Digital Pen Technology Not Likely to Replace the Keyboard

Attempts to make a digital pen have not gone over well with the consumer. Those who remember the Newton may remember that it's handwriting recognition software did not live up to its expectations. PDAs often come with styluses but people using them have to learn a specific alphabet to get them to work properly. Despite the digital pen in all its former incarnations more or less completely failing to be a hit with consumers, many companies still have hopes that converting this technology to the digital age will pan out for them.

The latest attempts by Leapfrog and a new comer Livescribe hope to gain a few more converts other than the ones already using a tablet PC. Unfortunately, for the people hoping that the light pen will have something more than its use in computer graphics where it offers greater control than a mouse, the keyboard and mouse will likely remain the king and queen of computer input devices respectively.

It seems designers banking on a digital pen for specific applications fail to understand why the keyboard remains popular. In an era where touch typing may have been a skill limited to a few secretaries, virtually every student going through today's educational system will have to take at least one typing class. The hunt and peck method limits itself to those who either cannot or will not learn it.

Copying text averages 31 words per minute for memorized text and 22 words per minute for copied text. Compare that to the speed of the average two-fingered typist that ranges somewhere between 50 to 70 words per minute, compared to the ten to fourteen words per minute the average person using a pen or pencil can get.

Digital pens are a neat idea and may be a way for those who simply like the feel of the pen in their hand to put data into the computer, but will never catch on for more than PDA or applications in electronic art. For those who take the time to learn how to type on the Sholes keyboard, it is simply a faster way to input text. More advance users who are not left handed may wish to switch to alternate layouts such as less popular Dvorak format. Digital pen technology may be a neat idea but will continue to have only specialized uses.

Sources:

ttp://news.com.com/Is+the+digital+pen+mightier/2100-1041_3-6204235.html?tag=nefd.lede

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typing

http://www.webusability.com/article_human_interaction_speeds_9_2000.htm