PalmPix.pm

The Handbook of DigitalPublishing,Michael Kleper,Prentice Hall.

PalmPix

The picture-taking process is sometimes planned,
sometimesserendipitous.Rar elydoesanindi-
vidualhavea camera at handatalltimes…too
inconvenient,toobig,toobulky, too complex.
Missed photo opportunities are inevitable. A pos-
siblesolution, introducedinFebruary, 2000, is
the Kodak PalmPix (FIG. 1),* a compact image
capture module that connects to many models of
the Palm pocket organizer. The PalmPix and the
Palm organizer are a good example of digital con-
vergence, of two devicesworking togethersyn-
ergistically.Users can easily add image capture
capability to theirPalmorganizerand carry the
device with them anywhere.
________

* Eastman Kodak Company, 343 StateSt., Rochester, NY 14650, 800
242-2424, 716 724-4000, http://www.kodak.com.

FIG. 2: The full-size PalmPix image measures 640 x 480 pixels, adequate for Web viewing purposes (this image has been
reduced 79% to fit the column dimensions). The half-size PalmPix image (inset) measures 320 x 240 pixels, and is useful when
memory is critically low.

FIG. 1. The Kodak PalmPix image capture module attaches to
many models of the Palm pocket organizer. (Photo courtesy of
Eastman Kodak Company).

The Handbookof Digital Publishing,Michael Kleper,Prentice Hall.

Physically, the PalmPix is 2.2 x 1.1 x 3.3 inches,
and weighs 1.6 ounces. It contains two AAA bat-
teries, which add to the weight, and provide suf-
ficient power for up to 1000 shots. Technically,
the PalmPix captures 24-bit color images, in VGA
(640 x 480 pixels) and half-VGA (320 x 240 pix-
els) resolutions (FIG. 2).

The work of capturing an image is divided be-
tween the PalmPix module and the Palm orga-
nizer.The PalmPix contains a fixed focus lens and
image sensor, and the Palm organizer, contains
the PalmPix software (53K), and uses its display
screen, memory, processor, and two of its buttons.
The screen provides a low resolution monochro-
matic preview of the target image, and views of
the program management controls.The Date Book
button is pressed once for an interactive preview,
and a second time for taking the picture, and the
Scroll Up button is pressed for activating the 2x
digital zoom (FIG. 3).

The number of images that can be stored on the
Palm organizer is dependent upon its available
memory (FIG. 4). The highest quality images av-
erage 100K, and several can be stored before the
Palm organizer must be hot-synched to a host
computer to transfer the images. The image trans-
fer process is totally automatic after the hot-synch
begins. The images appear in the user’s Palm
Desktop folder in the default JPG format, how-
ever the user can change the default to BMP if
necessary.

The image quality is relatively low,
not only in terms of the range of
resolution (VGA and half-VGA),
but also clarity and sharpness(FIG.
5). The PalmPix is by no means a
substitute for a conventional
megapixel digital camera. Its strong
point is its compact size, which
makesit a convenient accessory for

FIG. 3: The digital zoom, which works in the VGA 640 x 480 mode only, uses anthe Palm device, which the user is
algorithm to magnify the image. The focal length of the image system is 36likely to carry on his or her person
inches to infinity.at most times. Just as the Palm de-
vice providesthe means to input and retrieve text,
the PalmPix provides a similar function for pic-
tures.

FIG. 4: The PalmPix desktop shows a
list of all captured images, a clock icon
that is used to take a time delayed
picture, the resolution choice selector,
and a display of the estimated number
of images that can be captured.

The Handbookof Digital Publishing,Michael Kleper,Prentice Hall.

FIG. 5: The PalmPix does best in conditions with profuse lighting (reduced to 79%).

In the realm of digital publishing the PalmPix can
be used in the following ways:
• Torecord component locations while break-
ing down a computer system or other elec-
tronic device.
• Tophotograph whiteboard contentsto docu-
ment meetings and planning sessions.
• Tocapture images of new acquaintances and
clients to maintainas partofacontact
database.
• To record a sequence of images that show
directions to a location for driving, or for
walking within an office complex or print-
ing plant.
• To capture location backdrops that may be
used for product or model shots.
• To captureimages of items that areunder
consideration for purchase, such as a va-

riety of monitors. This makes it possible
toshow distinctiveproductdifferences,
such as thelocationof controls, and in-
volve others in the comparison shopping
process. The device can also be helpful in
taking visual notes at trade shows and ex-
hibitions.
• To capture images that can be used for cre-
ative inspiration.
• To record images of design treatments that
can be retained in a visual idea database.
• To create a visual record of everyday events
that might otherwise be forgotten. In this
sense the PalmPix provides visually, what
a Palm organizer provides textually. It is
an extension to what can be stored in the
human brain.