Plugging in the Newspaper   

Some futurists contend that omniscient databases linked to computers and fax machines will replace human editors and newspapers early in the next century. Fortunately, that won't be the case. Services that give us only what a computer "thinks" we want can never substitute for well-edited newspapers. Rather than fewer editors, we very likely will need more and better managers to make sense of the swelling flood of information.

It may be difficult to visualize, but a new generation of computer appliances known as "flat panels" or "tablets" are destined to become the paper and presses of the 21st century. These devices will be portable, easy to read and user-friendly. Instead of keyboards, they will make use of a combination of electronic pens, touch screens and voice recognition.

The first panel newspapers are likely to retain the familiar features of their printed counterparts, with headlines, typographic variety, sections and multi-column pages. However, panels will not be limited to text and photographs. Ultimately, they will blend video and sound with the printed word – all controlled and directed by the user – and shouldn't cost much more, if not less, than a newspaper subscription today.

To help visualize one of the ways in which newspapers may adapt, let's take a brief mental excursion into the near future. The following scenario is based entirely on technologies that exist today and that could be available for purchase within the next few years.

October 21, 2010: As I awaken, the view from my hotel window offers no clues to my location. All I can see in the darkness is a galaxy of street lights. My body is telling me it should be about 7 a.m., but the digital clock says it's 4:17. Memory returns slowly, and I recall this is Eugene, Oregon, and that I arrived last night from Miami to speak at a conference this morning.

There's no chance of falling back to sleep now, so I turn on the light and take the panel out of my attaché case. The last time I updated it was yesterday afternoon. I read it on the plane, but was too tired to update it again when I arrived. I slide the panel into an "updater" on the desk and display the main menu. The hotel offers a choice of more than 100 news media from around the world, including electronic editions of newspapers and magazines and their video hybrids.

I could use any of the flat-screen, digital televisions in the room to display my selections, but I prefer a portable panel for reading. There's something about holding reading material in my hands and turning pages by touch that feels more comfortable to me. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

My panel is about the size of a standard paper magazine and weighs just over a pound. I interact with it by touch and gesture. There is no keyboard. With a special electronic pen, I can highlight items, attach handwritten notes, or work a crossword puzzle, among many other tasks.

I've preset my panel to always select the Miami Herald, CNN HyperNews, the New York Times and the local newspaper, which in Eugene is the Register Guard. My panel has also been preset to search for stories of interest to me from among all available news media. It will take a few moments to update, so I call room service for a cup of coffee. Before long, the updater indicates that my selections have been loaded and the battery is recharged. I remove the panel and return to the bed.

When I touch the screen, I'm told that 17 items meet my criteria. I can go directly to any of the items or just browse. Since I have plenty of time, I browse. I start with the Register Guard's local news section.

The pages, which resemble traditional newspaper pages, are displayed at half size so I can quickly scan the headlines and graphics. I can "turn" pages without the risk of hitting a person sitting next to me. All I do is touch the corner of the page. Pulling out sections, such as "Sports" and "Business," is even easier than in print. All sections and departments are listed on every page, so they are always just a touch away.

As soon as I find an item that interests me, I touch it and the story or graphic appears on the screen in a readable size. If I'm having trouble reading the standard text, I can enlarge it to whatever is comfortable.

A full-color, animated graphic about severe thunderstorms approaching Eugene catches my attention. The timeline indicates the graphic was created this morning at 3:36. I touch the graphic and enlarge it to fill the screen. The animation takes about 10 seconds to show the path of the storms, which are expected to arrive that afternoon. I can replay the graphic again or go directly to a more detailed weather report by touching different spots on the screen.

I move on to the Miami Herald's business section. As I'm browsing, I find a story about the latest federal surtax. An accompanying graphic offers me the opportunity to see how I will be affected. By using the electronic pen to enter my salary and a few other details, the graphic computes the amount of my surtax and shows me how I compare with other taxpayers. I'd like to print the story and graphic later, so I touch "save" on the screen. This puts the page in my panel's memory.

News pages are still a blend of editorial and advertising. Unlike television commercials, panel advertising does not interrupt you. Ads are juxtaposed with editorial content on most pages so that you will see them as you browse. If you aren't interested in the ads, you simply "turn" the page. But, as might be expected, advertisers exploit the advantages of this blended medium. When you touch most ads, they come alive. Video and sound are often combined with printed messages in entertaining ways. If you request it, some ads will speak. Others display their wares with short video clips. More importantly, advertisers can deliver a variety of targeted messages that can be matched to each panel user's programmed interests.

An airline ad offering discount fares to South America attracts me with the haunting music of an Andean flute. I'm planning to vacation in Peru next month, so I touch the ad to get more information. Before I quit, I'll check the ad indexes to see if any other airlines are offering discount fares. With the built-in communicator, I can even make my reservations directly from the panel. My credit card numbers and other essential data are maintained in my profile. The information is encrypted and protected by a personal password, so there is no risk of someone else placing orders with my panel.

After scanning the Herald, I return to my panel's menu and touch the symbol for the New York Times' science section. The lead story is about the multinational exploration of Mars. By touching an image of the planet, I can watch a 20-second video segment showing views sent by the robot vehicle as it roved the surface of the planet.

My presentation is at 9 a.m., so I'll take a break from the news and review my speech. I have stored my speech and supporting graphics in my panel's memory, as well as an itinerary and appointment calendar. Using the electronic pen, I can make changes up to the last minute, which I am always inclined to do. At the lectern, the panel will serve as a prompter. As soon as my presentation is over, I can easily provide participants and reporters with electronic or printed copies of the transcript.

The panel has become so essential in my life that it is difficult to recall how I managed without it. – R