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Handwriting recognition

Because tablet personal computers normally use a stylus, they quite often implement handwriting recognition, while other tablet computers with finger driven screens do not. Finger driven screens however are potentially better suited for inputting "variable width stroke based" characters, like Chinese/Japanese/Korean writing, due to their built in capability of "pressure sensing". However at the moment not much of this potential is already used, and as a result even on tablet computers Chinese users often use a (virtual) keyboard for input.

Touchscreen hardware

Touchscreens are usually one of two forms;

    * Resistive: Resistive touchscreens are passive and can respond to any kind of pressure on the screen. They allow a high level of precision (which may be needed, when the touch screen tries to emulate a mouse for precision pointing, which in Tablet personal computers is common) but may require calibration to be accurate. Because of the high resolution of detection, a stylus is often used for resistive screens. Although some possibility exist for implementing multi-touch on a resistive touch-screen, the possibilities are quite limited. As modern tablet computers tend to heavily lean on the use of multi-touch, this technology has faded out and has been replaced by:

    * Capacitive: Capacitive touchscreens tend to have better accuracy and responsive than resistive screens. Because they require a conductive material, such as a finger tip, for input, they are not common among (stylus using) Tablet PCs but are more prominent on the smaller scale "tablet computer" devices for ease of use, which generally do not use a stylus, and need multi-touch capabilities.

Other touch technology used in tablets include:

    * Palm recognition. It prevents inadvertent palms or other contacts from disrupting the pen's input.

    * Multi-touch capabilities, which can recognize multiple simultaneous finger touches, allowing for enhanced manipulation of on-screen objects.Since mid-2010, new tablet computers with mobile operating systems forego the Wintel paradigm, have a different interface and have created a new type of computing device.These mobile OS tablet computer devices are normally finger driven and use multi-touch capacitive touch screens, instead of the simple resistive touchscreens of typical stylus driven systems. First of these was the iPad, with others following. In foregoing the x86 precondition (a requisite of Windows compatibility), the new class of tablet computers use a version of an ARM architecture processor heretofore used in portable equipment (e.g., MP3 players and cell phones) now powerful enough (especially with the introduction of the ARM Cortex family)for tasks such as internet browsing, light production work and gaming.

Some professional-grade Tablet PCs use pressure sensitive films that additionally allows pressure sensitivity such as those on graphics tablets.

Concurrently capacitive touch-screens, which use finger tip detection can often detect the size of the touched area, and can make some conclusions to the pressure force used, for a similar result.

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The tablet computer market was invigorated by Apple through the introduction of the iPad device in 2010.While the iPad places restrictions on the owner to install software thus deviating it from the PC tradition, its uncompromising attention to the touch interface is considered a milestone to the tablet computer development history.In May 20, 2010 IDC published a press release defining the term media tablet as personal devices with screens from 7 to 12in., lightweight operating systems "currently based on ARM processors" which "provide a broad range of applications and connectivity, differentiating them from primarily single-function devices such as ereaders".IDC also predicted a market growth for tablets from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 million units in 2014.

At Consumer Electronics Show 2011, over 80 new tablets were announced to compete with the iPad. Companies who announced tablets included: Motorola, Samsung, Vizio, Toshiba, Asus, and the startup company Notion Ink. Many of these tablets are set to be running Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Google's mobile operating system for tablets.

In the Health Sector Tablet Computers can be used for data capture - such as registering patient experience feedback at the bedside.

Touch user interface

A key and common component among tablet computers is touch input. This allows the user to navigate easily and intuitively and type with a virtual keyboard on the screen.

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History

The tablet computer and the associated special operating software is an example of Pen computing technology, and thus the development of tablets has deep historical roots.

The depth of these roots can be quite surprising to people who are only familiar with current commercial products. For example, the first patent for an electronic tablet used for handwriting was granted in 1888.[15] The first patent for a system that recognized handwritten characters by analyzing the handwriting motion was granted in 1915.The first publicly-demonstrated system using a tablet and handwriting text recognition instead of a keyboard for working with a modern digital computer dates to 1956.

In addition to many academic and research systems, there were several companies with commercial products in the 1980s: Pencept, Communications Intelligence Corporation, and Linus were among the best known of a crowded field. Later, GO Corp. brought out the PenPoint OS operating system for a tablet product: one of the patents from GO corporation was the subject of recent infringement lawsuit concerning the Tablet PC operating system.

One early implementation of a Linux tablet was the ProGear by FrontPath. The ProGear used a Transmeta chip and a resistive digitizer. The ProGear initially came with a version of Slackware Linux, but could later be bought with Windows 98.

In 2000 Microsoft coined the term "Microsoft tablet PC" for tablet PC's built to Microsoft's specification, and running a licensed specific tablet enhanced version of its Microsoft Windows OS.

Microsoft Tablet PCs were targeted to address business needs mainly as note-taking devices, and as rugged devices for field work.

Tablet PCs failed to gain popularity in the consumer space because of unresolved usability problems. The existing devices were too heavy to be held with one hand on extended periods, having legacy applications created for desktop interfaces made them not well adapted to the slate format, and the specific software features designed to support usage as a tablet were not present in all contexts.

