Digital Pen

1) History
Today, laptops, mobile phones and PDAs are everywhere and we digitally swap or access an increasing amount of information. But it is still difficult for two people who are in the same room to copy files or notes between their devices. The typical ways of exchanging files, using e-mail, discs, or a shared file server, are impractical or clumsy in many cases. Imagine if you could pick up a digital file or a note on a computer and pass it to a colleague's computer as easily as you can give them a paper document or a Post-It note. Researcher at Sony's Computer Science Laboratories in Tokyo that believe they have figured out how to do just that. Dr Jun Rekimoto and his team at the Sony Interaction Laboratory have been grappling with these challenges and his lab has extended the drag and drop technique used in most PC software to create a 'pick and drop' technique. So the owner of a handheld computer can pick up a file from their device, using a special pen, and drop it onto the screen of another computer, by placing the pen on its screen. This approach is referred as 'Direct Manipulation. Pick-and-Drop is an extended concept of the commonly used drag-and-drop. With this technique, a user picks up an object on one computer display with a stylus, and then drops it on a (possibly different) computer display. For example, a user can select or create a text on one's own PDA and pick-and-drop it at the desired location on the whiteboard. From the implementation point of view, the data is transferred through the network, but from the user-interface point of view, this technique allows a user to pick up digital data as if it were a physical object. The pick and drop technique would make it easy for two colleagues in a meeting to exchange files between their laptop computers, new acquaintances to pass each other electronic business cards, or friends to swap references to websites or music tracks they like.

Documents can be dragged using a special pen from a computer desktop into these spaces. There they can be spread out or exchanged, allowing people to work with them almost as if they were paper documents.

2) What is digital pen?

A Digital Pen is a battery-operated writing instrument that allows the user to digitally capture a handwritten note or drawing and the files. Typically, a digital pen comes with a Universal Serial Bus cradle to let the user upload the handwritten notes to a personal computer . The pen looks like a regular ball-point pen and can be used as such, but requires special digital paper if the user wishes to digitally capture what he has written. A page of digital paper, which can be purchased in traditional pad or sticky-note size, has small dots on it that allow the pen to "see" what has been written. It allows people to visually select and move information in physical space, rather than having to understand abstract concepts of networks and services.

3) Why digital Pen?

The development of digital pens is comparable to the invention of email. This technology has just as much potential to revolutionize the way we share information and conduct business. Some businesses have been using the electronically-enabled pens for mapping, surveying, filling out forms, and other business functions for the last few years, but consumers are just scratching the surface in understanding the multi-purpose functionality of these pens right now. Expect big developments in this technology in the next few years. Although different elements of the technology have been around for a while, none of the pens we reviewed have been in existence for more than five years. Some of the pens share technology components, while other components are unique. Some such as the Echo Smartpen, Pulse Smartpen and Capturx for OneNote require the use of special paper and contain a camera within the pen itself. For others such as the Mobile Digital Scribe, the recording/sensor technology is housed in an accompanying docking device that must be placed on or near the paper on which you are writing. All the pens we included in our review allow you to upload your hand-written words, tables and illustrations electronically to an application on your computer. Most convert the data to text which can then be imported into a Word document or the body of an email. Some provide online components to better help you share your electronic notes with friends and colleagues. Others record the audio of the

meeting for which you are taking notes and include it in a Flash file with your hand-written notes. Electronic pens are useful for college students, journalists and business people. Many pens are marketed for use in the educational environment, but Livescribe, manufacturer of the Smartpen, says that 70 percent of their customer base uses the computerized pens for business-related purposes. The pens are also fun for children.

4) Components of Digital Pen

The main parts of the digital pen are a digital camera, an advanced image-processing unit and a Bluetooth radio transceiver. It also contains an ink cartridge so that you can actually see what you have written or drawn. The digital pen which is used for the file capturing purpose does not have any buttons or display. It looks and feels like an ordinary ballpoint pen and you use it in the same way. You activate the pen by simply removing the cap and deactivate it by replacing the cap again. It couldn't be easier.

