A pair of German inventors have created a digital pen that can check for spelling mistakes in handwriting.
The Lernstift, which is German for learning pen, has a built-in sensor that recognises writing movements and tracks the shape of the letters to recognise words. It then vibrates when a mistake is made.
Lernstift also has Wi-Fi built-in and the pen can be connected a smartphone or PC to upload written texts online, share them on social networks or take part in writing training. A pair of German inventors have created a digital pen that can check for spelling mistakes in handwriting on paper.
The computer inside the battery-powered Lernstift is an embedded Linux system.
Future models will also check for grammatical errors and the designers Falk Wolsky and Daniel Kaesmacher hope it will help children and adults develop their writing and spelling skills.
The idea came from Wolsky's wife while she was helping her son with his homework.
Current digital pens use optical sensors to pick up the writing movements and digitise the words or sketches so they can be used on a computer.
Some of these pens require additional devices, while others only work with specialty paper.
Lernstift is different because it has the technology and software built-in. The computer inside Lernstift is an embedded Linux system - a scaled-down version seen on some PCs and laptops.
The board contains a non-optical motion sensor, processor, memory, Wi-Fi and vibration module.
The computer inside Lernstift is an embedded Linux system - a scaled-down version seen on some computers.
The board contains a non-optical motion sensor, processor, memory, Wi-Fi and vibration module.
The motion sensor recognises all writing movements, even if the pen is used to write in the air.
This means Lernstift doesn't need any additional recognition devices or special paper to work, like other digital pens on the market. Built-in Wi-Fi means it can connect to smartphones and computers for social media sharing or learning websites.
The pen has two functions - Orthography Mode to recognise misspellings and Calligraphy mode to point out flaws in the form of handwriting and eligibility.
It uses a built-in handwriting software to compare the written words with the correct spellings.
Future models will also be able to point out grammar mistakes such as wrong word order.
The refill can be replaced and turns the Lernstift from a ballpoint pen to a fountain pen or pencil.
Early protoypes involved adding the technology to a pencil.
The motion sensor recognises all writing movements, even if the pen is used to write in the air.
This means Lernstift doesn't need any additional recognition devices or special paper to work.
It combines a gyroscope with accelerometer, and to optimise the motion recognition, the inventors also added a magnetometer. Built-in Wi-Fi means it can connect to smartphones and computers for social media sharing or learning websites.
The pen has two functions: Orthography Mode is used to recognise misspellings and will vibrate when a word is spelt incorrectly.