News Briefs and Upcoming Events

A German “computer systems integrator” called Infos (Ratingen, Germany) has signed an agreement with Communications Intelligence Corp. (CIC) to use CIC’s handwriting recognition technology and PenDOS interface on a soon-to-be released pen-based computer. The pen-based system, which will be called the Infos NotePad 386SXL, is reportedly an OEM version of the Eden Group/Trigem VPi386 (see the November, 1991, issue for more on the Eden Group). CIC also announced a cooperative development agreement with Justsystem of Japan, a major vendor of Japanese word processing software. CIC appears to be in the forefront in the Japanese handwriting recognition arena.

CIC has announced the formation of PenLABS, a training and seminar program based at CIC’s headquarters in Redwood Shores, CA (SF Bay Area). The company will offer OEMs, ISVs, and VARs a variety of training courses and seminars on CIC’s products and technology. Call 415-802-7888 for more information.

CalComp Digitizer Products Group has announced a pen-based digitizer tablet for desktop systems. Called the DisplayPad, the system comes with a cordless stylus and displays pen input simultaneously on the host computer’s monitor (similar to the Wacom digitizer tablet). Call 602-948-6540 or 800-458-5888 for more information.

Jeff Hawkins, formerly Grid’s VP of research, has formed a new company called Palm Computing, dedicated to the development of palmtop computer software. Contrary to reports in Infoworld, the company is not a subsidiary of Tandy or Grid, although Tandy is one of three investors in the firm. Hawkins says that the company will disclose more about its plans in the next few months. Call 415-854-8600 for more information.

There are also unconfirmed reports that Grid’s new 80386 pen-based system will be an OEM version of the Samsung PenMaster rather than an in-house developed product.

PI Systems (Portland, OR) has officially announced its Infolio pen-based computer (see our August and November, 1991, issues for more on the Infolio). The Infolio will be priced at $1895 with shipments beginning in March.

Slate Corp. has announced a “First Author Program,” allowing PenBook software developers to begin work in publishing materials for use with the PenBook program. The program enrollment fee is $950 and provides access to early versions of the PenBook Reader software, a license for one PenBook Author Pack upon commercial release ($695 value, says the press release), and access to Slate consultants for assistance in authoring. Call 602-443-7322 for more information.

The pen-based conference circuit is heating up. The Ogilvy & Mather public relations firm (San Francisco, CA) and a newly formed “National Advisory Council on Pen Computing,” which was apparently created by Ogilvy & Mather (perhaps it looks better to have more than one sponsor), sponsored a Pen Computer Users Conference in Baltimore, MD, last month, attracting some 200 attendees. Poqet Computer used the conference as a forum for announcing its new PoqetPad.

Dick Shaffer’s Technologic Partners (New York, NY) is holding its second pen computing conference, dubbed “Pen Computing 1992,” on February 19 and 20 in San Jose, CA. Call 212-696-9330 for more information.

Digital Consulting (Andover, MA), a veteran purveyor of computer-related conferences, is jumping on the pen-based bandwagon with a series of conferences, May 4-5 in Boston, and September 21-22 in Los Angeles. Call 508-470-3870 for more information.