Logitech's Digital Pen, 2.0

Why Aren't We All Using This?

Eclipsed by the introduction of Microsoft's new ultra mobile pc's, is Logitech's update of the io2 Digital Writing System. I have always been fascinated by the concept of a "pen pc." What could be more compact than a ball point pen? All of us carry a couple with us everywhere, anyway.

Straight from the source:

Today at CeBIT, Logitech unveiled the new version of the Logitech® io™2 Digital Pen. The new digital pen — which converts handwriting into digital text in seconds — has improved handwriting recognition and offers a new written shortcut that efficiently transforms notes into a Microsoft® Word® document. The new pen also is available at a lower retail price.

The Logitech io2 Digital Pen´s improved handwriting recognition software learns the user´s personal lexicon and individual handwriting style for a more accurate conversion of notes into digital text.

With the Logitech ioTags feature, the pen improves people´s efficiency by allowing them to send portions of their handwritten notes directly into their e-mail and calendar applications by using written shortcuts. Originally introduced last September, the Logitech ioTags feature now links the digital pen directly to Microsoft Word. When the pen is docked, selected notes appear instantly as both handwritten notes and automatically converted text within a split-screen interface. Users can click a single button to have that text instantly inserted into a new Word document, or they can first edit the text as they compare it on-screen with the handwritten notes. When using the io2 Digital Pen, people can always go back to the images of their original handwritten notes, because they are automatically saved when the pen is docked.

While not technically a "pen computer" it is more of a pen based input device. With an eight hour battery life, and storage for 40 pages, it can do a full day of work. The idea is that an optical sensor captures the written word, and then later translates it to text when docked to the computer. This has potential applications for all of us that do a lot of writing during the day. It also can be used to diagram ideas on paper, and then later turn them into an image. Sure, a scanner could do that as well, but this is way cooler and adds another tool to the digital armory.

Version 2.0 of the io digital pen adds enhanced handwriting recognition. The paper has also been redesigned to allow the entire sheet to be used. The pen also uses ioTags which allows the data to be precategorized when uplinked. For example, putting a circled T before text designates it as a task when the text gets uploaded.

So what's the catch? Personally, I would love to have my handwriting each day preserved in digital memoriam. The problem is that you need to use special paper to accomplish the task. The optical sensor only knows where it is on the page by a series of tiny marks that orients itself in relation to the page. I doubt that any company is redesiging its forms to the spec that the io2 digital pen needs.

So far now, I categorize this as a great idea, but unfortunately limited by the paper it can write on. I am curious how well the handwriting recognition works, and how best this new digital tool can be used. It is expected to sell for $149 retail.

More at Logitech.

--Jonas