Reader

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Acting as a combination storage device/communicator, the reader takes many forms, though those can be broken down to specific types. Practically every citizen of the System uses some form of reader, whether it be a small pocket device, or installed in a desk or wall. With it, one can call others, read, view, and hear media. Specific adaptations and programs—many of which have become standard—allow further function, such as editing and creating media.

Main Components

Any reader, regardless of type, consists of three basic parts: body, projection screen and controls.

Body

Housing the mechanics, the body of a reader determines its use and type. In a desk or console type, the body is essentially the desk or wall itself, with mechanics hidden beneath the surface. The greater space and guaranteed solidity allow for more storage and capability than a small and lightweight portable type.

Form follows function, but only after adhering to familiar shapes. The hand-held reader maintains the same flat, often geometric shape of reading material that is seen throughout the ages and sub-systems. Variations based on appendage types do not essentially alter the overall form, instead echoing whatever equivalent to the tablet or book a sub-system traditionally uses.

Any wearable or ultra-portable reader often gives up functionality for ease of transport, as weight and bulkiness becomes a consideration when a reader is designed to be continually worn.

Projection Screen

With the exception of the modified hand-held reader, a screen projects images dimensionally into the space above—or in the case of wall-mounted types, in front—of the body. Resolution, depth and height of projection can be adjusted by the user, within the size constraints of the screen itself. Some ultra-portable, or compact, types make use of multiple screens that work in tandem, resulting in a less dynamic and resolved image than an uninterrupted screen.

The majority of projection screens have capabilities for input and output, allowing a user to interact with the projections using a digit or stylus. Further interaction is made through voice commands. For basic functions, or for models that have limited or no input capabilities, basic controls are built in to the body of the reader.

Controls

The basic controls found on most readers consist of an on/off button, resolution, depth and height of projection controls, and a forward/more, back/less control.

More involved controls for desk and console types are found on a separate unit, or programmed into a hand-held reader. Having a separate control unit allows for freedom of movement on the part of the user, allowing manipulation of what is being displayed without having to be within appendages' distance of the projection screen.

Types

Desk/Console

The most flexible type, with the greatest storage capabilities and easy addition of more storage. Projection screen can be interacted with via sound, stylus, or by hand.

Desk

The most common form of the desk, or console, type is simply a projection screen set into a desk or horizontal surface area:

Wall

A type seen in corporate situations, or smaller and adapted for simple home viewing use is the wall type, where the projection screen is set into a vertical surface area:

Hand-Held

The most ubiquitous type of reader, to the point that it is more often than not just called a "reader." Far less storage space than a desk, or console, type, but can hold the contents of about 100 cartridge, or octavo, types. Screen is multi-touch sensitive, can be used with or without a stylus. Simpler models, such as the adapted form used as school texts and notebooks, do not project dimensionally from the screen. Size varies from two to four centimetres thick, 12 to 20 centimetres wide and 18 to 30 centimetres long. Used with an earpiece for communication.

Cartridge/Octavo

Used primarily to transport documents and files that need to be physically handed off. Storage capabilities are lower than the standard hand-held, but often higher than a portable. About 12 centimetres in length, 5 centimetres in diameter. Some industries have specific colour-codes; green meaning data, blue meaning information, yellow meaning urgent.

Portable

As both the hand-held and octavo versions of readers are, in essence, portable, the more specialised and novelty portable readers are no longer very popular or common. Depending on the manufacturer, their storage capabilities lie somewhere in the range of the cartridge or octavo type.

Wearable

Most portable types are made to be worn, as seen in the following example. These "retro" types are to be worn on the forearms, or analogous parts. They are based a popular, very old, Terran vision of the future:

Compact

The "compact" kind of portable reader are made to preform the functions of a desk or wall reader when space or situation wouldn't allow the more permanent types. Functionality and storage space are far less than actual console readers, but most compacts can link with one or more hand-held types for increased capability:

Adapted Uses

An extremely simple and non-projecting version of the hand-held type is used by schools and libraries to disseminate information and texts. A variation of this stripped down version has also become a part of most students' lives, allowing them to make notes directly on their text and handouts, and to easily link up with teacher's console units when turning in homework.