Method and apparatus for improving the paper interface to computing systems

摘要

The novel notepad of the invention provides a convenient interface into the capabilities of computer technology from paper based information. The notepad has a form factor similar to a clipboard wherein the board portion includes a digitizing tablet and the clip portion includes an optical scanner. A battery-powered embedded processor and associated peripherals provide for capturing and storing information in a variety of forms including at least scanning information, digitized stylus information and audio annotation. An important feature of the invention is the linking of these different forms of information via software so that while the information is readily available for efficient processing, it is also combinable so as to recreate the annotated document through conventional means.