Wacom PL interactive pen displays at the ESADE Business School

In 1958, a group of Catalan businessmen and academic professionals initiated an ambitious project to create a university centre in Barcelona dedicated solely to business studies. ESADE, a pioneer and a benchmark in the academic world, now ranks among the ten best business schools in the world and has twice been chosen by the prestigious Wall Street Journal as the most highly esteemed business school among companies. To create a more dynamic educational experience for its students, ESADE has opted for Wacom interactive pen displays which enable teachers to note down ideas and comments made during their classes.

Day by day, education is changing thanks to technological innovation which facilitates a more interactive approach to training and makes it possible for teachers to offer a more dynamic classroom experience, allowing students to achieve a sharper focus and a clearer idea of the central points of a lecture. ESADE knows that teacher-student interaction is key to achieving an understanding of concepts and creating a rewarding relationship between educator and pupil. This is why, as part of an effort to standardise existing technology across all classrooms at this educational complex, ESADE has decided to install Wacom interactive pen displays in all its classrooms and even in some of its meeting rooms. In this way, no matter which classroom one may be in, the teacher can use all the technology at his/her disposal.

According to Miguel Angel Roman of the ESADE Technology Department, “the interactive pen display offers immediate solutions in the classroom, because it permits annotations to be made directly into digital presentations while explaining concepts and it reinforces comments and ideas. It has been about five years since we installed the first one and since then we have been incorporating them in both refurbished and newly built classrooms, such as those on the new Sant Cugat del Vallès campus. At the present time, there are only ten classrooms which do not yet have one of these devices installed”.

Each academic year, more than 1,400 students benefit from the possibilities offered by Wacom interactive displays. According to Roman, Wacom was chosen as ESADE’s supplier of interactive pen displays “because they offer industry leadership and guaranteed quality” and because ESADE was seeking “high-end equipment and benchmark manufacturers for each of the technologies introduced in the classrooms. Wacom is certainly the most reliable brand in its field”. ESADE ranks among the elite when it comes to higher education, and it has always been considered a benchmark. Thus, although the installation initiative was ESADE’s idea, they are aware that there are some national and international universities which would like to implement similar projects.     
  
“The use of these technologies does not represent a radical change in education, but does offer significant improvement. The user-friendliness of Wacom interactive pen displays helps teachers feel more comfortable teaching a class, which therefore results in a better class”, asserts Roman. “It is good to have the feeling that you’re making a difference and we are committed to being a benchmark in education. Students value all the possibilities this technology offers them because it makes their classes easier to understand and more participative.
Above all, we were looking to give the teaching staff the right technological tools and, to that end, we have had to provide training for our academic staff. When we showed them that, using with Wacom interactive pen displays, they could make notes directly onto their PowerPoint presentations, highlight ideas and write comments on subjects being discussed in the classroom in real time, most teachers decided to use them.
We needed to provide a little training but, thanks to the user-friendliness of these displays and their intuitive nature, teachers also find their own individual ways of using them”.

ESADE has chosen Wacom PL interactive pen displays because:
1. They are very easy to use and they create a more dynamic class.
2. Teachers can note down ideas and comments in real time.
3. Wacom is the most reliable brand in the field

Source: http://www.wacom.eu/int/products/casestudies/casestudy.asp?lang=uk&pdx=79

BBVA awards office signature-digitalisation project to SERBAN

As part of its strategy to provide even more innovative services to its customers, BBVA has decided to implement advanced digital signature solutions in its office network, and has opted for SERBAN as a partner for the provision of digital signature tablets using cutting-edge WACOM technology. SERBAN collaborated with BBVA in defining, developing and integrating the digital signature tablets for BBVA’s business applications and will be equipping the bank with over 4,500 STU-500 Signature Tablets from Wacom for use in its office network in the coming months.

Source:  http://www.serban.es/noticias/07-12-2009-bbva-adjudica-a-serban-el-proyecto-de-digitalizacion-de-firmas-en-oficinas/

Video of TeleCash shows paperless signing at POS with STU-500

SOFTPRO’s partner TeleCash (http://www.telecash.de) is a part of First Data Corporation and one of the leading network service providers in Germany. TeleCash offers a very popular Electronic Receipt Storage Service solution called “Online Archive ” http://www.telecash.de/services/onlinearchive/.