Camera: The dots of the Anoto pattern are illuminated by infrared light, making them visible for the digital camera. Digital snapshots, at a rate of 100 per second, are taken of the pattern. (The ink from the pen is not visible to the camera. Therefore the pattern is not degraded by your writing.) Image Processor: The image processor calculates, in real-time, the exact position in the entire Anoto proprietary pattern. During image processing, snapshots are compared and information about how the pen is held is also gathered and stored. Memory: All the data from the image processor is packaged and loaded into the pen memory, which can store several fully written pages. Bluetooth Transreceiver: The information is transmitted by the Bluetooth transceiver, either directly to your computer, or forwarded via a relay device (e.g. mobile phone, personal computer or handheld device) to the Anoto Look-up Service. From here some information will be forwarded for further processing elsewhere. Ink Cartridge and Force Sensor: The pen holds an ordinary ink cartridge to make visible all that you have written or drawn. A force-sensing resistor measures the stylus tip force. Digital Paper: The paper makes this innovation so special printed on it is pattern consisting of millions of tiny dots making it possible to identify the exact location of your pen as well as connet a set of unique functions to the pattern

5) How Digital Pen works

When the user is done writing on his digital paper, he puts a checkmark in the "save" box. The pen vibrates or beeps to confirm that it knows the box has been checked and that the user is done with that page and wishes to save it. Typically, a digital pen can store up to 40 pages of saved digital paper in its memory. Only pages that have been checked will be saved. Most pens save the handwritten data as an image file (GIF or JPEG, depending on the pen's manufacturer) although some digital pens use a proprietary file format. When the user wants to upload his saved notes from the pen, he docks the pen in its USB cradle. The cradle automatically senses the pen's presence, opens the accompanying software application on the user's PC, and transfers the saved files to a specified folder. Many digital pens come with handwriting recognition software that allows the user to import their handwritten notes into typed text. Some of the newer high-end digital pens are wireless, taking advantage of Bluetooth technology. These pens do not require a docking station, but instead send the captured notes or drawings directly the the user's PC or cell phone.

6) Examples of Digital Pen

6.1) Nokia SU-1B Digital Pen: Nokias slim line Digital Pen does everything expected of it and more, offering both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Nokias SU-1B Digital Pen is the most compact design

among the current crop of Anoto-based digital pens. And size does matter, because great functions are secondary if you struggle to write with a digital pen.

Nokias Digital Pen is the most compact of the current crop of Anoto-based pens. It connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth, and a desktop PC via USB. You can recharge the pen either directly or via the USB stand, using a standard Nokia charger.

The Digital Pen can store up to 100 A5 pages of data. The file is saved in PGD (Pen Generated Document) format by default. In the Digital Note Viewer application on the desktop, Save As offers alternative formats, including DNV (Note Viewer Document), BMP, PNG, JPG and EMF.

Takes notes and sketch diagrams etc. as you would normally do with a pen using special stationary and transfer to the computer via a USB docking station. Plus Bluetooth connectivity allows pages to be transferred to Bluetooth compatible MMS mobile phones and handheld computers to then email or edit. Up to 50 A4 pages of handwritten text and drawings can be captured remotely from a computer and then uploaded directly into Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook or Outlook Express. Using My Script Notes hand recognition software (included with the pen), handwriting can be converted to text with the click of a button. The pen can also be used as a conventional pen on non-digital paper 6.2) Logitech IO Personal Digital Pen: After you install the Logitech software you can connect the USB cradle and charge up the pen. A blinking LED on its side indicates charge status, and an internal buzzer gives vibrating feedback when you check one of the content-type -- e-mail message, note, or miscellaneous.

Using My Script Notes software, the Io Personal Digital Pen transforms handwritten notes into computer readable files, including text, tables, and drawings. It recognizes natural handwriting, numerous geometrical forms, arrow and tables. With the Logitech IO personal digital pen, your handwriting becomes an effective tool for the digital world--without changing the way you work.

Normally, as soon as you insert the uncapped pen into the cradle, it downloads its contents -- up to 40 pages, defined as 29 handwritten lines each -- to a "My io Documents" folder on your PC's hard disk, which shows thumbnail pages captioned with page numbers and creation dates. Pages are stored in a proprietary .PEN format.

