Now, flexible 'paper tablet' that can be rolled up

LONDON: Researchers have developed a revolutionary tablet screen as thin as a sheet of paper that can be twisted and dropped without damage - and it could replace your laptop within five years. 

Developed by Queen's University in Canada in collaboration with Plastic Logic and Intel Labs, it could lead to revolutionary new gadgets that are virtually unbreakable - and as thin as a piece of paper. 

The PaperTab is fully interactive with a flexible, high-resolution 10.7-inch plastic display developed by Plastic Logic, a flexible touchscreen, and powered by the second generation Intel CoreTM i5 Processor, the 'Daily Mail' reported. 

"Plastic Logic's flexible plastic displays allow a natural human interaction with electronic paper, being lighter, thinner and more robust compared with today's standard glass-based displays," said Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Plastic Logic. 

Researchers plan to launch the screen later this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. 

They have shown off the concept for a new desktop - using sheets of paper for each app rather than a traditional screen with windows. 

Instead of using several apps or windows on a single display, users have ten or more interactive displays or 'PaperTabs', with each being a different app. 

They can also be used as e-books, with users simply bending the screen to turn pages. 

"Using several PaperTabs makes it much easier to work with multiple documents," said Roel Vertegaal, Director of Queen's University's Human Media Lab. 

For example, PaperTab allows a user to send a photo simply by tapping one PaperTab showing a draft email with another PaperTab showing the photo. 

The photo is then automatically attached to the draft email. 

The email is sent either by placing the PaperTab in an out tray, or by bending the top corner of the display. 

Similarly, a larger drawing or display surface is created simply by placing two or more PaperTabs side by side. 

Intel claims the technology could eventually replace traditional screen altogether. 

"Within five to ten years, most computers, from ultra-notebooks to tablets, will look and feel just like these sheets of printed colour paper," said Ryan Brotman, Research Scientist at Intel. 

The developers claim it could even replace paper altogether. 

"PaperTab can file and display thousands of paper documents, replacing the need for a computer monitor and stacks of papers or printouts," it said.

-PTI

Now, exchange SMSs with your household appliances

WASHINGTON: Leading manufacturers of household appliances have created smart devices that can send a text message when your clothes are dry or notify you when a power cut knocks out your fridge.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, appliance manufacturers Whirlpool and LG are unveiling new washers, dryers and refrigerators that connect with their owner's smartphones or tablets through home-based wi-fi networks, Discovery News reported.

The household appliances let them know when to change filters, schedule maintenance or the cheapest time of day to wash a load of clothes.

"We're not looking at having the fridge tweet to you, but it can send e-mails or SMS," said Warwick Stirling, Whirlpool global director of energy and sustainability.

"We're trying to focus on ways to make tasks easier and simpler, making processes more efficient rather than more gadget-y or gizmo-y," Stirling said.

Stirling said the devices will be available for sale in March under its " Sixth Sense Live" brand. Whirlpool's new Bluetooth-capable CoolVox refrigerator lets consumers play music through the fridge using an app.

Korean electronics giant LG is introducing a new line at CES that will let users control their washer, vacuum or range by voice command via smartphone, even offering the ability to check what kind of food is inside the refrigerator remotely.

A Whirlpool washer/dryer combo with smart connectivity will cost $3,600, compared to under $1,000 for entry-level models, the report said.

While appliance and electronics makers believe consumers will go for convenience over cost, some analysts are skeptical that the public is ready for tweeting fridges or remote controlled vacuums.

"From an appliance standpoint, they are getting there, but it's still pretty early," said Neil Strother, a senior analyst at Boulder-based Pike Research.

He said there are several big obstacles to consumers jumping from smartphones to smart appliances.

They are still 50 to 100 per cent more costly that "non-smart" appliances and manufacturers still haven't agreed on a common household communications platform that would help integrate stereo/TV/computer systems with kitchens and laundries, for example.

-PTI

Nirbhaya app for cellphones launched

PUNE: A city-based software company has launched a cellphone application, which can send a distress message to a specified contact group in an emergency situation confronting a woman. 

The application 'Nirbhaya', which can be downloaded for free, will send an alarm by way of an SMS text message denoting woman's location to the configured group through the Global Positioning System ( GPS), said Gajanan Sakhare, the CEO of 'Smart Cloud Infotech', which has developed the application. 

It can also be used for communicating exigencies like accident apart from attempted molestation through pre-defined text messages. 

Compatible at present with Android mobile phones, the user will be required to submit personal details in respect of residential address and emergency contact numbers. 

The users can configure their own list of contacts incorporating police and other close relatives and friends. 

A click on 'Nirbhaya' short-cut hot key in a distress situation can delivera text message to the configured contact group, seeking help and indicating the user's location, he said, adding the application will soon be available on iPhone and Windows Phones.

-PTI

Facebook creates private posts that disappear after being read

London: Social networking site Facebook has launched a new app which erases pictures and messages within 10 seconds of being sent.

It is an advanced version of one of the the social networking site's original apps, the 'poke'. The equivalent of a head nod or wink, the 'poke' in its old form is rarely used today as the site has become more advanced, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

It has now been reinvented to be called 'Facebook Poke' and allows users to send fleeting messages, pokes, photos and 10-second videos to friends.

The messages expire after a set period of time, from 1 to 10 seconds, and cannot be retrieved by either party again, making it perfect for sending salacious images without leaving a trail.

"With the Poke app, you can poke or send a message, photo, or video to Facebook friends to share what you're up to in a lightweight way," said the site in a blog post announcing the new app.

When you open the app, you can choose from a set of icons at the bottom of the screen to send a poke, type a 120-character message, open the camera to snap a picture - you cannot choose an existing photo - or shoot a 10-second video 

You then decide how long you want the recipient to see the

message for. It is said the new facility is similar to Snapchat, an app which is popular with younger age users, and which has gained a reputation as a tool for sending risque images.

Facebook is encouraging users to report inappropriate messages.

"If you ever see something you're uncomfortable with, you can click the gear menu and report it," the paper quoted the company as saying.

-PTI & HT