- What is a pen computer?
- How are pen computers used?
- How long have pen computers been around?
- Is there special programming required?
- Are pen computers more expensive than laptop computers?
- Why would you use a pen versus a laptop computuer?
- What can I interface to a Pen Computer?
- Will Pen Computers run on Windows?
1. What is a pen computer?
Answer: A Pen Computer is a type of computer that has the ability to interpret data from a pen or stylus. The data can be entered through handwriting or selecting from a chart, graph or menu. Pen Computers are also called Pen Tablets, due to their compact size.
2. How are pen computers used?
Answer: The most typical use for Pen Computers is in mobile applications, such as field service technicians, line and road maintenance personnel, outside sales persons, insurance adjusters, assessors or visiting nurses. Actually, any application where a pen and paper are being used to collect information could be a candidate for a Pen Computer.
3. How long have pen computers been around?
Answer: Pen Computers have been in production , in one form or another, for about 15 years. The Pen Computers were somewhat ahead of their time, as it took a little while for the software to catch up to the unlimited capabilities of the Pen Computer and adapt to it's many applications.
4. Is there special programming required?
Answer: There are two distinct types of programming used in a Pen Computer: Hand recognition software and Applications software. Hand recognition software allows the computer to learn and decipher someone's handwriting. With the rapid development of recognition software, many more applications were developed.
The Applications software is similar to any other applications software operating on a desktop or Laptop computer. The Applications software will meet the customer's requirements, such as an insurance adjuster's program, field service technicians Service Tracking program or a sales person's Customer Account program.
5. Are pen computers more expensive than laptop computers?
Answer: The cost of Pen Computers is similar to an equally equipped Laptop Computer except that a Pen Computer is normally more rugged, which causes the price to be slightly higher.
6. Why would you use a pen versus a laptop computuer?
Answer: Since Pen Computers are more rugged, they are frequently used in harsh environments, such as outside field operations, at a construction site or where the computer would be subjected to the weather. Pen Computers are more ergonomic and therefore are much more mobile than a Laptop Computer. They can also use a Pen or Stylus for data entry instead of a keyboard, again making it more mobile than the Laptop Computer.
7. What can I interface to a Pen Computer?
Answer: Pen Computers will interface to virtually any type of peripheral device, similar to any other computer. Just like any other computer, look for the Pen Computer that meets your interfacing needs, such as printer, Radio Frequency, Bar Code scanners or PCMCIA cards.
8.Will Pen Computers run on Windows?
Answer: Pen Computers will run all of the standard operating systems, such as Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows NT and Windows for Workgroups.
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