Launching a New Mobile Computing Platform

Livescribe holds intellectual property around paper-based computing that enable a vast range of new opportunities to enhance productivity, learning and communication. Building on top of licensed technology from Anoto Group AB that converts handwriting into digital form, Livescribe has created a new mobile computing platform – an integrated system of smartpen, dot paper, applications, desktop software, and development tools.

Smartpen

Just slightly larger than a Montblanc, Livescribe’s smartpen is designed to replace the everyday pen as a user’s primary writing instrument. Leveraging recent breakthroughs in memory, storage, microprocessors, connectivity and component size, the smartpen is an advanced paper-based computer, with both audio and visual feedback, powerful processing capabilities and substantial built-in storage.

Dot Paper with Dot Positioning System (DPS)

Imagine a piece of paper the size of Europe and Asia, where every 3 square millimeters is covered with a unique pattern of dots that is nearly invisible to the human eye. The pattern of simple, micro-dots enables a patented dot-positioning system to precisely track the smartpen’s movement on paper. As a result, anything you write – words, numbers or drawings – can be stored, recognized, and intelligently responded to by the Pulse smartpen.

Applications

The possibilities for paper-based computing applications are endless – with tools and games that enhance personal productivity, learning, communications, and entertainment. Livescribe is providing an open platform for developers to create applications for the Livescribe community

Desktop Software

The Livescribe Desktop is your gateway to the Livescribe community, and the hub for digitally organizing, searching and sharing your notes. You can also buy and download new applications for your smartpen from the Livescribe Desktop.

Development Tools

Livescribe is committed to allowing everyone – from advanced developers to novice end users – to create their own applications and content for the Livescribe community. To support this goal, Livescribe is developing a suite of easy-to-use tools. These tools offer rapid application development capabilities for users, casual developers and professional developers. The multi-tiered tool set includes the Livescribe Application Workshop, Content Development Kit (CDK) and Software Development Kit (SDK).

Livescribe Application Workshop

Our Application Workshop is an easy-to-use, Web-based content development and printing tool for all skill levels. This tool requires no programming skills and includes convenient templates to create content. With the Application Workshop, it’s easy to create smartpen applications and associated paper products such as live maps, games, interactive paper study tools, reference guides, and more. Step-by-step instructions guide users to create an application, install it on their Pulse smartpen and print out the accompanying graphics.

Our Application Workshop tool enables the user community to express themselves in creative new ways, design new paper-based applications, and share or sell their original work online at Livescribe.com.

Livescribe Application Workshop will be available in the 2nd half of 2008.

Livescribe Smartpen Content Development Kit (CDK)

The Livescribe Content Development Kit is a wizard-driven pen application designer. The CDK is designed to be used by developers with some programming experience who want to build more elaborate paper products and associated pen applications. The CDK includes a developer guide and code samples to help get developers started. This tool provides pre-built java software modules to integrate to the dot paper. The CDK is also useful as a rapid prototyping tool.

The Livescribe CDK will be available in the 1st half of 2008.

Livescribe Smartpen Software Development Kit (SDK)

Livescribe has a full Java-based development environment for professional developers to write their own smartpen application code using the Livescribe APIs. Used together with the CDK for paper product design, the SDK is the most comprehensive of Livescribe’s development toolset. The SDK includes an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE) with custom plug-ins. The SDK includes a suite of APIs, sample code, documentation and other development tools.

The SDK will be available in the 2nd half of 2008.

 

Anoto Group AB¹, inventor of optical pen technology and dot pattern, holds intellectual property that allows quick and reliable transmission of handwritten text from paper to digital media. Livescribe has licensed this technology for use in its smartpen and dot paper platform.

_{1. The Anoto wordmark and logos are owned by the Anoto Group. Other trademarks and tradenames are those of their respective owners.}