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How It Works

A digital pen looks, feels and writes like a normal ballpoint pen. However, it contains an integrated digital camera, an advanced image microprocessor and a mobile communications device for wireless connection. Using a digital pen you can capture, store and then securely send the handwriting, enabling you to easily convert ink to digital data – right away.

What happens when you’re writing

In combination with digital paper, a digital pen starts digitizing handwritten text the moment you put pen to paper. The pen reads and records pen strokes in relation to the digital paper’s barely visible pattern of dots. As you write, the camera built into the pen automatically takes digital snapshots of the dot pattern on the paper at a rate of between 50 and 100 images per second. Every snapshot contains enough data to enable the pen’s image microprocessor to determine the exact position of the digital pen and what it writes or draws

Ready for transfer

In addition to capturing the coordinates that enable accurate recording of the handwriting, the digital pen appends key data about the handwriting context.

This includes the exact time it was written and the identity of the writer – every digital pen has a unique pen ID, which is included every time data is sent from the pen. The pen data also includes details on the specific paper form and page

All this data is then retained in the pen’s memory. The digital pen can store up to 50 full A4/Letter size pages of handwritten data. With the handwritten form or document completed and pen data captured and stored, the user is ready to transfer data from the pen.

Digital paper works in combination with a digital pen in the digitizing of handwritten information. All types of ordinary paper can be easily converted into digital paper. Printing this dot pattern on the paper makes it possible for the digital pen’s built-in camera to detect pen strokes and record handwriting that can then be stored and sent digitally.

The pattern indicates position

Every small area of the pattern has a unique combination of dots with different positions. When the user writes on the digital paper, the digital pen captures information about what the user writes and where, by registering the pattern close to the pen tip. The information is saved in the pen.

Almost invisible to the naked eye, the Anoto pattern consists of numerous intelligent small black dots that can be read by a digital pen. The pattern indicates the exact position of the digital pen as it moves across the digital paper. What’s more, the pattern on each paper has a unique identity, so each page can be kept separate from another.

Digital pen and paper technology allows information to be simultaneously recorded in both written and electronic form. Once the digital paper has fulfilled its role in digitizing handwritten text, it becomes a conventional paper copy, but the difference is that it can be left behind for reference, if required. Using Anoto technology also eliminates the possibility of losing important written information in the time lag between writing a form on site and manually inputting the data on a system back in the office.