This new video on YouTube shows the benefits of signing without paper and the enhanced customer experience. It also addresses the significant cost reductions and workflow improvements: Paper receipts are replaced with electronic receipts, the signature is captured on the signature tablet Wacom STU-500. SOFTPRO’s SDK SignWare was integrated in the solution from TeleCash. SOFTPRO has a detailed case study of the solution on its website at (http://www.signplus.com/en/downloads/details.php?code=F08)

Wacom’s new PL-2200

Wacom, the leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays and intuitive interface devices, today announces the PL-2200 – the latest addition to the PL range of interactive pen displays aimed at the education sector. Using the Wacom pen directly on the display enables teaching staff to conduct lessons or lectures interactively and individually. For the modern lecture theatre or classroom, the PL-2200 is the smart and innovative presentation tool.

The PL-2200 is the first in the PL-range of interactive pen displays to include a widescreen display and full HD resolution, providing clearer precision on a huge workspace for both the annotator and the audience. Working with the interactive pen display connected to a video projector means that teachers and lecturers can face their students while giving lessons or lectures, ensuring that they can instantly pick up signals, gauge reactions and interact with students, creating a more productive and engaging atmosphere. With its 21.6’ screen, it offers a large working area for the presenter.

Using the pen directly on the screen provides perfect hand-eye co-ordination and enables fast data input. Handwritten notes, sketches, drawings and diagrams can be updated in real time or created spontaneously resulting in a lively communication between teachers and their students. Teaching staff can add ideas and suggestions from students directly to the slides, increasing interactivity, creativity and discussion. Notes written during the lesson can be printed and handed out to the students or stored online for students and teachers to access from home.

Other updates to the PL-2200 include advanced video capabilities with the inclusion of DVI-input and DVI-output. This means either analogue or digital sources can be used without the need for a DVI-splitter. Teachers can incorporate different types of media, such as the internet, digital or audio content into their lessons and control them all from the PL-2200, using it as a central hub.

Complete with a video scaler, the new PL-2200 supports wide-format input as well as native aspect ratio. It has also been fitted with an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections on the screen and an easily adjustable display stand for maximum comfort. The addition of a dual port, USB 2.0 hub means that files can be easily transferred to and from the PL-2200.

Wacom’s patented pen technology provides a natural tool for freehand writing, annotating and navigating directly with the pen on the screen. The ergonomically designed cordless and battery-free pen provides 512 pressure levels and has a programmable double side-switch. The technology of the PL-2200 results in a minimised ‘jitter’ of the pen, making cursor navigation faster and more accurate.

About the PL range
The PL series has been designed for those who want to combine the advantage of a pen tablet with a high-quality LCD display, to boost productivity and ergonomics in the workplace.

Other displays in the range include the 19” PL-900, the 17” PL-720, both with SXGA resolution (1,280 x 1,024 pixels) and the 15” PL-521 with TFT screen.

Software included
The PL-2200 will be delivered including Uniboard Software for presenting and teaching. The software is an easy-to-use application that supports the pressure sensitivity of the new interactive pen display and works on Windows and Macintosh systems alike.

Read the full article here

Wacom expands its digital signature tablet range with the new STU-300

26/01/2010

Mobile LCD Signature Tablet STU-300 developed for professionals on the move

Wacom, the leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays and intuitive interface devices, today announces the STU-300, a mobile LCD Signature tablet that enables users to capture and authenticate handwritten digital signatures.

Following the success of the STU-500, the STU-300 is especially targeted towards mobile professionals. Designed to be small and compact as well as durable and robust, the STU-300 is an ideal tool for insurance agents working in the field with a need to record client signatures on contracts or service staff carrying out repair and maintenance tasks on site.

LCD Signature Tablets STU-300 and STU-500

The new tablet enables users to capture handwritten signatures without having to print off hardcopies. This will mean that transactions and workflows where paper documents are still involved will become much more efficient. Customers will be able to sign contracts, approve payments and confirm deliveries quickly and securely.

The STU-300 comes with tempered anti-glare protection glass making it extremely durable, and scratch resistant. Thanks to its embedded sensor, the STU-300 offers an extended lifetime in comparison with conventional, resistive touch sensors.

Wacom’s STU-300 is intuitive and easy to use. Signatures are captured on a LC display using a cordless, battery free pen. The sensor captures biometric information from the signature such data coordinates and pressure signals. The individual pressure profile, writing rhythm and speed build a unique biometric signature profile meaning forgery is made almost impossible. The screen is wide enough even for long signatures.

