A digital pen is an input device which captures the

handwriting Handwriting in Italian schools (XXth - XXIst century) Handwriting is the personal and unique style of writing with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil in the hand. Handwriting includes both block and cursive styles and is separa ...

or brush strokes of a user and converts handwritten analog information into digital data, enabling the data to be utilized in various applications. This type of pen is used in conjunction with a

graphics tablet A graphics tablet (also known as a digitizer, digital graphic tablet, pen tablet, drawing tablet, external drawing pad or digital art board) is a computer input device that enables a user to hand draw or paint images, animations and graphics, w ...

tablet computer A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers ...

smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...

or digital notebook. The input device captures the handwriting data, that, once digitized, can be displayed on a screen. Common digital pen protocols are: * Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) (formerly N-trig) * Wacom AES 1.0 and 2.0 * Wacom EMR * Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) * Apple Pencil Active Projected Capacitive (APC) *

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...

Examples of digital pens: * Microsoft Surface Pen * Samsung S Pen * Google Pixelbook Pen *

Apple Pencil Apple Pencil is a line of wireless stylus pen accessories designed and developed by Apple Inc. for use with supported iPad tablets. The first-generation Apple Pencil was announced alongside the first iPad Pro on September 9, 2015. It communi ...

Neo smartpen capture what is written on paper

Technology groups

Active

Active pen An active pen (also referred to as active stylus) is an input device that includes electronic components and allows users to write directly onto the display of a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or ultrabook. The active pen m ...

s, 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

s made popular by Wacom, and on

tablet computers A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers ...

using Wacom's Penabled technology. Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) pens contain a circuit that resonates with the tablet's digitizer.

Accelerometer

Accelerometer An accelerometer is a device that measures the proper acceleration of an object. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change (mathematics), rate of change of velocity) of the object relative to an observer who is in free fall (tha ...

-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 Digital paper, also known as interactive paper, is patterned paper used in conjunction with a digital pen to create handwritten digital documents. The printed dot pattern identifies the position coordinates on the paper. The digital pen uses thi ...

to detect where the stylus contacts the writing surface, such as those using NeoLAB or/and

Anoto Anoto Group AB (formerly C Technologies) is a Swedish cloud-based software provider (SaaS). Products Digital Pen The Digital Pen is an ink pen combined with a digital camera that digitally records everything that is written. It works by rec ...

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 An active pen (also referred to as active stylus) is an input device that includes electronic components and allows users to write directly onto the display of a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or ultrabook. The active pen m ...

. Digital pens typically contain internal electronics and have features such as touch sensitivity, input buttons, memory for storing handwriting data and transmission capabilities.

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Digital Pen Computer peripherals Computing input devices Writing implements Pens