I got this idea a while ago, when I was at a friend's house. I noticed that in their kitchen, they had this whiteboard that had information on it, like stuff telling their kids to clean up their rooms, or addresses that were written down. After I noticed this at this guy's house, I noticed it around at other places, too.
What I'm proposing is that we bring this idea into the digital age. A large flatscreen display, maybe even PLED or e-ink, with an integrated computer running Linux. The input method would be a pen. I'm not sure about the interface, but I'm thinking that half of it would be news and stats (user selectable of course), like weather, RSS feeds, news, and the like, and the other half would be digital notes, addresses, a calendar and todolist, etc.
Of course, it could acess the internet, and link to other tablets, say the kids have smaller ones. Then the parents could send the kids a specific note or piece of information, or even do a chat with them (Nintendo DS style). This way, we could keep a family organized and compeltely aware of each other's whereabouts, using technology.
Of course, it wouldn't come cheap, so we could use ad-supported models that cost less to reach out to other markets.-- angrygoatface, Feb 23 2006 gradual resolution display gradual resolution display [pashute, Oct 04 2012] //Then the parents could send the kids a specific note or piece of information, or even do a chat with them Nintendo DS style)// Or, alternatively, they could sit down around a table, have a nice meal, and talk to each other.sp. "completely", "a while" "access". Maybe a few paragraph breaks?-- coprocephalous, Feb 23 2006 //Or, alternatively, they could sit down around a table, have a nice meal, and talk to each other. sp. "completely", "a while" "access". Maybe a few paragraph breaks?//
I have no paragraph breaks so that people will read the whole thing. And as for the chat, it's not intended to be used inside a house, you silly goose. It's intended for when you're on the go, like a cellphone, except focused on organization.-- angrygoatface, Feb 23 2006 Hate to break it to you, but I feel more disinclined to reply for it having no paragraph breaks. A break won't make the user get bored and go away, it'll just make the text easier on the eyes. Thus people are more likely to bother reading it.-- hidden truths, Feb 23 2006 Yeh, You silly goose!...Or goat.
BTW, This is OK, for a new'un. Welcome to the 'bakery...Nice username!!-- Minimal, Feb 23 2006 What's the difference between this and a flat-screen, possibly wall-mounted pc? You can already get pens that write on them, and all the other stuff is built in.-- Mr Phase, Feb 23 2006 //Hate to break it to you, but I feel more disinclined to reply for it having no paragraph breaks. A break won't make the user get bored and go away, it'll just make the text easier on the eyes. Thus people are more likely to bother reading it.//
Then I'll add paragraph breaks. Christ, you guys, focus more on the idea than on the stupid paragraph breaks. Sheesh.
//How about this for an interface: you point your finger at the camera on the phone, and it (using the magic of software) manages to decide which is the fingertip, and there's your input. You might then be able to 'write' out words (the right way round, to you - the software can magically flip it so that it can read it). Now you can go two ways: either attempt to convert the 'writing' into text; or simply keep it as 'ink' and use/send that.//
I think that the pen interface is more intuitive, but I could see that working as well.
//What's the difference between this and a flat-screen, possibly wall-mounted pc? You can already get pens that write on them, and all the other stuff is built in.//
Just the:
-interface -use -networking -operating system -hardware
I think that's everything.-- angrygoatface, Feb 23 2006 ahem, the breaks?-- po, Feb 23 2006 Tried to, but it wouldn't let me...O_o-- angrygoatface, Feb 23 2006 Press enter twice between each paragraph. This leaves an eye-pleasing break. If you just want to start a new line, add <b r> (without the space in the middle) at the end of a line.-- spidermother, Feb 24 2006 now I'm not sure what to read.. should I skip over the anno because of the line breaks ?
[spidermother] I prefer <br /> as it's xhtml.-- neilp, Feb 24 2006 GOOD GOD! I added the line breaks, ok?! Now would someone comment on the idea instead of the damn formatting?!-- angrygoatface, Feb 24 2006 Could you maybe take another look at the spelling? There's a good chap.-- coprocephalous, Feb 24 2006 whats a todolist?-- po, Feb 24 2006 In response to the "Good idea but a few years late" post...
Similar technologies, but in the end they're completely different. The digital whiteboard that is already out is literally that; what I'm proposing is more akin to a "dashboard", as Ian helpfully pointed out. In addition, my "dashboard" has an integrated computer and unique operating system.-- angrygoatface, Feb 25 2006 [+] and see link-- pashute, Oct 04 2012 I love it. I remember reading some ui research on family calendars that handwritten love hearts, double underlines and other formatting was an important loss of google calendars. I've been waiting for those researchers to bring out the killer digital family calendar . In vain. Bake this please!-- white, Oct 06 2012 random, halfbakery