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
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To stop receiving the Gadget Daily Update, you can unsubscribe by
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<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
Fax: (011) 886-1426
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kidzGadget - http://www.kidzgadget.co.za
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