Garrit...

Many thanks  for the information's 'bout the Psion palmtop and the
SmartQuil device.

I heard about the Psion palmtop many years ago and know it's  been
consistently well regarded over the years, if I remember
correctly. and I'm going to look into it ASAP.

Thanks for the memory jolt 'cause I"d completely forgotten about
the Psion.

The SmartQuill sounds fascinating to me, but I betcha that no
matter HOW "smart" the thing is, what my handwriting has
degenerated to would prolly be close to impossible for ANY
mechanical device to make heads or tails of it.! <WAAAAAAAAAAAH!>
(shedding a few fake tears  and pouting prettily) <grin>.

Maybe when the SmartQuil has had time to go thru a few updates and
reaches the stage where they call it the "GeniusQuill," it'd be
able to tackle my scribbles.

Thanks again...

Barb (handwriting challenged) Mallut
barb_msn@email,msn.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Kleynscheldt, Gerrit <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 6:18 AM
Subject: The Write Stuff


>Hi all!
>
>In response to recent inputs regarding turning writing into
PC-recognisable
>text the following:
>1       I bought a Psion Series 5 about a year ago and use it for
the
>following purposes:
>*       The diary keeps (and reminds me of them if I choose) all
my
>appointments, birthdays etc.
>*       The Time-function is used to programme all my alarms for
taking
>medication etc.  This is wonderful.  Not only does the alarm
progressively
>ring louder, but it is intelligent to the point of ringing only
on weekdays,
>or any specified day etc.
>*       Although boasting a nice calculator it also has an
excellent
>spreadsheet programme that can handle a surprisingly amount of
high-calibre
>work.
>*       The word processor has spell-checking, thesaurus etc.
>*       The database is used to keep accurate records of all that
I need.
>*       It has a sketch-pad to enable you to attempt a drawing on
the screen
>(touch-sensitive obviously) when needed.
>*       Lots of programmes can be off-loaded from the internet.
>*       The diary, word processor and spreadsheet can be down-
and uploaded
>and synchronised with the PC.  It is compatible with MS Office as
well as
>Lotus
>*       It has a sound recorder (microphone and speaker) for when
you want
>to make a quick memo in the middle of the street, etc.
>*       It comes standard with a memory of 8 or 16 Mb, and more
can be
>added.
>*       With the proper cell-phone (eg Erickson 888) it can send
and receive
>faxes, E-mail etc.
>
>When I sit in a meeting I type all my notes directly onto it,
typing with my
>thumbs while holding it in my hands (it is a Palmtop) and I would
think that
>the action of typing like that closely resembles my grandmother
doing her
>knitting - BUT it is very effective, especially when I get home
and download
>the contents of my efforts onto the word-processor of the PC.
>
>Anybody wonting more info can find it on the www at Psion.com.
>
>2       Read the Gadget report below about a new type of
pen...(sent by A
>DIFFERENT Jane Patterson?)
>
>Regards.
>
>
>Gerrit Kleynscheldt
>
>Tel:    021 947 8918    (International  +27 21 947 8918)
>Fax:    021 947 1521    (International  +27 21 947 1521)
>
>Please note the following:
>Because e-mail can be altered electronically,
>the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed.
>
>
>        -----Original Message-----
>        From:   Janet Paterson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
><mailto:[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]>
>        Sent:   Wednesday, July 28, 1999 7:55 AM
>        To:     Gadget at eGroups
>        Subject:        [Gadget] 28/07/1999 - The Write Stuff
>
>
===========================================================
>        Gadget Daily Update - 28 July 1999
>
===========================================================
>
>        In This Update:
>        The BT Laboratories have developed a prototype pen that
converts
>hand-written notes into text and functions as a diary, a
calculator and an
>address book. But does it do housework?
>        1.      The Write Stuff
>        2.      **COMPETITION! Win a great HP DeskJet 815C
printer**
>        3.      Gadget wants YOUR reviews
>        4.      How to advertise on Gadget
>        5.      Subscribing and unsubscribing
>
>
>        ======================================================
>        1.      Fun Gadgets: The Write Stuff
>        ======================================================
>
>        Business executives have become modern-day pack horses -
carrying
>briefcases, personal schedules, mobile phones and laptops to most
meetings.
>This is enough to make even the most energetic individuals feel
burdened.
>        Now a lightweight solution is close at hand. The BT
Laboratories,
>based in Martlesham in the UK, have developed the answer for
heavy-laden
>executives.  Ian Gordon-Cumming, general manager of BT Southern
Africa,
>explains: "Enter SmartQuill, prototype pen which not only
converts
>hand-written notes into text, but is also a diary, calculator and
address
>book. Used with a mobile phone it may be used to receive and
respond to
>e-mails."
>        BT wanted to adapt the personal digital organiser (PDO),
but
>realised that it couldn't be made smaller, because people would
not be able
>to comfortably use the keyboard. SmartQuill incorporates the
workings of a
>mini computer into a pen. Instead of a keyboard, which was a
limiting factor
