Smart Pen

Background
The [Smart Board] is just like a classroom whiteboard. The only difference is that it is electronic. The Smart Board can be used in conjunction with a projector and a computer, but it also comes with an integrated projector. It comes with four differently colored makers (red, blue, green, and black) and an eraser. The board, after being calibrated, is touch sensitive and detects pressure and displays what you write as you write it.


Problem
The Smart Board detects which color to write in by using the marker trays. Each marker tray is pressure sensitive. When you pick up the pen, a light lights up to alert you that that colored tray is the active one.

The problem is that when a second pen (or the eraser) is picked up, the Smart Board takes the second item’s tray and makes that one the active one. This means that using the first item actually performs the function of the second. This is a problem that I’ve observed a few times.


Example 1

Example 2
Laura: Hey, check this out. I drew a green Godzilla on the Smart Board. (The LCD light is illuminated over the green tray)
Megan: That's cool! But he needs some red teeth. (Megan picks up the red marker and the LCD light illuminutes above the red tray and draws red teeth)
Peter: I'm going to erase your pictures! (Peter picks up the eraser. Now, the LCD light by the eraser lights up. Keith erases the head and runs away with the eraser.)
Laura: I'll redraw the head. (Laura attempts to redraw the head with the green marker)
Megan: Oh, no! With the eraser still active, all you can do it erase. We can't draw anything unless the eraser gets put back!


Example 3
1. Julie puts the red and black markers in the wrong trays.
2. Steve picks up the red marker, but when he writes, all he gets is black.
3. Steve looks at the trays an notices that the light above the black tray is lit up, even thought he grabbed the red marker.
4. Gee, wouldn't it be nice if the Smart Board knew that the red pen was being used even if it was in the wrong tray?


The Approach
There are actually two solutions. The first means that the Whiteboard should be smart enough to recognize each object so that when a second object is chosen, the first is still usable. There may be problems implementing this though, because it means that somehow, each marker needs to have a sensor and the board would need to be able to sense each of the five items.

More interesting, from a designer perspective, is to redesign the interaction between the pen and the board. My proposal is to have a single pen, capable of writing in all 4 colors and also able to erase. It would work by communicating with a simple USB attachment to the connecting computer. That way, in one pen, all four colors can be manipulated and the eraser can be used without having to put everything back in the right place. As long as the attachment can detect the active color (let’s say it is activated by a button) and can tell the difference between the top and bottom ends (pen and eraser), then all the clutter can be removed from the board. In the following images, I present a proposal for the Smart Pen.

The Smart Pen is shaped like a normal pen. When closed, it is the size of the Smart Board's four pens. In this closed state, it is 'Off'.

When it is open, the Smart Pen's four colored buttons are revealed. In the open state, it is 'On'. The bottom (writing) end of the pen is pressure sensitive as is the top (nonwriting) end. When the bottom is in use, the Bluetooth adapter tells the computer that the person is writing. When the top end is in use, the adapter tells the computer that the eraser is in use. Switching between colors is simple. pressing down a button, turns on one of the four LCD lights which correspond with the colors, with the exception of black marker, for which the LCD is purple.

Smart Pen: How it works!

Diagram

Smart Pen: Sketches

 

Some drafts for the idea of the Smart Pen

The sketch I decided to turn into the Smart Pen

Smart Pen: The Final Design

Left: Pen in 'Off' state.
Right: Pen in 'On' state.

Bluetooth Adapter