A digital pen is an input device that captures handwriting or brush strokes and converts them into digital data, allowing use with devices like a graphics tablet, tablet computer, smartphone, or digital notebook. This data can then be displayed on a screen. Common protocols include the Universal Stylus Initiative, Microsoft Pen Protocol, Wacom AES, and Bluetooth. Popular digital pens are the Microsoft Surface Pen, Samsung S Pen, Google Pixelbook Pen, and Apple Pencil, used across various digital platforms for precise input and creative work.
Technology groups
Active
Main article: Active pen
Active pens, such as N-trig's DuoSense Pen, include electronic components whose signals are picked up by a mobile device's built-in digitizer and transmitted to its controller, providing data on pen location, pressure, button presses and other functionality.
Active Electrostatic (AES) pens are battery-powered styluses that actively communicate with the device's touchscreen. These pens emit a weak electrical signal that is detected by the device's touchscreen digitizer. AES technology offers high precision.
Positional
Position-based digital pens use a facility to detect the location of the tip during writing. Some models can be found on graphics tablets made popular by Wacom, and on tablet computers using Wacom's Penabled technology.
Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) pens contain a circuit that resonates with the tablet's digitizer.
Accelerometer
Accelerometer-based digital pens contain components that detect movement of the pen and contact with the writing surface.
Camera
Camera-based pens use special digital paper to detect where the stylus contacts the writing surface, such as those using NeoLAB or/and Anoto technology.
Trackball pen
Trackball pens use a sensor that is located on the pen to detect the motion of the trackball.
Smart pen
A smart pen has the same basic characteristics as a digital pen, but also has other features like voice recording or a text scanner. A smart pen is generally larger and has more features than an active pen. Digital pens typically contain internal electronics and have features such as touch sensitivity, input buttons, memory for storing handwriting data and transmission capabilities.1
Smartphone pens
Smartphone pens have become a popular tool for smartphone users who want to take notes, draw, or create digital art on their device. A good pen can make a huge difference in the precision and ease of use when interacting with a smartphone, especially for those who find it difficult to navigate the small touchscreen with their fingers.
See also
- List of pen types, brands and companies
- Apple Pencil
- Surface Pen
- Universal Stylus Initiative
- Active pen
- Stylus (computing)
- Pen computing
- Digital paper
- Bluetooth
- Light pen
- Live Ink Character Recognition Solution
- USB
References
Shelly, Gary B.; Misty E. Vermaat (2009). Discovering Computers: Fundamentals. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-80638-7. Retrieved 3 November 2009. 978-0-495-80638-7 ↩