InPlay With InPEN: New Pen Technology

InPlay Technologies is trumpeting a new pen technology called the inPEN that is designed for Tablet PCs. According to the press release:

“Utilizing a microcontroller as the ‘brain’ inside the pen, we make the pen a self-sufficient, intelligent device,” said Eric Vandewater, chief technology officer for InPlay’s MagicPoint® division. “The microcontroller sends a unique digital identifier to the system. The identifier can be as simple as a highlighter function or can perform a more complex security code. InPEN is a flexible technology platform that can be customized to meet the needs of the designing OEM.”

The InPEN pen technology is easily configured in a variety of ways. For example:

• As a suite of pens for designers including different colors, highlighters and an eraser to offer a digital experience similar to pen-on-paper;
• As unique identifiers for multiple people accessing the same documents or system;
• As a collaborative tool for multiple users in a meeting or teaching environment; and
• As a security device to allow different users different rights and access on the same system.

The technology will debut at WinHEC so I’m sure we’ll know more once that occurs. Here’s a link to the press release.