Positioning the electronic stylus: a race is on to refine the sensors required by pen-based computers

Article Abstract:

The technique by which a hand-held computer determines the position of a pen in a pen-based input-output system is a critical part of the new pen-based computer technology. This technology allows a user to input data by writing on a liquid-crystal screen with an electronic stylus. A race is currently in progress as companies compete to refine this 'sensing' technology. To succeed, sensing technology must be packaged in a lightweight and durable form. Such a product should consume little electric power, and it should withstand electronic interference emanating from other parts of the computer while maintaining high accuracy. Companies currently working on pen-sensing technologies include Grid Systems Corp, Go Corp and Scriptel Corp, developing resistive coating, electromagnetic and electrostatic schemes, respectively.

Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Detection equipment, GO Corp., I/O devices, Computer Industry, Sensor, Grid Systems Corp., Detectors, Pen-Based I/O

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Sun to enter race to offer software; new operating system to run on Intel chips; an alliance is formed

Article Abstract:

Sun Microsystems Inc is developing an Intel-compatible version of its operating system. Previously, Sun's operating system software only worked on SPARC-based machines. Sun's announcement, which is seen as indicative of how the company plans to position itself in the 1990s, will put Sun directly in competition with Microsoft Corp. Microsoft's MS-DOS is used on most microcomputers; the company is currently developing Windows NT, which will work both on Intel machines and on machines that use MIPS Computer Systems' microprocessors. Sun's operating system, called Solaris, will be ready in the middle of 1992.

Prepackaged software, Computer software industry, Software industry, Operating systems (Software), Operating systems, Sun Microsystems Inc., SUNW, Microsoft Windows NT (Operating system), UNIX, Operating System, Solaris (Operating system)

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