Learning to write is an intergral part of schooling and with advancements in Tablet technology, the ability for students to learn to write and continue using practical skills like note-taking on a computer is a great opportunity. More work is needed in the area of Tablet technology and accessibility. Microsoft is requesting that students put thought into this area during its annual Imagine Cup competition.

This year the Imagine Cup has a Tablet Accessibility Award with first place prize of $8000, a Tablet PC, and a trip to the Imagine Cup finals in Cairo.  The competition already started and first round ends in 21 days. So please help spread the word to interested students!

Students aged 16 and older must be attending an accredited four year high school or college, either full or part time.  

Imagine Cup Tablet Accessibility Award overview  

The object of the Tablet Accessibility Award is to create a new education application that uses Tablet technology while expanding the possibilities about how a user interacts with the computer. The application should reflect the Imagine Cup theme, “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today,” as it relates to the United Nations Millennium Goal of Universal Education.

This Award competition starts at 12:01 AM Greenwich Mean Time (“GMT”) on April 3^rd, 2009 and ends at 11:59 PM (GMT) on May 20^th, 2009 (“Entry Period”). The Entry Period consists of two (2) separate Rounds

First Place:

• $8,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
• A Tablet device (Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet PC) for each officially registered member of the Team. ARV US $ 1,028,00
• A trip for each officially registered member of the Team to Cairo, Egypt to attend the Worldwide Finals. Trip includes round trip coach air travel, standard hotel accommodations and select meals.

Second Place:

• $4,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team
• A Tablet device (Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet PC) for each officially registered member of the Team. ARV US $ 1,028,00
• A trip for each officially registered member of the Team to Cairo, Egypt to attend the  Worldwide Finals. Trip includes round trip coach air travel, standard hotel accommodations and select meals

See http://imaginecup.com/Competition/mycompetitionportal.aspx?competitionId=34 for contest details, rules, and eligibility information.

Panansonic selected InPlay Technologies new digital pen and touch solution for its Toughbook CF-H1, mobile clinical assistant (MCA) for doctors and nurses. See press release for details.

InPlay also recently announced its new pen solution that works with capacitive touch screens, called WriteSense technology. Unlike other products, WriteSense adds pen functionality to capacitive touch solutions that exist in the supply chain. This approach offers a lower cost integration. See press release and product brochure for details.

Currently available in Korea, the Trigem Lluon Mobbit PS400 is another ultra-mobile PC or mobile internet device shown at CES. It has some clever features, such as an integrated camera that you can use like a point-and-shoot.

Here are some profile photos of one running Windows XP Home:

Snap a photo and customize it using the integrated camera software.

Playing a movie.

Integrated camera is on the back of the PC, so you can hold it like you would hold a point-and-shoot.

Camera software has focus target, so you can line up your object then shoot.

Camera button on top, right corner of PC.

Camera software has special personalization options. In this case, a border was added.

Bottom of PC

Right side with left & right mouse buttons along edge.

Trackpad allows for mouse navigation. Display also has a touch screen.

Ventilation along top.

Size compared with iPhone 3G.

During CES, Intel's Mobile Internet Device Group displayed over 50 UMPC, MIDs, and Netbooks in its Intel Atom cafe. Some products, such as the OQO model 2+ you can order now. Other products were on display by ODMs like Compal, and in search of an OEM to produce. Other products, like the UMID M1, may be produced by an OEM - a hint was dropped about Samsung and availability by Q3 2009, but that was not an announcement. Nevertheless, the UMID M1 is an attractive clamshell PC and it is worth sharing its photos and specs.

UMID M1 Specifications

• 4.8" display
• 1024x600 display resolution
• Intel Atom processor Z5xx series
• 512MB and supports up to 1GB of memory
• 16GB SSD
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS option, HSDPA (regional), WiMax / WiBRO option, DVB-H, T-DMB, DAB, DVB-T option
• Windows XP Home or Windows Vista

UMID M1 prototype in red enclosure with white keypad.

UMID M1 prototype in white enclosure with white keypad. The keypad is standard QWERTY with reliance on function keys for extended use.

The UMID M1 comes with a stylus for you to use for navigation. This unit is running Windows XP Home. If it were running Windows Vista there would be access to Tablet technology, such as Microsoft Journal, TIP onscreen keyboard, etc.

Stylus storage area.

UMID M1 is extremely well balanced and can hold with little effort.

Left side

Power on button on far right, top of keypad. Wireless and bluetooth on / off button to the left.

What is the right way to hold and type? Thumbs.

SIM card slot on front, left.

Right side has USB port, audio jack, and power connector.

The UMID M1 has a touch screen (single point). You may navigate with a fingertip.

Pressing the Windows XP Start button with fingertip.

The UMID M1 is slightly larger than the Apple iPhone, yet runs a full operating system - Windows XP Home or Windows Vista.