Intel introduced its new Classmate PC design featuring convertible a display system that allows the user to turn the mini notebook computer into a tablet PC.
The new convertible Classmate PC model running with the low-power consuming Intel Atom processing technology is destined to the learning sector, specifically to primary school students, and brings a touch-sensitive user interface, the 180-degree swivel display and a rotational camera, while included in the Intel Learning Series, a new initiative gathering hardware, software and different services meant to improve the education in the emerging markets.
The previous version of the Classmate PC with clamshell-style design is currently used in the Magellan Initiative in Portugal for elementary school children, but Intel arranged to bring out a new design of the Magellan PC with enhanced reading and writing capabilities, larger display, more system memory and powerful high-speed Internet connectivity technologies such as 3G and WiMAX.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
“Education is one of the best ways to improve the future for individuals, villages, or nations,†said Lila Ibrahim, general manager of the Intel Emerging Markets Platform Group, which developed the classmate PC reference design based on ethnographic research and supports the Intel Learning Series. “There are 1.3 billion school-age children around the world and of those only 5 percent have access to a PC or the Internet. The IT industry has a huge opportunity to contribute to how technology can improve students’ learning and students’ lives. With our announcement today, Intel continues its long-standing commitment to advancing education through technology to transform lives around the world.â€
Children who will use the convertible Classmate PC mini notebook computer will benefit from lots of features including 1.6GHz processing speeds, Intel 945GSE chipset, up to 1GB of system memory, up to 16GB of Flash storage, Windows XP or Linux operating system, Ethernet connectivity, WLAN, Mesh support for Linux, a water-rezistant keyboard, up to 6 hours of continuous use, built-in 2-channel speaker, built-in microphone, two USB ports, SD slot, VGA port, the 1.3MP web camera, and the 8.9-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.
UrbanMax is a mobile computer prototype measuring just 1 inch thick, looking like a tablet PC but with a sliding keyboard and a 11.1-inch touch-sensitive wide display that tilts up to a laptop screen level.
It will feature the N-trig's DuoSense digitizer technology, characterized by a battery-free pen, 0 pressure capacitive touch, multi-touch functionality, and low power consumption.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
"N-trig's DuoSense technology allows OEMs and ODMs to produce innovative new mobile and wireless computing devices that are not currently available on the market today," said Amihai Ben-David, CEO of N-trig. "We are excited to be collaborating with Intel and other Tier 1 players who are recognizing our breakthrough and innovative technology."
The touch and pen digitizer is located in front of any size LCD display, and is thin, lightweight and transparent, supporting Windows XP Tablet and Windows Vista operating systems support, with on-board upgradeable firmware. N-trig created the battery-free electrostatic stylus providing the power source from the magnetic energy produced by the excitation coil located in the digitizer, while the user can access the tablet either using finger touch or this stylus. The surface is a capacitive sensing system featuring fast response time, drag and drop, scroll, flicks and select.
The precise input is accomplished using palm rejection capability, which differentiates between unwanted contact and intentional input.
You can also use multiple fingers to manipulate files, thanks to the multi-touch support, which allows for zooming, panning, rotate and double-tap via the Hands-on Gestures technology.
This is the information we have at the moment about the Intel UrbanMax high-end tablet and we can conclude that when it’ll be available on the market it will be the top model of its kind featuring the latest computer technology.
Intel announced its new series of low-power processors for small mobile devices and Mobile Internet Devices, under the name Atom, also known as Diamondville and Silverthorne, based on a new micro architecture and the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set.
Atom processors come with support for improved performance with increased system response, in a 25 mm2 form factor, integrating tiny slivers of silicon with 47 million transistors each, which means the world’s smallest and lowest power processors.
<-300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->
Based on the hi-k metal gate technology, Atom chips have a Thermal Design Power in the 0.6-2.5 Watt range with 1.8GHz speeds, unlike the existent 45nm processors with a Thermal Design Power of 35 Watt.
"This is our smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors," declared Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney. "This small wonder is a fundamental new shift in design, small yet powerful enough to enable a big Internet experience on these new devices. We believe it will unleash new innovation across the industry."
Latest Comments