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| (Photo
by Tom Sawyer for ENR) |
The gulf between pen
and computer has narrowed with the debut of a new gadget that
turns any pad of paper into a computer input device.
InkLink, from Torrance,
Calif-based Seiko Instruments USA Inc., uses a clip fastened
to the page to track a special pen. It can port data to PDAs
and handheld computers by an infrared transmitter, or directly
by cable to a laptop computer.
The pad clip has ultrasonic receivers
on either end and an infrared sensor as well. When the pen
tip touches the paper a microswitch closes and flashes light
to the clip. Simultaneously, the pen also broadcasts ultrasonic
signals. The data clip measures the timing differentials between
the light and the sound to track the pen location.
Information can be found at www.seikosmart.com.
The device sells for $100
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