Idea for a future portable computer

The iPhone was a revolutionary device that combined functionality with small size. I think the iPhone has the potential to usher in a new type of ultraportable computer. As it is right now, I think that the screen size of the iPhone limits its potential. However, if Apple were to add a second screen a la the Nintendo DS I think that device would have great potential. I think that a device that is essentially two iPod touches combined to make one device would do the trick.

Screen: The device would have two touch screens, however, the bottom touch screen would be used quite a bit more. The bottom screen would have a keyboard that could be minimized, as well as a dedicated scroll area. This scroll area would be able to control the top screen through the use of various multi-touch gestures. A pinch would zoom in, and a swipe up, down, left or right would cause the top screen to pan in that direction. Placement and size of the keyboard and mutli-touch area would be customizable. Keyboard input would be accomplished by the thumbs, with the keyboard always in landscape mode. The device would probably do away with the accelerometer, as rotating the device to a portrait orientation would not make sense, at least not to me. (An application could possibly make use of it, for instance an application for ebooks)

Processor: I know that Intel had said at one point that the iPhone should have been running its Atom processors, which means that they would fit into the casing most likely. An Intel atom processor could give this device the same power as the Macbook Air, just in a much smaller enclosure.

Size: Basically two iPod touches, one on top of the other, screens facing each other. The increased area would allow for larger memory, which in turn would allow for faster speeds, and greater functionality. This would allow the computer to create and edit documents and do many of the same things that a computer can do

OS: The computer would probably retain a similar operating system to the iPhone, because that type of OS is better suited to a small device than a full OS like Windows Mobile. 

~ by bradleylarson on January 6, 2009.