Scribbles

Tatung—Recognizing the growing market in point-of-sale terminals and information kiosks, monitor and computer manufacturer Tatung Company of America has announced that it is adding touch screen options for all its 14-, 17-, and 20-inch monitors.

Tatung is doing this through an OEM relationship with MicroTouch Systems, Inc., and will use the company’s ClearTek screen sensor technology. For more information, contact Edward Chen at (310) 637-2105.

Palm Computing, Inc.—Proving its long-standing claim that it is not simply “a Zoomer software company,” Palm Computing recently announced that its Graffiti handwriting system is now available for the Newton.

Graffiti uses a simplified alphabet that boasts high-speed and accuracy. Available for GEOS and Newton-based PDAs, Palm expects the Magic Cap version to be shipping by the end of November. For more information, contact Ed Colligan at (415) 949-9742.

MicroTouch Systems, Inc.—Continuing to target the information and multimedia kiosk market, MicroTouch also introduced a capacitive touch screen for Compaq‘s popular network-ready ProLinea Net1/25s.

The all-in-one touch monitor and PC is called the TruePoint ProLinea System and is available directly from Micro-Touch at 800-MICROTOUCH. The list price for the system is $2,725, with dealer and volume discounts available. For more information, contact Annette Petagna at (508) 659-9000.

Peripheral Vision Limited—One of the major issues surrounding pen computing is the legality of electronically captured signatures. Peripheral Vision, developer of the PenOp signature verification system, has announced the publication of a detailed paper examining (and supporting) the legality of signature verification systems.

The paper, authored by Dallas, Texas-based attorney Benjamin Wright, is entitled “The Legality of the PenOp Signature.” Mr. Wright is also the author of “The Law of Electronic Commerce: EDI, Fax, and E-mail” published by Little, Brown, and Company, Boston. Peripheral Vision can be contacted at (212) 262-1588.

Synaptics—Touchy-feely technology seems very much to be in the news this month, including the announcement of a new finger-based, pressure-sensitive input pad. The device, dubbed the TouchPad, incorporates neural-based, mixed signal technology that enables people to position the cursor, direct graphics, and select items using their finger.

The TouchPad connects to the serial or ADB port of any PC or Macintosh personal computer. For more information, contact Robert Sumbs at (408) 434-0110 x131.

MiniStor Peripherals Corp.—Continuing to push the envelope of PCMCIA-based storage, MiniStor announced at COMDEX that it will start shipping a new 1.8-inch PCMCIA drive offering 520 MB of compressed storage in the first quarter of 1995.

The Type III device relies on Stac Electronics’ popular Stacker Anywhere data compression technology to double the native 260 MB capacity of the drive. For more information, contact Randy Peterson at (408) 432-5550.