Gummi 'Puter!

[Crystal Eitle]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993846' target='_blank'>http://www.newscientist.com/news/ne...p?id=ns99993846</a><br /><br /></div>:shocked!: Sony is developing a credit-card-sized flexible computer with no buttons or other hardware. To manipulate information, users will bend and twist the device, called Gummi.<br /><br />"[Gummi inventor Carsten] Schwesig has already developed several Gummi applications, including a map, a web browser, a photo album, a simple game and a text input system. 'This might lead to products such as maps, tourist information browsers or games embedded into hotel keys or travel tickets,' he says.<br /><br />"Sony envisages paper-thin gadgets no bigger than a credit card, made from several layers of components: a flexible organic light-emitting display (OLED), flexible electronic circuitry, a touch-sensitive panel on the back of the device, and an embedded piezoelectric sensor. The resulting device would have no conventional mechanical parts. You would steer the cursor using a touch panel on the reverse of the mini PC, while pushing the middle of the device in or out would let you browse through a menu. Bending could also control tasks such as zooming in and out of a map, controlling the playback speed of video files and editing the composition of image layers."<br /><br />There's a Quicktime movie <a href="http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/IL/members/schwesig/subcontents/gummi/gummi.mov">here</a> of the Gummi in action; I'm impressed by how sophisticated the images and browser look. From the video, it also looks like navigation is very intuitive. The current Gummi prototype, while containing all the necessary components, isn't quite down to credit card size yet - prototypes of the credit-card-size Gummi are about three years away, according to the article. (But I want one now!) I'm intrigued by the thought that these could be aimed at travelers, in the form of room keys or tickets - that implies that the components might be relatively inexpensive. Are disposable computers "in the cards"? :splat:

[Janak Parekh]

Not only that -- if this is sturdy, think of the possibilities for kids!

--janak

[Duddy]

Think of the possibilities for ME! 8O

[questionlp]

Are disposable computers "in the cards"?

My word... someone is being a joker tonight ;) I know, I shouldn't get bent out of shape... but it will :D

[trachy]

Interesting concept, but I didn't care for the side effect of the device constantly moving around while navigating the different features. I wouldn't discredit it completely though until I got to try it myself.

[Jacob]

I can see this as being good for tourist maps :)

Convenient - not too expensive, discreet so there isn't a huge foldout...

[Pony99CA]

:shocked!: Sony is developing a credit-card-sized flexible computer with no buttons or other hardware. To manipulate information, users will bend and twist the device, called Gummi.
This sounds like a smaller version of the PlastiComputer I dreamed up for eBook reading in late 80s or early 90s (basically an 8.5" x 11" sheet of plastic with virtual keyboard and touchscreen areas).

Instead of bending it for navigation, I'd prefer a touch screen with scroll areas (like touchpads on laptops).

Steve

P.S. Was it just me, or was there no audio with the movie?

[andrewlwood]

surely it would be really easy to make it waterproof and shockproof too - loads of applications outdoors.

In clothing? Furniture?

[dean_shan]

I could see somthing like this happening in the future but I don't think that they will be disposable. Too much waste. I think that it will be a computer that can download maps at different information stands and what not. Everyone would own one and keep it with them when traveling. Not only would this cut down on landfill wastes but it is more efficent.

[ctmagnus]

I think that it will be a computer that can download maps at different information stands and what not.

BT! Walk up and sync!

[Crystal Eitle]

P.S. Was it just me, or was there no audio with the movie?
I couldn't get any audio either! I just assumed it was something wrong with my machine.

It's too bad, 'cause it looked like there should have been audio. (I actually fast forwarded through a lot of the movie 'cause it was too boring to watch with no sound.)

[danmanmayer]

Personally i dont feel comfortable with the idea of bending my computer. This seems like a bad idea. I tried this with my gameboy once with very negative results.

[Johan]

Swedish developer? Gummi=Rubber.
8O

[Crystal Eitle]

Swedish developer? Gummi=Rubber.

German developer. Gummi=Rubber in German as well.

[Jonathon Watkins]

P.S. Was it just me, or was there no audio with the movie?

Snap.

Interesting concept, quite a while away though. It looks like it will mainly be for 'disposable' class PDAs though. Hard to see this being for high end devices.

[beq]

In clothing?

That'd be interesting, bend your body this way and that to do things.

"Bend it like Beckham", indeed... :D

P.S. Surprised no one had occassion to make a joke about Bender, the bending bot from 3000 AD...

[davidspalding]

Speaking of Bender ... did NO one realize the potential of this device for viewing porn?

Viva the Web's original killer app....

[Kati Compton]

surely it would be really easy to make it waterproof and shockproof too - loads of applications outdoors.
Just send it through one of those laminator machines...

[ctmagnus]

surely it would be really easy to make it waterproof and shockproof too - loads of applications outdoors.
Just send it through one of those laminator machines...

But how does it fair in temperature extremes?

[Kati Compton]

But how does it fair in temperature extremes?
;) I was kidding. But they do make some that don't use hot temperatures.... I'm sure it's possible *somehow*.