The iPad and Tablet Computing

With the launch of the iPad and all of the surrounding hype, I feel obligated to respond in some way. The real issue at hand it not necessarily the merits or success of the iPad, but the definition of a Tablet computer. The iPad goes beyond challenging the definition of a Tablet, but challenges the definition of computing itself by providing a model for a closed environment that removes the low level components of a computer and provides only a polished interface.

The main issue is defining a Tablet (or a tablet). The previously accepted definition of a Tablet was based on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition which added pen support to the Windows operating system. The definition was based around the means of input, not the form factor. The form factor was divided into two categories, slates and convertibles. The iPad clearly falls into the category of a slate. However, it does not meet the definition of having a pen based input. Obviously, it has touch base input, but the lack of a pen can be frustrating to a purist. There is no hope in convincing the masses that the iPad is not a Tablet and is a slate based only on the fact it has no pen input.

In the end, the iPad has brought more focus to the Tablet/Slate form factor than any other device. The lack of pen based input is concerning, and the addition of a pen is not likely to happen any time soon. The main difference to the consumer will be the operating system. The stripped down functionality of the iPad is one of the most attractive features and simultaneously its biggest flaw. The Tablet PC industry is well established, but only accounts for a very small percentage of the market. While all of the focus is on Apple, it will be interesting to see what happens to devices formerly known as Tablets. It would be impossible for those needing pen input, such as students, to move to an iPad without making major sacrifices. For many, the flexibility provided by a convertible computer are hard to compete with.

It has become obvious that Apple has made a huge impact on the computing industry with the iPad, but is it what consumers want? More importantly, is it what content producers, such as students, want?

Tablet PC Handbook Now Available

I promised this past December that Tablet PC Handbook would be launching in January. While I have not been able to put as much work into the site as I had hoped, it is a good start to what I hope to expand on. The central concept of the site is to be a living book, a resource that is continuously updated, but is still organized in chapters or topics.

The site is run on MediaWiki so all of the history of each page is maintained. I have enabled registration so that anyone interested in contributing is able to do so. All of the content on the site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license. My hope is to provide a robust resource for information about Tablet PC's.

Introducing the Tablet PC Handbook

While the Tablet PC Handbook will not launch until early January, here is quick sneak peek of what is to come. This blog and a Twitter account @TabletHandbook have been created in advance of launch to promote this new website.

The Tablet PC Handbook will be an online website that is a robust source for information related to Tablet PCs. MediaWiki will be used to run the website, but it is designed to be in the form of an online collaborative book. The site will cover everything from the hardware to how Tablet PCs are used. The focus will be on Windows based Tablet PCs, but it will branch out into the related fields where necessary. Right now the site is password protected, but when launched it will be found at http://tabletpchandbook.com/.

To give some background on why I started this project, I am a senior Computer Engineering & Computer Science student at the University of Louisville Speed School of Engineering. My experience with Tablet PCs includes having owned and used multiple Tablet PCs for use in my college education. Additionally, I work with Speed School which has a mandatory Tablet PC program for all incoming students and have experience providing technical support to students.

My work so far includes the formation of the Student Tablet User Group and a number of episodes of Tablet Tips, an online video podcast about the use of Tablet PCs in education. This effort produced a poster I presented at WIPTE 2008 (A Student Driven Initiative to Increasing the Effectiveness of Tablet Based Learning Programs). The past two fall semesters I have worked for the Engineering Fundamentals department in Speed School which teaches the calculus courses for engineering students. I developed a piece of software called DyKnow Panel eXtractor which is used in processing student work collected using DyKnow. This work resulted in my co-authoring a paper that was presented at WIPTE 2009 (Scoring DyKnow Retrieved Panels for Large Classes).

I am a technology enthusiast and all around geek. My personal website which includes information about the various projects I have undertaken is https://www.jaredhatfield.com. My personal blog, A Jared Blog, includes more information about what I have been up to lately. Additionally, I can be found on twitter @jjhat1.