip and it connects. Key events are sent to the laptop, which in turn sends the drawing commands to the device, which performs the actual drawing. The technology exists: Sitecom offers a USB graphics card. The $110 device is a bit big, but it is possible. It might be not the display to play 3D games on, but it could be made very lightweight and long lasting at the same time.
As a potential customer I would prefer the keyboard-display variant as it is more flexible, which will surely increase the number of units sold.
--
Lars Krueger
http://LarsKrueger.homestead.com/files
mailto:lars_e_...@gmx.de
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