Those of us who grew up without computers often still find that a pen and paper are the best tools for making lists, drawing diagrams, and documenting our thoughts. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could transfer your handwritten notes to the computer? Sure. And that’s why Seiko Instruments created the InkLink Handwriting system.
InkLink captures handwriting and handwritten drawings directly on a laptop or desktop computer, a Palm or PocketPC personal digital assistant.
Here’s how it works from the user’s point of view. Install the software on your computer. Insert the batteries into the pen. Clasp the included InkLink data clip to any regular pad of paper. Hook the data clip to the computer using the included USB connector. Write anything you like on the pad of paper using the InkLink pen and it will magically appear on the computer screen. The setup is similar for attaching the pen to a PDA, except that it hooks up through the PDAs infrared port.
Here’s how it works from the technical angle. The data clip continuously waits for communication from the InkLink pen. When the InkLink pen touches the page, the pen transmits the exact location of the pen tip to the data clip. As the pen moves, the data clip tracks its motion. The information from the data clip is relayed to the InkNote Manager software which recreates the image on the computer screen. In order for the pen to work properly, there must be a clear line of site between the data clip and the tip of the pen. While this will not be a problem for most, some lefties will find their normal writing position interferes with the pen to clip communications.
The InkLink system works seamlessly. The resolution is excellent. The software gives you added functionality. You can choose from four different pen thicknesses, and seven pen colors. You can highlight words and straighten lines. The InkNote Manager will also help you organize your notes using thumbnail views for easy access, and/or assigning keywords to your notes. You can also easily export your notes as bitmaps or jpeg images that can be e-mailed to friends and colleagues.
There are plenty of good things about the InkLink pen. It is easy to use. It comes with its own little plastic case. It uses regular paper. Any regular yellow (or pink, or white, etc.) pad will work. So there is no extra cost for paper. The only cost is for ink refills and batteries, so it is quite inexpensive to operate.
There are also a few drawbacks. This system is somewhat cumbersome, not because of the size, but rather because you must hook it up to the computer. It would be nice if the unit would include a small data storage system so you could take notes when you did not have your computer with you and transfer them to the computer later. Also, your notes can be viewed, e-mailed, and stored, but the software has no way to convert them to text. With these two additional features and a little beefing-up of the software, the InkLink pen could be a real killer piece of equipment.
That said, at $100, the InkLink Handwriting System in its current state is affordable and many will find it very useful.
