ebook reader's next steps
On the ebook reader front, Plastic Logic unveiled a promising new leap forward at this year’s DEMO conference. Although the device won’t be officially available till next year, they showed off some features that seem to give the Kindle a run for its money. Here are some that caught my attention:
- Instant on (great for those times when you just want to quickly check a document for one small detail)
- Readable in bright daylight
- Plastic rather than glass screen so it’s very durable
- Touch-screen for entering annotations, notes or comments
- Battery life that’s measued in days not hours
Although Plastic Logic is aiming this at a business audience, I certainly see possibilities with education (e.g., students using it to read and mark-up course materials outside on a bright, sunny day). Perhaps textbook publishers are already looking at this. I’m sure there will be lots of coverage by the tech and biz press when this device is officially released next year; it will be interesting to see what the reviewers have to say. Perhaps someone from Educause will get one and write a review through an educator’s prism.