From hand to hard drive.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT - Logitech International S.A. - Brief article

Those who loathe transcribing handwritten notes into their computers will want to add a digital pen to their holiday wish list.

The i02 by Logitech, for example, both resembles and writes like a ballpoint pen, but it contains a camera and optical sensor that record its movements as the user writes. A microprocessor digitizes the writings and drawings detected by the optic technology.

The device's cradle is connected to a USB port, so when the user sets the pen in the cradle, the notes stored inside are digitally streamed into a computer and processed by software, reappearing on a monitor in the user's handwriting. The notes can then be saved on the hard drive, ready to be searched and retrieved at any time.

The pens are not inexpensive--Logitech's i02 sells for around $200, according to The New York Times. But for users who dread combing through memo books full of weeks; months; or even years' worth of notes, it may be worth the cost.

The optical pen has a rechargeable battery and enough memory to accommodate about 40 pages of handwriting, according to the Times report. And those who don't write legibly need...