On 02/09/16 15:33, Joseph Honold wrote:
A handheld QWERTY device has been my goal for EOMA68 since I found out about it.
:)
Mouse could be implemented as a "keymouse" (like we use on Zipit, uinput driver). Basically, hold a modifier key and use DPad to move cursor and right/left click buttons.
Or something like Mouseless (recursive 9-box grid) or Mousemove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P7gZFtihKM
What is everyones favorite form factor?
Ideally, a design like the HTC Universal ("clamshell tablet"?), or alternatively the N900/Neo900 or HTC Dream ("slide"?), with a hybrid ("transreflective"?) screen a bit like the ones Mary Lou Jepsen or Pixel Qi made for the OLPC XO-1. That kind of screen can be switched between backlit for conventional computing, and reflective, where it functions a bit like an e-ink display, reducing eye strain and battery drain.
That way, a single hand-held device would be:
- Mini laptop - Mini tablet - E-book reader - (Phone too, possibly.)
The advantage of the HTC Univeral's design is that when stowed, the screen is protected from scratches. However, modern glass ("gorilla glass", etc) potentially makes that unnecessary, which is why the slide mechanism would be viable.
I don't know if that kind of glass is compatible with hybrid displays of the kind I mentioned above. Nor do I know if such hybrid displays are even remotely obtainable or affordable in the relevant sizes or with suitable interfaces. We live in hope :)