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Tablets based on IBM-PC architecture

A tablet personal computer (tablet PC) is a portable personal computer equipped with a touchscreen as a primary input device, and running a (modified) classic desktop OS. designed to be operated and owned by an individual.The term was made popular as a concept presented by Microsoft in 2000 and 2001but tablet PCs now refer to any tablet-sized personal computer regardless of the (desktop) operating system.

Tablets not based on IBM-PC architecture

Many tablets do not use a traditional desktop OS or use the Wintel paradigm, nor are x86 based. Most often their OS is a Unix-like OS, such as Darwin, Linux or QNX. The first was the iPad, and others continue the common trend towards multi-touch and other natural user interface features. Some use ARM for longer battery life versus battery weight. Some have 3G mobile telephony capabilities.

Developing programs for tablet computers

A significant trait to define whether a tablet computer can be regarded as a personal computer is the ability for the final user to install arbitrary or self-developed software. The new class of devices heralded by the iPad has spurred the tendency of a walled garden approach where the vendor reserves rights as to what can be installed. The software development kits for these platforms are restricted and the vendor must approve the final application for distribution to users. Proponents of open source software deem that these restrictions on software installation and lack of administrator rights make this category one that, in their view, cannot be properly named personal computers. But newer mobile operating system based tablet computers may abandon the walled garden concept, and be like personal computers in this regard.

Tablet computer 1

A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete personal mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard or a digital pen rather than a physical keyboard.

The term may also apply to a "convertible" notebook computer whose keyboard is attached to the touchscreen by a swivel joint or slide joint so that the screen may lie with its back upon the keyboard, covering it and exposing only the screen for touch operation.

Tablet computers and tablet PCs

As of 2010, two distinctly different types of tablet computing devices exist, whose operating systems are of different origin.

Firstly, older tablet personal computers are mainly x86 based,[3] and are fully functional personal computers employing a slightly modified personal computer OS 

(Like Windows or Ubuntu Linux) supporting their touch-screen, instead of a traditional display mouse, and keyboard. A typical tablet personal computer needs to be stylus driven, because operating the typical desktop based OS requires a high precision to select GUI widgets, such as a the close window button.

Since mid-2010, new tablet computers with mobile operating systems forego the Wintel paradigm, have a different interface and have created a new type of computing device.[4] These mobile OS tablet computer devices are normally finger driven and use multi-touch capacitive touch screens, instead of the simple resistive touchscreens of typical stylus driven systems (also a standard external USB keyboard can be used).

First of these was the iPad, with Samsung Galaxy Tab and others following. In foregoing the x86 precondition (a requisite of Windows compatibility), the new class of tablet computers use a version of an ARM architecture processor heretofore used in portable equipment (e.g., MP3 players and cell phones) now powerful enough (especially with the introduction of the ARM Cortex family) for tasks such as internet browsing, light production work and gaming.

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* 2010

o MobileDemand launches the xTablet T7000 Rugged Tablet PC which runs a full Windows OS and features include an integrated numeric keypad, bar code scanner, credit card reader, etc.

o Apple unveils the iPad, running Apple iOS.

 o Quaduro Systems unveils the 10" QuadPad 3G Plus, the first 900 gram Microsoft Windows based 3G tablet PC with 8 hours battery life.

 o Samsung unveils the Galaxy Tab, running Google Android.

o bModo launches the bModo12 which runs the Windows 7 OS and features include 11.6" TFT-LCD display, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth® 2.1, USB2.0, SDHC slot, unlocked SIM card Slot, miniHDMI connector, OMTP Jack, a webcam, a mic, etc.

o Neofonie releases the WeTab, a MeeGo-based slate tablet PC, featuring an 11.6 inch multi-touch screen at 1366×768 pixels resolution.[58]

o Dixons Retail plc unveils the Advent Vega, a 10" tablet PC running Android 2.2, having a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra chipset, 512 Mb of RAM and ROM, 1.3 MP camera, WiFi b/g connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1, a micro SD card slot, a USB port and a 16h battery life for audio playback and 6.5h for 1080p video.[59]

o Dell Announces the Inspiron Duo A flip screen Netbook and Tablet PC hybrid

o HP releases the Slate 500, running a full-version of Windows 7

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* 2003o PaceBlade receives the "Innovation des Jahres 2002/2003" award for the PaceBook Tablet PC from PC Professionell Magazine at the Cebit

o Fingerworks[53] develops the touch technology and touch gestures later used in the Apple iPhone.

* 2006

o Samsung introduces the Samsung Q1 UMPC.

o Windows Vista released for general availability. Vista included the functionality of the special Tablet PC edition of Windows XP.

o On Disney Channel Original Movie, Read It and Weep, Jamie uses a Tablet PC for her journal.

* 2007

o Axiotron introduces Modbook, the first (and only) tablet computer based on Mac hardware and Mac OS X at Macworld.[27]

* 2008

o In April 2008, as part of a larger federal court case, the gesture features of the Windows/Tablet PC operating system and hardware were found to infringe on a patent by GO Corp. concerning user interfaces for pen computer operating systems.[54] Microsoft's acquisition of the technology is the subject of a separate lawsuit.[55][56]

o HP releases the second Multi-Touch capable tablet: the HP TouchSmart tx2 series.[57]

* 2009

o Asus announces a tablet netbook, the EEE PC T91 and T91MT, the latter which features a multi-touch screen.

o Always Innovating announced a new tablet netbook with an ARM CPU.

o Motion Computing launched the J3400.