FUTURE SUGGESTIONS

From discussions with designers and students, we have the following suggestions for making the Logitech Io pen more useful for teaching drawing techniques. These ideas would apply to any digital pen used by designers.
 

Software

• If .pen documents could export GIF or Flash animations, it would be possible to immediately post dynamic drawings to the Web.
• A time-stamp on each stroke would be handy for understanding pauses in the thinking process.
• A Macintosh version of the software would expand the potential audience of artists and designers.

Pen

• Option to change from ballpoint pens to alternative pen tips such as roller ball or felt tip.
• Since we can't use tracing paper, being able to change the line thickness or color would allow overlay of final over initial ideas or highlighting.
• Pen cap could be lighter weight and tighter fitting.

Paper

• Greater range of paper sizes and styles. 11" x 17" would be much more useful for architects and designers. Currently, the formats of special paper are limited because the printed pattern is proprietary. In fall of 2003, the pen shipped with an 100 page 8.5" x 11" notebook and Post-It note memos.
• Gridded paper would allow use of character recognition for the body of notes, not just the header.

Hardware

• A cradle that runs without a power source since we dock to laptops in the classroom.
• Wireless connectivity to a PC would enhance how the pen can be used in the field. In our study, we took participants to specific location to draw interior spaces. In order to review the drawings, we had to dock the pens to a laptop near a power source because the Io docking station doesn't pull power from the USB port. With a wireless connection, we could review drawings away from the power grid.