Digital
Paper
and
Learning
Applications
Randy Lisk
Florida Atlantic University
What is Digital Paper?
• New method of user interface
• Uses ordinary paper
• Special dot and grid pattern pre-printed
on the paper
• Developed by Anoto, a Swedish firm
What Digital Paper Is Not
• Can be confused
with electronic
paper
• Also known as Eink or flexible
display technology
The Digital Pen
• Uses an ink pen with
a tiny camera built
into it
• Has a unique address
assigned to it
• Similar to network IP
address
The Digital Paper
• Designers created a “virtual
map” of unique grid and dot
patterns
• Variations in dot displacement
on grid generate unique
locations on the virtual map
• Thousands of dots per page
• Pattern can be printed on your
own equipment (at 1000 dpi).
The Digital Paper
• Map of digital paper is about
1.8 million square miles.
• That is about ½ the size of the
United States.
• Map has 4.722 sextillion
squares (4.722 x 1021)
How Digital Paper Works
• Camera reads dot and grid
pattern while the user writes
notes, symbols, or drawings in
ordinary handwriting.
• Pen stores the dot pattern that
it has scanned while the user
was writing in ink.
How Digital Paper Works
• Scanned information from the pen downloads
files via
– USB to computer docking station or
– Bluetooth to a cell phone or PDA
• Files can be sent to optical character recognition
software to produce ASCII text.
• Files (in data or text form) can be e-mailed,
faxed, or published on web page.
Scope of Digital Paper
• Anoto hopes to form
partnerships with paper and
pen manufacturers as well as
merchants
• Anoto will sell chunks of the
“map” to merchants offering
goods or services
• Consumers simply write on
and check boxes on forms
Scope of Digital Paper
• Transaction data is transmitted
to merchants via e-mail or fax
• Purchases via digital paper
generate revenue for the paper
companies, pen manufacturers,
merchants, and Anoto
Advantages of Digital Paper
• Durable – probably less susceptible than a
laptop to damage from dropping
• Portable – can be carried like any other pen
• Versatile – can be used for workbooks, forms,
blank paper, other applications
• Easy to use – write your messages as you
would on normal paper
Advantages of Digital Paper
• Readily adaptable to other languages
– information is sent as images rather than Roman
alphabet text
• Mathematical equation characters can be
written without complicated menus to select
from
• Musical notes can be scribbled
• Sketches and diagrams can be drawn
Limitations of Digital Paper
•
•
•
•
Does not directly produce ASCII text
Stores pen strokes as images
Continues to use paper
Research materials do not indicate if or how
mistakes can be erased
Cost of Digital Paper
• LeapFrog
– Offers the FLYpen for about $50.00
– Package includes pen, games, paper, earphones, etc.
• Rover Technology Fusions
– Sells NoteAmation for $1595.00
– Includes pen, 3 paper sizes, two leather, zippered
portfolios, docking station, and software (possibly includes
optical character recognition)
– NoteAmation digital paper sells for about $6.00 per pad
Digital Paper in the Classroom
• Can be incorporated into workbooks
• Workbook assignments can be completed, then
e-mailed to teacher when finished.
• Drawings and notes can be shared between
students and teachers.
• Permission slips could be transmitted to
teachers
Digital Paper in the Classroom
• Programming TiVo, DVR, VCRs?
– A TV guide might be printed with Anoto technology
– A check box next to a TV show title could be marked with
the pen
– Pen transmits data to computer or to recording device
– Device records the show!
• Could offer an alternative to expensive, delicate
laptops
– Laptops are easy targets, especially with children to get
stolen or to be broken.
Resources
• Electronic Paper. (2007, September 4). Retrieved September 8, 2007, from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_paper
• Leapfrog. (n.d.). FLY® 1.0 Pentop Computer. Retrieved October 28, 2007,
from LeapFrog Web site:
http://leapfrog.com/en/families/fly/fly_pentop_computer/fly_pen.html
• Rover Technology Fusions. (2007). Note Amation. Retrieved 2007, from
http://rovertechfusions.com/roverink/noteamation.asp
• Schonfeld, E. (11). Tech News on ZD Net. Retrieved September 6, 2007,
from http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-856627.html
• Silberman, S. (2001, April). Wired Magazine. Retrieved September 2,
2007, from Wired Magazine Web site:
http://wired.com/wired/archive/9.04/anoto_pr.html