One of the more subtle features of Windows Vista is the built in pen functionality that is available in all versions of the OS. With a pen in hand, users can assign key commands or actions to simple pen gestures which Microsoft calls “flicks”. Of course, thanks to their work in the Tablet PC arena, Vista has good handwriting recognition software built right into the OS.

To tap into this market, InPlay Technologies has announced that their pen input solutions with digital stream communications are ideally suited for these new pen input features of Windows Vista. The system is known as MagicPoint (formally known as FinePoint) and it consists of a digitizer behind an LCD as well as a digital writing pen. What’s particularly  unqiue about this setup versus other pen designs is the usage of a powered pen. MagicPoint’s technology enables a pen to be interpreted as it moves across a surface, reporting the tip status, sensitivity, pen position and many other details. The pen is basically always “listening” to things – which results in  better performance over traditional pen tablet systems

The system is designed to be sold to OEMs and features the following advantages(quoted from their website):

Pen advantages:

  • Digital signaling versus typical analog pen means lower power consumption, superior performance and lower manufacturing costs
  • Powered pen with maintenance-free, 5-year battery eliminates power drain on tablet PC battery
  • Customizable options to match features with customer needs

Digitizer advantages:

  • Digital signaling versus typical analog pen means lower power consumption, superior performance and lower manufacturing costs
  • Powered pen with maintenance-free, 5-year battery eliminates power drain on tablet PC battery
  • Customizable options to match features with customer needs

[Check it out]

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