When using digital pen and paper, a tiny camera in the pen registers the pen's movement across the grid surface on the paper and stores it as series of map coordinates. These coordinates correspond to the exact location of the page you're writing on. The pen has 2 megabytes (MB) of memory, of which 1 MB is dedicated to storing pen stroke information and paper definitions. The remaining memory is used to store handwritten documents and can be erased when you download your handwritten documents. The pen can hold up to 40 pages of handwritten content before needing to download the content to the computer. A page is defined as 29 lines of handwritten text.

7) Application:
Our digital pen and paper solution is very flexible. Whilst built with the needs of larger enterprises at its core, it works for small businesses as well. Deployments can be simple or complex, self contained or fully integrated into your business's core systems. The digital pen is small, convenient and ideal for use on site, where conditions are not always suitable for carrying bulky and fragile laptops or tablets.

On site - data pens are portable and reliable Easy and natural to use Ensuring delivery and attendance - captures and time stamps signatures People on the move - efficient handheld data capture that is secure and traceable

7.1.a) Surveys and Maintenance Repairs: The data pens are able to capture data electronically including sketches and unstructured notes, often a requirement of site visits, inspections and audits. It is ideal for site engineers, surveyors , loss adjusters, repair technicians who require automated form processing - in fact anyone who would benefit from electronic data capture on site.

7.1.b) .treamlining Domestic Energy Assessment through the data pens

"Having evaluated a range of alternative technologies, we felt that the simplicity and convenience of digital pen and paper technology would work best" Paul Staley, MD of ERS In 2007, the UK Government introduced new legislation that means every home put on the market must have a Home Information Pack (HIP). The HIP includes an Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) and documents such as a sale statement, legal searches and evidence of title. In addition EPCs are required by domestic rental properties. How did ERS benefit from Electronic Data Capture? Through electronic data capture, ERS gained a faster, more efficient, more productive and higher quality domestic energy assessment service, allowing the assessors to conduct up to 10 assessments instead of around only 6 per day.

7.1.c) .Transforming Property Information Searches

"Accurate, timely and cost effective remote data collection is the key objective of our business and part of the service we provide. Digital pen and paper technology has allowed us to achieve this" One of the UK's premier property information suppliers chose Digital Field Solutions to supply an integrated digital pen and paper solution for its nationwide team of property researchers. The digital pen solution allows collected data to be instantly sent from the field for processing, improving turn around times and service levels. Handwriting recognition, including bespoke lexicons for commonly used property search terms and abbreviations, was adopted to reduce data re-keying and speed up the process.

7.1.d) .Faster Floor Plans

For many estate agents, accurate, high quality floorplans are an essential component of the property sales particulars.One of the UK's leading property marketing organisations was looking for an electronic data capture tool to improve their floorplan offering and production process. Having seen the digital pen in action, the management team asked Digital Field Solutions to provide a mobile electronic data capture floor planning solution, utilising both A4 and A3 sized sketchpads. Almost immediately, the business started to see the benefits:

Administrative savings - because the digital pen allows sketches to be uploaded during the day rather than the end of the day, the need for second CAD production shift was almost eliminated.

Improved service proposition because sketches are uploaded immediately from site via the electronic pen, floorplans can be turned around more rapidly.

The solution has made life easier and more productive for the field team.

7.2) Clinical Research, maintenance and repair industries:

Each e form page, like a fingerprint, is unique. The data captured using the digital pen and paper is secure and fully traceable to that single page, making it ideal for sensitive data - for example in a clinical research environment. Pages can be updated by different people at different times and all of this can be tracked. 7.2.a) Veterinary Equipment Servicing

The UK's leading veterinary equipment supplier was struggling to manage the paperwork associated with its nationwide servicing division. Paper records are an essential part of the process, for evidence and acceptance of the work completed and also for statutory purposes, records of the pressure vessel testing have to be left with the client.The digital pen seemed an ideal data capture solution to improving the paper flow, so the management team selected Digital Field Solutions to provide a complete mobile solution, including eight e form types. The benefits of the electronic data capture solution emerged quickly and include:

A two week improvement in cashflow because of the immediate transmission of paperwork from the client (client invoices could be issued within minutes of the visit being completed)

Elimination of the process bottleneck Reduction in administration resource required to process the work records Reduction in lost paperwork and therefore lost revenue The physical paperwork could be left with the client.

