APPLE
Apple's resurgence continues. Sales of the iMac continue to be strong with 519,000 sold in the quarter ending in December. Almost 800,000 iMac computers have been sold since their introduction in August 1998. Apple is hoping to continue the momentum with the redesigned iMac models and the new Power Mac G3 computers. Apple's sales represented about 5% of the personal computers sold in the world in the fourth quarter of 1998. (Source: Wall Street Journal, 1/14/1999)

GYRICON
Think of Gyricon as a cross between paper and a computer screen. It may just be the ultrathin method of creating and displaying information in the future.

Gyricon is composed of a silicon rubber compound with the thickness and flexibility of poster board. The Gyricon sheets have thousands of plastic balls suspended in oil. Each ball is black on one side and white on the other and act as pixels to display the images. Images are displayed when powered by two AA batteries yet it is able to maintain digital images for months without any power. Images can be updated much the same way that a monitor does. The Gyricon sheets can be maintained in a binder or a hand-held "wand" which will provide power and connectivity for changing images.

Developed in 1977 by Nicholas Sheridon at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center, work is progressing on developing the interface with the PC and improving the resolution. Each sheet is expected to cost US$0.25. (Source: Computerworld, 1/25/1999)

DITIGAL PENS
You could be using a SmartQuill by the end of the year. The SmartQuill is a pen type device that converts your writing movements into data. The data is stored in memory on the pen until it is uploaded to your personal computer when the SmartQuill is placed into a docking station attached to you PC.

The SmartQuill has 4MB of memory, enough to store about 40 pages of handwriting. It will run for about 25 hours on a single AAA battery. One model has a display mounted at the top of the pen so that you can read what you have written. British Telecom is seeking a manufacturing partner to help refine and produce the product. (Source: PC Magazine, 2/9/1999)

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH
This month's web site is "What Is." And just what is "What Is" and where can I find it? "What Is" www.whatis.com provides an explanation of every computer related term you can think of. It also has a very extensive guide to all the different file formats. (Source: PC Magazine 2/9/1999)
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Technology Tidbits is published monthly by Jerry Price, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
© 1999 Jerry W. Price

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