James Munns' Ska! Is an Armachat-Inspired Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer with Two Display Options
Designed to slip into your pocket, the Ska! offers a choice of 3.7" sunlight-readable ePaper or 3.5" full-color touch displays.
Software engineer James Munns is working on a handheld computer in an unusual form factor, putting a sunlight-readable ePaper display or full-color TFT touchscreen front and center with the keyboard split across either side: the Ska!
"Circuit boards came in today, still waiting for the rubber keycaps to make it even more professional looking," Munns writes of his project while showing off the design. "You also have a choice between a 3.7" 480x280 four-shade ePaper display, or a full-color 3.5" 480x320 display with touch!"
"It's [built on] JLCPCB's black silkscreen, the top layer with ENIG, the bottom layer with lead-free HASL."
Munns's Ska! "pocket PC" is built using two PCBs. The lower PCB includes tactile switches for each of the split keyboard's keys, support circuitry, and a series of LEDs at the top; the upper PCB contains markings for the keyboard and a place to mount either of the two compatible displays.
"[It was] definitely inspired by the Armachat, just scaled up to a full keyboard," Munns writes of the project. "I still think the UMPC [Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer] format has legs for small-batch dev, though. Not popular enough for wide adoption, but a small and passionate niche. (This is also why I called it the 'Ska!')"
The Ska! isn't the only compact computer Munns has in progress, either: Earlier this month he showed off the Sprocket, a tiny device with just four keys and just-about-readable OLED display panel to the upper surface.
Those interested in seeing either working are advised to keep an eye on Munns' Twitter account.