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Handhelds across America
Head of Systems, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh. Column for May 2006 I tend to follow so much of the library automation and software industry that it’s easy to lose track of all the general-consumer gadgets and gizmos that are out there these days. I had the chance to catch up recently with two great presentations at the 2006 Computers in Libraries conference in Washington, D.C.—one by Megan Fox of Simmons College in Boston and the other by Hope Tillman of Babson College in Babson Park, Massachusetts. Wow, am I behind. Despite what OCLC Vice President Lorcan Dempsey has called the “low gravitational pull" of library resources, today’s gadgets serve many more purposes for the average library user. On occasion, libraries have attempted to be on the cutting edge of gadgetry (i.e., e-book readers and assistive technology devices). But more often than not, patrons will come to libraries—academic, special, and public—armed with an array of devices that serve a myriad of consumer needs. Leveraging these devices for library uses will be a particular challenge for libraries, but one well worthwhile. I have a strong feeling that Darwin would have had a field day studying the evolutionary strengthening of the human thumb in the 21st century. A couple of friends have gotten me into text messaging on my phone. It’s pretty amazing how adept one can become at having a conversation using a numeric keypad. Several innovations are making these conversations easier. The Nokia E70 Smartphone has a double keypad that slides out, allowing users to key with both thumbs. Samsung also has an array of next-generation phones built for text access. If it’s a full keyboard you’re looking for, the Nokia 9300 Communicator might be the tool of choice. Weighing just ounces, the oyster-like case opens up to reveal a full color “desktop” with access to productivity applications, e-mail, calendar, and more. Did I mention it’s also a phone? Is that a TV in your pocket?Who wants text when video is near at hand? The Nokia N92 doubles as a television screen. While it’s hard to imagine owning a phone like this without access to Tivo (and thus the ability to not miss your favorite show), I guess some people just need a good TV fix. This also opens up all kinds of interesting scenarios for cell phone usage in cars. Multi-megapixel cameras, video messaging, and wireless connectivity to other devices via Bluetooth are just some of the things that patrons might be using in libraries because they are using them in everyday life. With a better foothold in Europe and Asia (North America is way behind in the technical infrastructure required to make all these devices a true commercial success in the U.S.), we might have some time to prepare. In the meantime, we still have the near ubiquity of iPods (many of which have video capabilities) and MP3 players. Lest we think of all these devices merely as something that libraries will have to tolerate (though I’m betting many of you could imagine library uses for some of the devices listed above), there are some innovations in devices more suited to content. I’ve written before about e-book devices and have held out hope for several years that technical innovations in display technologies would convince publishers to stop crippling the market for electronic texts with ludicrous digital rights management (DRM) systems. DRM is a different topic. Suffice it to say that I think the long-awaited devices could arrive just in time for the flood of content that could potentially fill them. The Sony LIBRIé has finally hit the U.S. This electronic ink reader weighs in at 9 ounces, holds up to 80 books or 900 newspapers, and supports 7,500 page turns before it needs a battery recharge. IRex Technologies is also launching an e-ink reader in 2006: The iLiad will be available in Europe this spring and has reportedly added animation and MP3 capabilities. I still believe that tablet PCs will find their audience in the next year or two. The Windows and Linux operating systems are finding their places on many new devices, including the pocket-sized Vulcan Flipstart, Nokia Minitablet 770, and the Sony VAIO Type U. One of the main problems with these devices has been their price-prohibitive cost of $1,500–$2,000. Many companies are trying to come up with products that are smaller, faster, and cheaper. If ever there were a sign that the market is going to take off, it’s when Microsoft joins the crowd. Despite the slow adoption of its PC Tablet operating system, Microsoft is now getting into the hardware itself. Though it seems like heavy-handed buzz marketing, Microsoft officially acknowledged Project Origami, an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC—get used to this acronym). With a 7-inch diagonal display, wi-fi access, USB, and Bluetooth, Microsoft also hopes to break into the mini-tablet market at a $600–$1,000 price point. Battery life is still the Achilles’ heel of most of these mini-tablets. Some of you might be wondering what kind of content libraries will be putting on these devices or why we should care. Rest assured that the library content providers are not ignoring this market either. Next month’s column will focus on the cautious marriage of handheld devices and library content. I’ve never been much of a believer in convergence, but one can hardly deny the trend of personalization and miniaturization. I have a tablet PC, a cell phone (finally with a camera that does little but drain my battery), and a digital camera. I use some of these things in the library. I look forward to a library strategy that puts our resources into these mini–Trojan horses, thus luring people to our libraries. Announcements
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