Well, sort of. A paper computer. This is no perpetual-motion machine. The idea is for the reader to push a button to hear an ad or listen to product info from a sponsor, or to key in a catalog request or even make an electronic purchase. Willard discussed bundling a sample device into these pages, but ultimately, he said, his team couldn't meet the deadline.
Cost is also a concern.
Eventually, we'd get the price down much lower. Browne's job is to create a simple operating system to handle a limited repertoire of commands and allow the device to exchange information with other computers. Rifkin and Browne are both working for equity in Willard's Paper Computer Corporation, and they both believe there will be a payday. What he knows about the paper computer has made him seriously interested in the project. Jim Willard was watering his front yard when he first had the idea for the paper computer.