>in the size of PDOs, they tried incorporating movement sensors
into the pen
>- turning the movement of the pen into typed text.
>        The result of the research is SmartQuill. The movement
sensors
>enable the user to view and scroll information using an LCD
screen on the
>side of the pen. These automatically detect which way up the pen
is being
>held (the natural viewing orientation varies between left-handed
users and
>right-handed users) and ensure that the display appears the right
way up.
>        The input mechanism of the technology is the handwriting.
SmartQuill
>doesn't contain the processing power to interpret the information
and this
>is done through special software run on a PC. SmartQuill docks to
the PC
>through a specially-designed "inkwell".
>        Unlike some PDOs, SmartQuill doesn't recognise
handwriting by
>looking at the shapes of the words, but by adapting speech
recognition
>technology instead.  Speech recognition algorithms are used, but
the
>microphone is replaced with movement sensors, as found in cars to
operate
>the airbags.
>        BT has used this motion-sensing technology to look at the
movement
>of the pen. The signal from the movement sensors is then
converted into
>text. This approach has allowed PDO design to take a huge leap
forward -
>since the user can write vertically, horizontally or on any
surface. You
>don't even need paper...
>        The two sensors at the end of the pen analyse unique
patterns
>created when writing and store them as signal patterns. The pen
then
>downloads the files to the PC via the inkwell, where the software
deciphers
>the handwriting by matching the patterns with the ones already
stored. It
>also synchronises diary entries.
>        Gordon-Cumming says that it has taken BT 18 months to
develop the
>product this far. The pen currently holds ten pages of A4 writing
which can
>be deciphered almost as quickly as the user can write. In terms
of product
>availability, Gordon-Cumming explains that the BT Labs are
currently in
>negotiation with a number of companies about buying the license
to produce
>the pen.
>
>        --
>        Links:
>*       For more information on the SmartQuill, visit
>                http://innovate.bt.com/showcase/smartquill
><http://innovate.bt.com/showcase/smartquill>
>*       For information on developing technology and futuristic
viewpoints
>that get the grey matter going, visit BT's Innovation &
Technology web site
>at http://innovate.bt.com/ <http://innovate.bt.com/>
>
>
>        ======================================================
>        2.      COMPETITION! Win a great HP DeskJet 815C printer
>        ======================================================
>
>        Is your chug-a-lug printer getting you down? Don't
despair! Enter
>our HP competition and you could soon be printing out scads of
top-quality
>documents in the blink of an eye as you listen to a pin drop. To
put
>yourself in line to win the HP DeskJet 815C printer, as reviewed
in today's
>Gadget, just visit http://www.gadget.co.za
<http://www.gadget.co.za>  and
>follow the signs.
>
>        ======================================================
>        3.      Gadget wants your reviews
>        ======================================================
>
>        Every now and then we'd like to publish a Gadget reader
review. From
>the correspondence we receive we reckon there's a mass of raw
writing and
>reviewing talent out there - do you have games, software or
hardware that
>you've reviewed, or would like to review? If so, write something
up and send
>it to us. Fame! Glory! Immortality!
>        Send your reviews to [log in to unmask]
><mailto:[log in to unmask]>  and we'll take a look.
>
>        ======================================================
>        4.      How to advertise on Gadget
>        ======================================================
>
>        Gadget has opened its doors to advertising. If you're
keen to get
>your company, product or service spread to some of South Africa's
most
>affluent and influential people, please drop Gadget's Arthur
Goldstuck an
>e-mail at [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> .
>
>
===========================================================
>        5.      Subscribing and unsubscribing
>
===========================================================
>
>        To subscribe to the Gadget mailing list, just fill in the
easy box
>on the Gadget web site at http://www.gadget.co.za
<http://www.gadget.co.za>
>, and you'll start getting your updates right away.
>        There's the free daily update, with full text for the
day's story
>reaching you in time for morning coffee. And there's the free
weekly digest,
>with a synopsis of each story and a link to the full text on the
Gadget web
>site.
>        To stop receiving the Gadget Daily Update, you can
unsubscribe by
>sending an e-mail to [log in to unmask]
><mailto:[log in to unmask]> .
>        If you have any comments, queries or complaints, write to
Gadget
>editor Janet Paterson at [log in to unmask]
><mailto:[log in to unmask]> .
>
>
===========================================================
>
>        All contents (c) copyright 1998 Media Africa Publisher:
Media Africa
>(http://www.mediaafrica.co.za <http://www.mediaafrica.co.za> )
>        Tel: (011) 886-7976
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>
>        Check out our sister publications:
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