TABLET PC & ANOTO PEN Computing

Pen computing has been evolving for the past decade. With past pen computers one used a stylus to write on the screen of the computer, using it to complete forms. It was not a very powerful computer. Most past pen computers didn’t even come with a keyboard and the handwriting recognition was terrible, even though the computer manufacturers boasted highly about it.

Currently successful application of pen computing are Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), the tools used by package delivery companies such as UPS or FedEx, and some industry specific applications to complete forms, such as those used in the insurance industry and health care industry.

At the 2001 Comdex, Bill Gates unveiled prototypes of a new Tablet PC. He predicted that Tablet would become the most popular form of PC within five years. The Tablet PC is the size of a legal notepad and half the weight of most of today’s laptops. It’s is a full-powered, full-featured PC that runs Windows XP and combines the power of desktop computing with the flexibility and portability of a pen and paper notepad. Through a wireless local area network Tablet PC will allow internet connectivity, including instant messaging, and will also enable people to exchange handwritten instant messages.

Microsoft is aiming the tablet PC at people who need to take notes in meetings and want to be more productive in doing so.

Using a Tablet PC is simple, one can use a stylus to simply write on the screen – such as taking notes at a meeting. The writing can be converted to text or can simply be stored as recorded - as "digital ink" or "electronic ink". Either set of stored notes can then latter be edited (move text around, add more points, delete some points) or searched as needed. An important point is that Tablet PC does not require the handwriting recognition in order to be used. Handwriting recognition was a downfall of previous pen computers. Some versions of the Tablet PC will come include a keyboard while other will have a port to connect to an external keyboard.

The primary goal of Tablet PC is to be a full-featured PC with on screen writing capabilities, that is easy to use, very portable (size and weight), and very convenient.

Ten hardware companies announced support for Microsoft’s XP-based Table PC at the 2001 Comdex. They included Acer, Compaq, Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC, and Samsung.

Sources:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/nov01/11-11comdex2001keynotepr.asp

http://comment.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t479-s2116946,00.html

How will the Tablet PC compare to a typical Notebook computer? The screen will most likely be smaller, there will be similar hard drives (but maybe thinner ones), the battery life will be around four hours, and the outer case will have to be more durable, since the Tablet PC will be constantly handled by the user.

A skeptical point of view about Tablet PC success: http://comment.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t479-s2116950,00.html

Below is a look at some of the projected manufacturers:

Acer Travelmate 100 Tablet PC: This product easily converts from a laptop to a Tablet configurations. The company is really emphasizing that it is a laptop computer with the pen added capabilities and applications. It should be available the second half of 2002. The web site with more information including a data sheet can be found at: http://www.acer.com/APP/AKC/INTERNET/AACPubli.nsf/HeadingPagesDisplay/ProductsTablet+PC?OpenDocument&ML1.3&

Positive hands on review of Acer Travelmate 100 Tablet PC product (better picture at top of article than the Acer site): http://www.pencomputing.com/frames/acer_tpc.html Highlights from the review: The true invoation is adding "ink" as a new data type. The Acer Travelmate is not a Tablet computer but a "convertible" that can function both as a standard notebook and also as a pen tablet. It accomplishes this transformation with a display that swivels 180 degrees, then folds down flat on top of the keyboard, LCD side up. Ink input is available in a special utility called Windows Journal. There is an Input Panel that toggles between an on-screen keyboard and a handwriting input area. This product also had speech input. The Acer Travelmate also does handwriting recognition. In the "Convert handwriting to text" feature; the user sees what the recognition result is. If something is wrong, one clicks on the word and a small green angle shows up. Tap on it and a list of alternates show up. If none of the alternatives apply, one can either delete the word or rewrite it.

Compaq is scheduled to deliver a Tablet PC in the second half of 2002, it will combine the power of a full-function PC with the convenience of a notepad and the simplicity of a natural, pen-based interface in a thin and lightweight design. Web page (including picture) can be found at: http://www.compaq.com/newsroom/presspaq/tabletpc/index.html

Fujitsu Stylistic 3500 – prices starting at $3600 http://www.fpc.fujitsu.com/www/products_pentablets.shtml?products/pentablets/stylistic_3500

I did find the Fujitsu Stylistic 3500 on sales on line at: http://www.nxgenstore.com/nxgen/itemdesc.asp?ic=AQB060040900003

Review of the Fujitsu Stylistic 3500 can be found at: http://www.techtv.com/products/hardware/story/0,23008,3322225,00.html and http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,3334,00.asp both reviews said the product was interesting, easy to use, but the handwriting recognition capabilities had time consuming and difficult training with unsatisfactory results. It may be too expansive for many PC users.

White papers on pen computing can be found at: http://www.fpc.fujitsu.com/www/products_pentablets.shtml?aboutus/whitepapers/white_papers

April 2001 article talking about manufacturers: www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,23738,00.html

A whole new company has been formed whose first product will be a Tablet PC. Motion Computing was founded by a group of industry veterans who saw the exciting opportunity represented by the new Tablet PC category and joined together to build a company. Find their web site http://www.motioncomputing.com/index.html

Anoto pen computing:

http://www.anotofunctionality.com/navigate.asp?PageID=23

Start with ordinary paper that has very small dots on it. These dots are reference points creating a grid surface, think of it as the coordinates on the dot on the paper. Using a digital pen one writes normally on the special paper and a camera in the pen continuously takes pictures of the pattern paper. The digital image in the pen can be stored or transmitted to a computer which can store it or send it to someone via the internet. The message also could be sent to someone with a mobile phone. Transmission is provided by a digital service provider. There is a send box on the paper that tells the pen to transmit the message.

A picture of the components of the pen can be found at: http://www.anotofunctionality.com/navigate.asp?PageID=73

A few of the companies selling the special digital pen are: Logitech, Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Sony Ericsson, Sanford, Cross, Mont Blanc, and Pilot.

A few of the companies selling the special paper are: Avery, 3M, Mead, Abetryck, Time/system, and Asia Pulp & Paper.

Some of the listed service providers were Sonera, BT Wireless, Vodatone, Telfonica Moviles, Panasonic, Hitachi, and Microsoft.