Last but not least, the pen is attached to the STU-300 to prevent loss – and can be easily stored in the device when not in use.

The STU-300 is available from February 2010 through Wacom and its dedicated signature partner companies.

Source:  http://www.wacom.eu/index2.asp?pid=36&lang=en&prid=296

Wacom STU-500 Signature Tablet with Handwriting Recognition

Proof of Concept of a Wacom STU-500 Signature Tablet combined with Vision Objects’ Handwriting Recognition technology. The STU-500 normally is only used for signature capturing. The combination with Handwriting Recognition allows complete   “form filling” directly  on the tablet by automatic recognition of your handwriting.  This can be used at the Point-Of-Sale or any counter/reception in hotels or companies .

The integration has been realised by our partner http://www.uk.teach32.com/.

Wacom and ESRI Software Map Aerial Imagery help make wine at Ste. Michelle’s

Every year at harvest time, a plane with a multispectral camera flies over the vineyards of the award-winning Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to capture detailed images of 3,500 acres of grapes in Washington and Oregon. This aerial imagery is delivered in hundreds of 20-acre blocks and then georeferenced in ESRI’s ArcView software, using a Wacom Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display.

Digital aerial imagery is used to analyse grape canopy density prior to harvest, leading to more efficient operations and ultimately, better wine. In order to show real-time vineyard conditions, the entire process from imaging to georeferencing, mapping and geodatabase updates must be completed in just one month’s time. A rapid and accurate workflow is therefore imperative.

The combination of the Wacom interactive pen display with ESRI software has proved to be the ultimate method to manipulate this aerial imagery. The Cintiq 21UX pen display enhances many of the features included in the ArcView software suite. One can move quickly through editing sessions to select coordinates, snap vertices, or place points, drawing directly on the Wacom’s 21-inch LCD screen.

The whole article was published here.
More information about the Cintiq 21UX.

Official launch of Uniboard version 4

Today Uniboard 4 has been launched.  Uniboard 4 is a new Pen software for Presenting and Teaching and works perfectly with Wacom Interactive Pen Displays. You can now download a free Beta version:
http://getuniboard.com/

Pedagogical: Teachers’ training with Wacom’ PL interactive pen display

Turun Normaalikoulu, Teacher Training School at the University of Turku, Finland, is the largest teacher training school operating in one location in Finland. During the four years that teaching students spend at university, they have four to five training blocks at training school. There, they teach ordinary, real classes with children from 6 to 12 years. During their learning period, they are accompanied by experienced teachers’ trainers The school has 100 teacher trainers.

Petri Ahokas is one of the teachers at Normaali koulu and heads the IT team at the school. His idea was to integrate pen use, the first school experience, in using the computer. As children are using pens regularly, he strove to integrate pens into computer use also. So his first idea was to buy Mini Tablet PCs, but they were too expensive. Instead, he bought ten mini Laptops and integrated the pen use at a central point, installing a Wacom PL-720 interactive pen display. Whenever children want to present something for the whole class, they can do so working directly with
the pen on the display. During other times in class, the teachers use the PL as a central control point. Thanks to Sanako study 1200 software installed, they see what the kids are doing at their computers:

Petri only installed the PL last year and he is still experimenting how to use it even more. But to him, the advantages are ready at hand: the pen is a natural input device
and helps the children with different exercises and in different subjects. The control software installed can be navigated very quickly with the pen, and when the
teachers do their lessons, they do not need a classical blackboard, but project the content from the display directly onto the wall. That way, content can be developed
as with a traditional blackboard, but with all advantages of digitalization.

Please download the full case study HERE.

Case Study: Wacom STU-500 at CECA

Until recently, customers of banks and savings banks were obliged to repeat their signature on hundreds of different documents. All transactions, however small, used to involve endless document signature. Now this can be avoided thanks to the signature solution that Wacom, Softpro and the Confederation of Spanish Saving Banks decided to introduce and deploy. They had three very clear objectives in mind. Firstly, to save direct costs associated with documents generated by banking transactions. Secondly, to convert the digitalized signature into standard practice in the banking world and even in other sectors. And finally, to achieve greater convenience for employees and customers.

Please read the full case study here: http://www.wacom.eu/int/products/casestudies/casestudy.asp?lang=en&pdx=77