Maxell Digital Pen to use Anoto system

Thursday August 7, 2003

Maxell have announced the introduction of a "digital pen" based on the Anoto system. The pen stores everything you write on the specially imprinted pad in digital format by sending it directly to computer using a Bluetooth link.

The Anoto System uses a digital camera and advanced image-processor contained within the pen to transmit data wirelessly from paper to computer. The digital pen can be used on any piece of ordinary paper that has been printed with a special proprietary pattern visible to the naked eye only as a slightly off-white colour. When writing, the pen's camera takes infrared snapshots of this tiny grid more than every 1/50 second and the image processor converts this information into 'writing' in real-time.

The Maxell device is USB 2.0 compatible and the battery provides two hours of continuous use with 10 hours standby time - further details of the DP-101B digital pen were not available at the time of publication, but samples of the initial version are expected to be released in late August 2003.

Stay tuned to Gizmo for regular updates or follow the links below to learn more.