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The Modos Paper Monitor

modos.tech

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Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#41

Post by dsr_ »

bayindirh wrote: post #29
dsr_ wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's my anecdata: Reading fiction on a 300+dpi OLED set to white on black is absolutely wonderful for me, and I can do it for several hours in a row, provided that the ambient illumination is not full sunlight. Reading fiction on a 180ish dpi E-ink screen is fine but a little aggravating because changing to the next page takes so long. Not-very-black on light grey is not my favorite color scheme.

Try a relatively modern 300 dpi screen like a paperwhite or Kobo Glo HD, and you'll be really amazed how comfortable reading becomes.

Does it improve either of the things I actually complained about?

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#42

Post by robinsoh »

bayindirh wrote: post #22
pooper wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please excuse my ignorance but are there new patents coming in every year or is it more like mp3 where we had a patent but eventually it expired? My question is like will we have e ink in about twenty years?

The methods or refreshing e-ink displays are called "Wave Functions" in e-ink parlance, and they're actually implemented in software. However, somehow they're so closely guarded, and even if you have top of the line e-ink reader, it might not come with a license for a nice Wave Function which refreshes your display very nicely. For example, one of the most attractive features of Kindles is they use the best Wave Func…

> The methods or refreshing e-ink displays are called "Wave Functions" in e-ink parlance, and they're actually implemented in software.

I've never heard of "wave functions" in the context of electrophoretic displays nor have I ever seen a widely used commercial e-ink controller implement a software update method. Do you mean waveform table? All of them that I've seen in commercial use rely on hardware updates to perform the waveform table processing. Eg: here's the software used to setup the hardware used on most ebook readers: https://github.com/UDOOboard/Kernel_Unico/blob/master/driver...

Could you share some citations or links to what specific thing you're referring to?

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#44

Post by robinsoh »

londons_explore wrote: post #15
londons_explore wrote: post #11

So... The downside of eink is: To set a pixel to anything other than white or black requires a distracting and time consuming pattern of white and black flashes. But... There exists multiple different patterns of flashes that end up with the same grey scale shade. So the logical solution seems to therefore be for neighbouring pixels to use different flash patterns such that when viewed from a distance the flashes are…

Alas, I would love to implement this, but the world of eink is filled with patents and lawsuits, and I think that if I implemented this and it worked well I could never sell it. Even if I gave it away for free, I'd probably have lawyers banging on my door wanting to take away my home.

> but the world of eink is filled with patents and lawsuits, and I think that if I implemented this and it worked well I could never sell it. Even if I gave it away for free, I'd probably have lawyers banging on my door wanting to take away my home.

I work in the display industry. I've never heard anything like what you describe, except on HN comments and blogs that use HN comments as citations. Look at my comment history. I think your claim is false because everytime I've challenged a claim like yours the poster has never been able to substantiate it, but I keep an open mind, if you can provide some real citations backing your claim then I'm happy to be corrected.

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#45

Post by bayindirh »

dsr_ wrote: post #41
bayindirh wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try a relatively modern 300 dpi screen like a paperwhite or Kobo Glo HD, and you'll be really amazed how comfortable reading becomes.

Does it improve either of the things I actually complained about?

Yes. New generation of displays have greater contrast ratio and way faster page change speed. 300 dpi e-ink displays at least one generation newer than 212 dpi screens I've used before and they visibly improve speed, contrast and readability.

The screen (Kobo Glo HD) I'm using is probably one generation behind of current screens. It's on par with paperwhite 2 or 3 IIRC.

I can just zone-out and read for hours without noticing any lag, distracting refreshes (my Kobo does full/reversing refresh every 5 or so changes), and I prefer to any screen I've experienced until now, which were not low end, low-dpi screens of any kind.

Moreover, I'm very rarely buying paper books now. If I can find the title electronically, I just purchase it from the Kobo store.

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#46

Post by bayindirh »

robinsoh wrote: post #42
bayindirh wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The methods or refreshing e-ink displays are called "Wave Functions" in e-ink parlance, and they're actually implemented in software. However, somehow they're so closely guarded, and even if you have top of the line e-ink reader, it might not come with a license for a nice Wave Function which refreshes your display very nicely. For example, one of the most attractive features of Kindles is they use the best Wave Func…

> The methods or refreshing e-ink displays are called "Wave Functions" in e-ink parlance, and they're actually implemented in software. I've never heard of "wave functions" in the context of electrophoretic displays nor have I ever seen a widely used commercial e-ink controller implement a software update method. Do you mean waveform table? All of them that I've seen in commercial use rely on hardware updates to perf…

I've briefly looked for the things I've read in the past but failed to find them currently. Will do when I return home, and will send another reply. I don't like when I can't find the references I remember so vividly.

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#49

Post by fho »

dotancohen wrote: post #39
fho wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah ... those are still tiny compared to even a DIN A2 poster.

There is a 9.7" monitor in there. It's not the 10+" that GP asked for, but it is within 5% of that target.

Fair ... I just read your response and assumed it was answering to my complaints :-) He specifically asked for a 10" inch display and your proposal fits there.

Re: The Modos Paper Monitor

#50

Post by grae_QED »

Instead of e-ink displays, I wish companies would try to make strides in transflective lcds [0]. If more companies invested the time and resources, I think that the potential cost savings and technological benefits (such as a higher refresh rate and no ghosting) over e-ink would make a killing.

Right now, I only know of one commercial product [1] currently being made that is taking advantage of this untapped market.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transflective_liquid-crystal...

[1] https://www.sunvisiondisplay.com/product/SVD-32-Color-RLCD-C...

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