7.2.b) .Vehicle repairs

A national mobile vehicle repair business was finding it a challenge to get paperwork back from its repair technicians. The paperwork is central to managing the service process both in terms of providing evidence of the work completed so that it can be invoiced and providing an audit trail of the paints used and windscreen components fitted.Digital Field Solutions was asked to deliver a mobile digital pen solution to replace the existing paper process. After a short training session, the mobile technicians were up and running, finding the digital pen solution easy to use.For the business, the digital pen solutionaddressed many of issues of the traditional paper process and delivered some significant benefits that resulted in improved service, revenue and cashflow.

7.2.c) .Haulage Fleet Inspections

As part of its service proposition, a global oil company conducts periodic reviews of its clients' haulage fleets to assess vehicle condition and the effectiveness of the maintenance regimes. The inspections consist of an 80 point checklist with rating scales for each vehicle and fleets can range up to 100 vehicles. At the end of each review, the inspection results from each vehicle were re-keyed into spreadsheets and analysed / summarised for the client.The oil company was seeking a means of simplifying the data analysis and reporting process which was very time consuming. The digital pen seemed an ideal data capture solution to the problem and Digital Field Solutions was asked to develop a solution. The digital pen solution, in use in Malaysia and Thailand, saves the vehicle technicians' significant amounts of time, improves data quality and enables a better client service to be provided. Sales and Insurance Claims: The data pen is ideal in sales calls and interviews or in research situations. Computers tend to create a barrier, unlike simple digital pen and paper as a data capture solution. This allows people to concentrate more fully on the objective of the meeting, and not keying in data. If client signatures are important to your business for proof of delivery or attendance - the digital pen and paper is the answer for you. Once a form has been completed you will be able to leave the hard copy with the client.

We provide many digital pen and paper solutions within the insurance industry

Insurance claims typically require field visits by qualified professionals who assess thevalidity of the claim, quantify the extent of damage and put in place remediation plans.Data collection in the claims sector is characterised by both structured information andunstructured notes and sketches for which the digital pen is ideally suited. The digital pen provides handheld electronic data capture, which is easy to use in a site environment.Below are the benefits experienced by just one of our claims sector clients using our digital pen and paper solution:

Claims settled within 10 days of instruction trebled Increased same day claim payments and supplier appointments Increased revenue due to more time for appointments Reduced need for data re-keying by support teams The digital pen is a natural, non-confrontational means of handheld data capture (compared to a laptop for example)

Fraud indicators are easier to detect as natural 'eye to eye' contact can be maintained E Form upload information and processing times provided enhanced management information

8) Advantages:
Simplicity: The system is intuitive, and tracing the naturalness of the handwriting proves to be of excellent acceptance; moreover the pen easily finds space in your pocket; Saving: Digital Pen & Paper technology allows time and money saving by avoiding many steps that are essential for the traditional work flow, such as scanning, manual data entry, document storage; Immediacy: The updating of the documents can take place in real time and in general the management process accelerates; Integration: The sending of the data to the host computer is immediate and does not require further scanning; Mobile: No wireless connection needed - ready for the most remote and extreme environments; Personalization: Each module is distinguished unequivocally by the digital signature embedded in the model; Conformity: When required by law the records are in paper form with the original signatures located on the paper copies; Reliability: The battery and the internal memory allow for the storage of about 100/200 closely written pages without needing to recharge; moreover password and encryption protect data

download Traceability: Information is traceable back to a specific pen and data is time-stamped for added accountability.

9) Disadvantages:
Battery life runs out all the time, usually in 3-4 hours (constant use). Can easily brake if you drop it or shake it too much.

10)

Conclusion:

The owner of a handheld computer can pick up a file from their device, using a special pen, and drop it onto the screen of another computer, by placing the pen on its screen. Digital pen replaces the mouse where the free handwriting is not possible. It allows the user to restore the damaged photos. It has newer technologies like Digital Pen 2.0 and Digital Pen Camera.

11) References: [1] www.pegatech.com [2] www.karmanya.com/digital-pen.html [3] www.digitalpen.com [4] www.digitalpensystems.com [5] searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/digital-pen