Schoolbag in your Pocket

In a scenario where students literally carry the

back-breaking burden of education–heavy schoolbags–to school or college

everyday, a device called goReader promises a simple solution.

goReader

is like an electronic schoolbag. It’s a device that stores and gives you

access to your textbooks in electronic format. It weighs around 5 pounds

(approximately 2 kg), and can hold around 150 textbooks, including study guides,

supplementary information, etc.

You can read the material on its 7.3"x9.7"

full-color SVGA screen, which displays crisp text and graphics. You can

highlight text in various colors, take notes, bookmark pages, and magnify

images. You can even save and print the notes you’ve jotted down on your

e-textbooks.

You can copy-paste text, equations, etc, to make your own

notes on a particular topic. Its search function lets you search the material on

your device for keywords, chapters, and bookmarks. The touchscreen operation

helps in navigation and accessing various features. The device also has a

built-in calculator, calendar, and electronic notepad.

goReader has more than five hours of rechargeable battery

life, and comes with a replaceable battery pack.

Currently, the Chicago-based company is in negotiation with

publishers to convert traditional textbooks into electronic format. Once this is

done, students will be able to download e-textbooks from the Website (www.

goreader.com) to their goReader. goReader will conduct test classes with some

major universities later this year, after which the device will be available for

purchase in the market. Of course, it might be some time before the device finds

its way to lightening the Indian student’s burden.