Re: Future of Technical Writing

[Erik Harris <ewh -at- PLAZA -dot- DS -dot- ADP -dot- COM>]

Joe Chew posits:
>What the world really needs is a really slick interface on a
>really small yet powerful computer.  Both the process and the
>product of technical writing will be driven by that. Something
>that transcends the need for a full-alphabet keyboard and the
>accompanying ergonomic minima ("smaller keys" loses its charm...

There is such a thing: pen-driven computers, made by Slate Corporation with
operating systems by Go Corporation (unless I have that backwards--perhaps
someone knows).

These things are clipboard-sized, work like a 21st-Century Etch-a-Sketch,
and don't require "typical" computing concepts like 'disk drive,' 'format,'
'CPU,' 'memory,' 'filename,' 'directory tree,' 'save,' 're-boot,' and 'DOS
prompt,' just to name a few. You turn them on, they're on, and you can
scribble, draw, and tap on the screen with your pen to make notes of
things--one application was on-location insurance inspection that didn't
require re-entering handwritten data back at the office--and then you can
turn them off, to save power, presumably, when you're done, without
preamble. A lot like a clipboard--except you can plug a modem into them to
send or receive information to and from other computers.

The last time I saw one was ca. 1992, at an impressive demo in Boston. Does
anyone on the list work on these things or know more than what I've said?

-------------------------------
Quod erat demonstrandum
Erik Harris
ewh -at- plaza -dot- ds -dot- adp -dot- com (weekdays)
TrinityPlc -at- aol -dot- com (home)