While the number of touchscreen-equipped notebooks and netbooks is slightly increasing (but is likely to skyrocket when Windows 7 and its extensive touchscreen support hits), the truth of the matter is that such products are typically a lot more expensive than ordinary notebooks. And for this reason, the KCI Communications company has created the DUO, a system that allows users to turn any computer into a touchscreen-enabled one, at a fraction of the price.
While the manufacturer doesn't provide too much information about the technology behind this very interesting device, just mentioning that it's “using patented technology combining ultrasonic waves and infrared rays”, but not detailing exactly what they mean.
However, they do mention the fact that the Duo integrates directly with Windows Vista and Windows 7 tablet software, which enables users to either capture characters in their own handwriting or automatically turn them to ASCII characters for clear, easy reading. DUO also integrates with Microsoft Office ink annotator to allow writing, such as signatures, directly on the document. The easy USB “plug ‘n play” set up allows even the most novice user to install the system in minutes.
Unfortunately, according to the manufacturers, the DUO also has a couple of shortcomings, since, despite working with most monitor types and laptops 15.4” and smaller, it is not compatible with Toshiba A1XX Series, A2XX Series, L3XX Series and Sony FWXX Series, CSXX Series, SXX Series, SZXX Series, CXX Series, 15LN Series. Moreover, it seems that support for 19 to 22 – inch displays will only be added starting with September 2009, while Mac drivers will only become available at some point in November.
Pricing for the DUO system is actually a pretty affordable one, since we're only talking about 120 US dollars. Of course, if this system really delivers on what it promises, then the pricing is quite a fair one, otherwise we're really talking about a way too expensive gadget.
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