We all have at least one technologically dispute relative . We cane - mailphotos or post them on a personalWeb pagefor some of our loved ones , but there are others who want nothing to do with acomputer , let alone the cyberspace .
The perfect gadget for sharing photos with the computerless is thedigital pic frame . This is a machine about the sizing and physique of an ordinary picture frame . It bear anLCDscreen , which displays multiple picture in a slideshow formatting , and it connects to the Internet via phone line to download new film and information to display on the cover .
Several companionship have made digital word picture frames , including Polaroid , Kodak , Ceiva and GiiNii . The frames are fairly similar in mental synthesis , though they do put up some different feature .
In this edition ofHowStuffWorks , we ’ll take a look at theCeivaDigital Photo Receiver . Before we get into just how it works , let ’s see what it does .
Ceiva and the Computerless
This photograph frame is design to enable people with no computer , no digital camera and no computer skills to benefit from some expression of the digital boom . The idea is that a person who does have acomputer , adigital cameraand computer skills corrupt the frame , mark up the account and passes it on .
Once the account is pose up , you ( the person with the electronic computer ) upload photos to the Ceiva connection site . Each night , the digital picture physique ( in the computerless mortal ’s house ) use the phone line to connect to the Ceiva servers and download any newfangled pictures .
The next morning , the young picture automatically show up in the slideshow rotation . you may also control all of the frame ’s configurations via the vane web site . Here are some of the configurations that can be adjust :
What’s in the Frame
The frame is really a very simple electronic computer . It has most of the same components as the computer on your background , but they ’re a lot simpler in the frame because they only have to execute a unmarried labor .
CPU
Thecentral processing unit(CPU ) in the Ceiva digital film chassis is similar to the variety used in small , electronic handheld games . The most central processor - intensive task performed by this CPU is downloading pictures from the Web site . The rest of the time , it does n’t ruin a sweat .
Memory
The frame has someROM memoryto computer storage theoperating organization . It also has someFlash memory , which is where the video , configurations and some of the operating software package hold up . Both types of remembering are haunting – no data point is lost if the whole is unplugged .
Modem
The frame has a 33.6 - Kbpsmodem , which it uses to connect to the cyberspace and download the newfangled photos you carry .
Display
The display is a 640x480 - pixel , inactive - matrixliquid crystal display(LCD ) with a watch surface area of about 5 by 7 inches ( 13 by 18 cm ) . This type of show is slender enough that the digital anatomy is n’t much thickheaded than an ordinary picture skeleton . The pictures are displayed in 12 - bit color , which means that approximately 4,100 different color can be exhibit on the screen .
Controls
The only drug user - operated controls on the chassis are a black push button , which adjust the light of the display , and a white-hot clit that turn the human body on when the user first plugs it in and can also be used to manually dial in .
Operating System
The Ceiva bod uses an embeddedoperating systemcalled PSOS . This operating system is designed for machine likePDAs , electrical - testing equipment and fit - top boxes .
permit ’s take a look at how the Ceiva anatomy works .
Creating a Digital Gallery
Once the figure has been plugged into a sound line and a power vent , it starts to exhibit the pictures that were in the beginning put in on the frame . If the exploiter contract and holds the white button on the back of the frame , it dials up and connects to the cyberspace .
The $ 50 - per - year fee for the Ceiva service include admittance to the net by agency of a local phone issue . The connection to the Internet is used only to download the new photos and mise en scene to the shape . There is no interactivity , no World Wide Web entree and noe - mail . The equipment is designed to comport like a picture frame , not a calculator .
Once the frame is connected to the Internet , it logs on to Ceiva ’s servers using a unique serial number . Once logged on , the frame compare the delineation already on the frame to the ones waiting to be sent , downloading any unexampled ones . It also downloads any new background .
When it is finished downloading , the anatomy hangs up the telephone line and starts displaying the newfangled pic one after another . It turns itself off at the fit time in the evening , and back on at the hardened time in the morning .
Now rent ’s take a looking at the Web side of this gimmick .
The Web Side
You use the Ceiva Web site to control just about every aspect of the equipment . After you buy the frame , you go to the Web site to record it and ante up for the help . This creates an score on the web site that is exclusive to your physical body . you’re able to then upload your pictures and determine the options .
Now you may give the inning to a champion or family member who does n’t have a computer . All that person has to do is plug away the frame into a phone line and a power outlet and hit the white clitoris on the back – simple labor for even most technologically immune among us . The first time the frame connects , it dials a toll - liberal number and download the options you created from the World Wide Web site . One of the configurations is the local dial - up number to be used by the frame . Now that the frame has these options installed , it unite to the net again , this time using the local dial - up numeral , to download the pictures you posted to the Ceiva internet site .
By show the framing on the Web situation , you give a " My Home " section . From this personalized area , you’re able to control all of the frames on your account .
At " My plate , " you may :
Now let ’s take a look at what the time to come hold for digital picture frames .
Tomorrow’s Digital Frames
The next - generation Ceiva frame will add some neat features such as the ability to publish picture . You ’ll be able-bodied to print them either on a special local printer or remotely through a service that prints the impression and sends them to you in the mail .
It will also have the ability to represent recorded sounds with each picture , aCompactFlashmemory time slot to display depiction forthwith from a digital television camera , and a small remote to moderate feature such as printing and some of the setting that can only be conform via the Web in the current Ceiva build .
Even with these added feature , you ’ll be able to control the skeleton via the Web , so the newfangled Ceiva will still be simple enough to give to your technologically challenge loved ones .
For more information , check out the links on the next page .
