| If you have a computer and are familiar with a lot of | | | | signals from other external sources. These tablets |
| the new technology today then you probably have | | | | were eventually replaced with the digital tablets we |
| heard of the drawing tablets available for use with | | | | know today. |
| computers. The actual idea of the tablet has been | | | | The computer drawing tablets incorporating use of |
| around for quite some time. Believe it or not the first | | | | digital technology began in the 70s and 80s. The first |
| electronic tablet made for writing purposes was in | | | | two commercial products released were the BitPad |
| 1888 and was called the Telautograph. While the | | | | and the ID by the Summagraphics Corporation. These |
| electronic tablet is still widely used by many | | | | new digital pads were specifically used for CAD |
| businesses for the purpose of collecting signatures, it | | | | software and were even sometimes included in the |
| has certainly come a long way since the 1800s. | | | | bundle packages of PCs. The Apple computer also |
| The Styalator appeared in 1957 and was the first of | | | | had its version of the same type of input device |
| these kinds of tablets to be used in conjunction with | | | | simply known as the Apple Graphics Tablet. |
| a computer. This writing pad was the forerunner to | | | | The tablets themselves come in several different |
| the computer drawing tablet we know today. The | | | | models. Passive tablets have the stylus connected via |
| next tablet to be developed was the RAND. This | | | | a wire for the transmission of the signal. Active |
| was the first writing tablet created that was able to | | | | tablets have a stylus that is not connected to the |
| recognize the differences between horizontal and | | | | pad, but is an independent battery operated stylus |
| vertical coordinates used in a magnetic signal. It was | | | | which communicates signals to the tablet. Optical |
| able to do this because of the way the grid design | | | | tablets use an incredibly microscopic camera unit in |
| was created inside the pad itself. Now the stylus that | | | | the stylus to relay the images to the pad. A few |
| was used with the pad for writing was able to | | | | others are the acoustic, the electromagnetic and the |
| receive a magnetic signal and then encode and send | | | | capacitive tablets. |
| it back to the computer. | | | | If you are considering purchasing a drawing tablet for |
| Some tablets used a type of stylus that created a | | | | use with your computer you would benefit from |
| click which generated a spark, similar to how a spark | | | | doing a little research online. With so many different |
| plug works. These are often referred to as spark or | | | | types and styles to choose from you will want to be |
| acoustic type tablets. However, in the long run these | | | | sure the product you choose is the one best suited |
| tablets proved to be extremely complex in design | | | | to your needs. |
| and the pens were prone to picking up interference | | | | |