About a year ago I posted a note about Digital Pens (Anoto, io2, and Fly). An old friend Terry Jones came across the entry and says this about his experience:
The paper is about $8 cdn delivered to your door so its expensive but compared to the cost of a tablet you can buy a LOT of paper.
The really cool thing I like about it is that each page is unique. So in my notebook when I update a page here and a page there and go back to this page and then crerate a new page etc… when I park the pen each of the documents I updated on paper gets updated online. There is also a timeline function in the viewer that lets me see when the various pieces of “ink” appeared on the pen page! I like to be able to write someone a note while I am working on their computer and then when I get back to the office I have a copy too (in the pen) even though I have left them the paper copy. I like the fact that on the subway I don’t feel like a total geek and a target writing on a tablet. I am just writing in a notebook with a pen that is only a little fatter than some modern pens. I like the fact that a notebook boots instantly so to jot down a quick reminder is NOT a 5 minute process of booting a tablet PC, making a note and shutting down.
I bought mine cheap on eBay ($51) and since then bought 3 more at around $60 on eBay and so far every person that has tested them out isn’t giving them back. They come back after a couple of office with their wallet instead of the pen… its been quite funny!
Terry, besides being organizing barefoot waterskiing competitions, is one of the most intuitive experts I have ever worked with. What he describes is ubiquitous computing the way it should be – not about what toys you show off or how you should change for technology, but developing technologies that fit our workstyles.