ON-LINE Pen-Based Computing

David Hodgson and Steven S. Mezzio

David Hodgson is a partner in the Price Waterhouse Audit Re- search and Technolqgy group, which is responsible fir the de- velopment of technologicalappli- cations fir the firm’s audit prac- tice. Steven S. Mezzio is an audit manager at Price Waterhouse.

Consider the computer keyboard-an inelegant input device but accurate for entering large amounts of text. Many computer users would prefer a more intuitive method for data input. They would rather point at objects on the screen as a means of providing their computers with instructions.

Apple, with the Macintosh, and Microsoft, with Windows, recognized the need for a moreintuitive way to operate computers and are leading a move toward Graphical User Interface (GUI). GUIs present programs or applications on the computer screen as pictures or icons. Using mice and trackballs (mice that are designed to control cursor movement entirely with the fingers while the hand remains stationary), users simplypoint aticons andmenus toenterinstructions, thereby reducing the need to memorize and type commands.

Following on the heels of mice and trackballs is the pen-a simple tool that everyone knows how to use. With computer manufacturers eager to make computers accessible to more people in more places, pen-based technology is moving ahead at full speed. Pen-based computers-the size of fat spiral notebooks weighing less than five pounddeliver the power of technology in situations in which traditional computer use is impractical.

With a pen-based portable computer and customized software, a mobile worker-e.g., a nurse, insurance agent, salesperson-can fill out on-screen forms and make menu choices from lists of products, customers and quantities without the use of a keyboard. Later, this information can be efficiently transferred to the user’s desktop computer.

The Pen as an Input Device As an input device, the pen (electronic stylus that interacts with

the computer screen) is an efficient means for drawing, pointing, and entering small amounts of data. For years pen devices have been used for drawing and issuing commands on graphics tablets. What has sparked excitement in the industry is the development of software that can recognize and respond to “gestures” made by a stylus.

PEN-BASED TECHNOLOGY

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David Hodgson and Steven S. Mezzio

Handwriting Recognition Capabilities Pen-based computing is not a new handwriting recognition

technology. The emerging technology can perform basic functions with clearly printed block characters, but cannot effectively cope with extensive note writing or cursive writing. However, existing capabilities are good enough to fill in standard forms that typically require small amounts of data to be placed in very specific places or choices to be made from a limited set of options.

Pen-Based Operating System The pen personalizes the direct manipulation of graphical objects.

Rather than displayingapplications and files as “0bjects”on a d e s k t o p as does Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows systems-the user is presentedwith a series of“notebook” pages that contain documents. These documents are retrieved simply by touching the pen to the appropriate page number in a table of contents.

SELECTED PEN-BASED SYSTEMS Go CorporatiodPenPoint Operating System

PenPoint includes features that are standard components of modern computer systems: hypertext buttons, point andclick selection, and compound documents. A document or file is retrieved simply by touching the pen to the appropriate page number in the table of contents. The system has limited handwriting recognition capabilities and Embedded Document Architecture (EDA), which allows one application to run within another to create compound documents. Other features include instant-on capability, which brings workers immediately into files without booting, and the ability for users to easily connect to a network.

Microsoft CorporatiodPenWindows Operating System Penwindows, based on Microsoft’s Windows graphical user

interface, will be an extension of the Windows environment and Windows software. The expectation is that Penwindows will focus on traditional productivity applications-spreadshee ts, word processors, databases, presentation packages.

THE FUTURE Pen-based computer technology will continue to extend to other

areas in which conventional computers are used sparingly, if at all. In that regard, pen-based applications will be effective for pointing intensive tasks-such as editing spreadsheets and word processing documents. Changes and comments would be made by “pen,” directly on the computer screen, instead of on paper, requiring subsequent input using a keyboard.

As handwriting technology improves, the pen-based notebook could effectively replace the legal pad. A worker could jot down notes and thoughts on a pen-based system unobtrusively, in contrast to the bulk and noise accompanying a keyboard-based laptop computer.

136 Journal of Corporate Accounting and FinanceIAutumn 1991

ON-LINE

CONCLUSION Pen-based computing is a development that should be taken

seriously. Like the early Macintosh, pen-based technology challenges basic assumptions about personal computing. Major vendors, including IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Cannon, NCR, Tandy, Novell, and several other software developers, are investing heavily in pen-based computing.

Pen-based systems may never completely replace the keyboard, but the computer industry may be closer to delivering on its pledge to make computers easy enough for anybody to use. +

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