The Latest & GreatestDigitizing Pen

ADAPX: the company

• Headquarters: Seattle, Washington• Originally established in 1999 as Natural

Interaction Systems (NIS)– Spin-off of the Oregon Graduate Institute

• “…transforming the way users interact with technology by innovating human-centered technology that improves the mobility, simplicity, accuracy, speed, reliability and intelligibility of information capture and communication.”

Directions Magazine, “Adapx,” Directions Magazine, http://www.directionsmag.com/companies/Adapx/

ADAPX Penx• Standard ballpoint pen design• CMOS camera and infrared light (>75 snapshots per

second)• Image microprocessor• Optical lens and filter assembly• Fisher pressurized ink pen cartridge with Rite in the Rain®

proprietary ink • Adapted for rugged conditions (non-slip surface, multi-

angle writing)• Memory records data, document utilized, user, position of

pen and time of pen strokes (Stores about 50 pages of letter sized paper)

Inside the ADAPX Penx

ADAPX Dox

• Used to transport and upload data for Penx• Waterproof to 3m• USB docking port for automatic recharge• Molded belt clips

Digital Paper• Produce yourself (color laser printer)• Anoto® dot pattern (aligned to a grid which prints with the

document)– Pattern on each sheet carries a unique identity to separate pages– Durable: if Penx can read dot pattern, data is secure

ADAPX Capturx• Sophisticated software that converts digital ink in

Penx to digital information in computer• Uses Anoto® dot pattern to match Penx data to

corresponding computer document and software program

• Integrates with almost any Windows-based software application

• Automatically converts data when Penx is connected to computer

ADAPX, “Capturx,” ADAPX, http://www.adapx.com/Products/ProdCapturx.html

ADAPX Penx (Specifications)• Model: AMP-121 (USB and Bluetooth®)• Weight: 1.06oz• Dimensions: 6.02 x .75 x .6in (without cap), 6.18 x .83 x .71in

(with cap)• Data communication: USB 1.1 standard (also supports USB 2.0

standard), Bluetooth® 1.2 standard• Built-in battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery• Continuous writing time: 2 hours (120 minutes) or longer• Standby time: 10 hours without a cap• Charging time: Approx. 2.5 hours (from zero to 100% charge)• Charging method: Dox cradle or USB adapterADAPX, “ADAPX: Penx and Dox, The Extreme Environment Digital Pen System,” ADAPX, http://www.adapx.com/images/pdfs/ADAPX_P&D.pdf

Dox-Penx MILSPEC Carrying Caseand Data Upload Assembly (Specifications)• Model: ARD-110• Size: 8 x 2.5 x 1.25 inches• Weight: 6.08 oz• Data communication: Mini USB (also supports USB 2.0 standard)• Operational Temperature: -20c – 70c• Non-operational Temperature: -30c – 85c• MilSpec 810F and 461E• Water proof to 3m• Dust and sand resistant• Oil, fungus, mildew and corrosion resistant• 40,000 feet pressure resistance• USB pass through connector for PC/PDA connectivity• Belt and vest loops for easy field use

ADAPX, “ADAPX: Penx and Dox, The Extreme Environment Digital Pen System,” ADAPX, http://www.adapx.com/images/pdfs/ADAPX_P&D.pdf

Penx Possible Shortcomings: Limited Competition

• – Swedish technology company which develops digital pens

and licenses them to partners (i.e. ADAPX)– Core technology and, in most cases, optical assemblies and

ASICs, are either supplied by Anoto®, or built to their specifications

• Other digital pens exist, but do not specifically integrate with ESRI software and related applications.– Maxell digital pen– Magicomm G303– Leapfrog FLY pentop– Logitech IO penAnoto, “Solutions,” Anoto, http://www.anoto.com/?id=917

Wikipedia, “Digital paper,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_paper

Magicomm G303

FLY

Shortcomings Continued• Possible misrepresentation of data

– Legend registered or clicked incorrectly

– Mishaps in printing digital paper

• New product and technology– Bugs– New to geospatial world

• Better than traditional pen and paper?– Precise and accurate drawing still an issue– Cost vs. benefitPeter Batty, “Adapx digital pen for paper input,” GEOTHOUGHT, http://geothought.blogspot.com/2007/06/adapx-digital-pen-for-paper-input.html

Cost

• 1 Penx = $299• 5 Penx Pack = $1495• 10 Penx Pack = $2990.00 • Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 = $99.00

Benefit

• Inexpensive• Mapx system used with ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo, and

enterprise ArcSDE (no need to change software licensing)• Adapx claims that the Mapx system:

– improves efficiency (?)– captures more data (?)– decreases time to decision (?)– increases collaboration (?)– scales easily (?)Since this is a new technology, the perks and bugs of the system have notyet been publicized, because the product has not been put to the test inreal-world situations.

Applications

• Commercial/Industrial Applications – Utility asset management– Natural resource data collection– Construction

• Military/Government Applications– satellite image markup– mark targets – draw routes on the fly

Adapx brochure states, “As soon as you print the image, Adapx Mapx will geo-reference the image” (?)

Conclusion

• Adapx offers a spiffy new technology• How viable is this technology for GISers?• Is the Adapx system just a glorified

handwriting digitizer?• What needs do you foresee this technology

fulfilling?