Watch out tablet lovers – a flexible paper computer developed at Queen's University in collaboration with Plastic Logic and Intel Labs will revolutionize the way people work with tablets and computers. The PaperTab tablet looks and feels just like a sheet of paper. However, it is fully interactive with a flexible, high-resolution 10.7″ plastic display developed by Plastic Logic, a flexible touchscreen, and powered by the second generation Intel® CoreTM i5 Processor. Instead of using several apps or windows on a single display, users have ten or more interactive displays or “PaperTabs”: one per app in use.

Ryan Brotman, Research Scientist at Intel elaborates “We are actively exploring disruptive user experiences. The 'PaperTab' project, developed by the Human Media Lab at Queen's University and Plastic Logic, demonstrates innovative interactions powered by Intel Core processors that could potentially delight tablet users in the future.”

“Using several PaperTabs makes it much easier to work with multiple documents,” says Roel Vertegaal, Director of Queen's University's Human Media Lab. “Within five to ten years, most computers, from ultra-notebooks to tablets, will look and feel just like these sheets of printed color paper.”

For example, PaperTab's intuitive interface 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. PaperTab thus emulates the natural handling of multiple sheets of paper by combining thin-film display, thin-film input and computing technologies through intuitive interaction design.

PaperTab can file and display thousands of paper documents, replacing the need for a computer monitor and stacks of papers or printouts. Unlike traditional tablets, PaperTabs keep track of their location relative to each other, and the user, providing a seamless experience across all apps, as if they were physical computer windows. For example, when a PaperTab is placed outside of reaching distance it reverts to a thumbnail overview of a document, just like icons on a computer desktop. When picked up or touched a PaperTab switches back to a full screen page view, just like opening a window on a computer.

PaperTabs are lightweight and robust, so they can easily be tossed around on a desk while providing a magazine-like reading experience. By bending one side of the display, users can also navigate through pages like a magazine, without needing to press a button.

“Plastic Logic's flexible plastic displays are completely transformational in terms of product interaction. They allow a natural human interaction with electronic paper, being lighter, thinner and more robust compared with today's standard glass-based displays. This is just one example of the innovative revolutionary design approaches enabled by flexible displays.” explains Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Plastic Logic.

Source and top image: Plastic Logic

For more attend the forthcoming events:

Printed Electronics Europe, Berlin, Germany, April 17-18 2013 .

Graphene LIVE! April 17-18 Berlin, Germany

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When live-theatre venues decide to present musicals to their audiences, the experience is greatly enhanced if the book musical selected has a strong storyline as its foundation.  If the story is weak, and especially, if it’s based on a movie, then double whammies are bound to occur.  Translation:  the show will appear to be overproduced and unbalanced or lapse back into the original intention of its creators – a movie not a stage production.  Some movies need to remain just movies.

The Palm Canyon Theatre, the flagship theatre of Palm Springs, has a wonderful track record of presenting many memorable stage musicals over the years.  Mostly those productions began their theatrical lives as strictly live theatre presentations (with a few exceptions).  “The Man of La Mancha”; “West Side Story”; “A Chorus Line”;  “My Fair Lady”; “”Jeykll & Hyde”, are but a few that come quickly to mind.

With the current production “Legally Blonde The Musical”, the show is weak on story and heavy on singing and dancing.  Everyone likes singing and dancing, but not to the detriment of the “book/story” otherwise it becomes merely a dance/singing recital.  As it is, the movie is also a weak story, targeted to appeal to teenagers, but Reese Witherspoon made it more than it deserved to be.

Up front, let’s just say that the cast of the Palm Canyon Theatre production is dedicated, committed, and full of on-stage energy.  With twenty-nine performers on stage, suffice it to say, the “traffic management” issue can be a nightmare for director David McLaughlin, and for stage manager Benjamin Anglin.  Both men pass that test with flying colors.

The stage musical story by Heather Hach, such as it is, is simplistic – and still targeted to young adults – and tells the story of Elle Woods (Kelly McLean), a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Kelly Peak).  Elle discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham (Allegra Angelo) in a murder trial (real legal and procedural types…no rolling of the eyes are allowed during the performance).

It’s not possible, in a cast of twenty-nine to list everyone.  However, certain performers stand out:  Julie Rosser, in fine voice, as Paulette, Allegra Angelo as Brooke Wyndham, Morgana Corelli as Elle’s mom, Andrea Bellato as Serena, Shafik Wahhab as Emmett, and Kelly McLean as Elle Woods.  Cast member Bruiser Woods is a delight, but you have to attend the show to find out the real name of this outstanding performer.

The production choreographed by Anthony Nannini is energetic and visually appealing, and wisely stays within the comfort and capability zone of his dancers.  Costume designer Se Layne scores again in having the stage awash in color and dazzling designs.  J.W. Layne’s Scenic Design delivers the space and proper lighting required for the large cast to do their thing.

“Legally Blonde The Musical” performs Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through February 10th.  For reservations and ticket information call the box office at 760-323-5123.