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What is Pen-Centric Computing?
Some Examples:
The Report on the 2007 Invited Workshop on Pen-Centric Computing describes some of the current research issues and projects that are addressing this question.
Background
The Brown Computer Graphics Group has been at the vanguard of pen-centric computing for over a decade, having created pen-based interfaces for sketching 3D models, writing music, and creating interactive sketches of mathematics and molecules. During this same period Microsoft was also involved with pen-centric computing, starting with Pen Windows in the early 1990s, and more recently through both its creation of the TabletPC platform and through support of research inside Microsoft and at universities. In particular, Microsoft Research and the Tablet PC Product Group have provided a series of gifts to the Graphics Group to pursue research in gesture recognition and applications in pen-centric computing. On March 20, 2006, these two paths formally converged through the inauguration of the Microsoft Center for Research on Pen-Centric Computing, which is housed in the Brown's Computer Science Department.
Research Goals
Andy van Dam, the director of the center, believes that "in some cases, the pen is mightier than the keyboard." However, the challenge for the center is to show that pen-based computer interfaces have a proper place alongside keyboard and mouse interfaces for applications for work and for play. Imagine, for instance, attending an introductory biochemistry class in which 2D chemical notations on an electronic whiteboard were instantly transformed into interactive displays of 3D molecules, or responding to a stroke of musical inspiration by jotting down conventional music scorings on a PDA that could interpret the handwritten notation for instant playback or structured editing. As Rick Rashid, Senior Vice President of Research at Microsoft, noted during the inauguration, "pen-based computing has the potential to alter the way students and teachers interact ... positively affect not only the educational process but our working methods and our culture."
Research Staff
van Dam's team of
full-time researchers and students have made a good start to realizing this vision. Together, with support from Microsoft, Brown, and NSF, they established a portfolio of high-profile pen-based applications. ChemPad, a TabletPC application for visualizing molecules, was enthusiastically received by students in Brown Chemistry Professor Matt Zimmt's introductory Organic Chemistry course. Music Notepad, a TabletPC PowerToy demonstration project previously sponsored by Microsoft, has been downloaded by students and professionals around the world and even incorporated into the curriculum in one high school. Other projects, like MathPad2 and Geompad have similar potential, although they highlight the need for improvements in recognition algorithms for 2D notations.
Status
The Pen Center was chartered by Microsoft and Brown for a 3 year-term, from March 2006 through April 2009. The research group and the pen-(and touch-) computing agenda continue as part of the Brown Graphics Group.
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