Fine, I'm hooked on eReaders, tablets, and how they will change how we use computers, read, get information, write,…shall I continue? But as I drool over the the Que eReader from Plastic Logic, I read Brad Grier's post about reading a reference (I assume on paper) and not being able to get it into a ... and I saw something. I saw a bit of our future.
I'm working on my latest book on the high speed rail line from my house into the city. I'm just doing reading, research, and catching up so I'm just doing it from my tablet-reader device. I see an interesting quote that I'd like to use later. I circle it with my stylus (probably something retro-steampunk-fountain pen-esque knowing me) and jot a note with a couple tags for the book, chapter, and section. When I get to my office I open my bag to get my larger screen laptop with a physical keyboard (I still haven't been able to adjust to the new-fangled laser keyboards, and I like the key feel). My tablet has already been connected to the local network, picked up some new emails, news items, a couple of important files, and updates to media I subscribe to, so when my machine comes online and is on the network the tablet and it sync up information.
I open the chapter I'm working on, and the new source I found is there, with notes, tags, and in the section I'll need it in later. It isn't formatted to the special XML book style yet, but that is coming in an upgrade I've read.
Think I'm nuts? Well, if I have Evernote on my iPod touch or iPhone, I can read something there and have that snippet sent up to my Evernote account. When I turn my laptop on, launch Evernote, and sync that info would be there. We're really not that far off from this vision.
Granted, I don't use Evernote anymore (I like a different app and having two note taking apps invites disaster), nor do I have an iPhone or Touch, but what pieces are really missing from this vision? Really only a larger form device that I won't go blind reading and a platform for syncing up the information.
I'm hoping that future will come this year.
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