Cirque introduces first capacitive touchpad with stylus; The creator of GlidePoint technology combines advanced pointing device with pen input.SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 1996--Today, Cirque Corporation Cirque Corporation is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based company which developed and commercialized the first successful capacitive touchpad, now widely used in notebook computers. , the original developer of GlidePoint(R) technology, announces the first touchpad A stationary pointing device that provides a small, flat surface that you slide your finger over using the same movements as you would a mouse. You can tap on the pad's surface as an alternate to pressing one of the touchpad keys. See mouse, trackball and pointing stick. with pen input capability, combining advanced touchpad pointing with stylus and software for pen input in one device for retail and later, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and markets. Cirque's new GlidePoint(R) technology with pen input will enable mobile and desktop computer users to combine the precision and durability of the touchpad pointing device An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen. The major pointing device is the mouse for the desktop computer and the touchpad for the laptop, although many road warriors bring along a mouse. with signature capture and "mini"-sketch capability, saving space and adding utility in one tool. "We introduced GlidePoint technology in 1994 with the mission to provide an intuitive, rich interface for direct control of computers. We have spent the last two years improving the touchpad, creating a category of devices that are smart and easy to use," said David Ai, Cirque's vice president of marketing. "Building on this core competency A core competency is something that a firm can do well and that meets the following three conditions specified by Hamel and Prahalad (1990):
The first generation GlidePoint touchpad with pen will debut in the Cirque(R) Input Center(TM), shipping early October 1996. The input center is a combination of four tools in one device, including keyboard, touchpad, stylus, and productivity software. (See press release titled "Cirque Advances Input Device," 8/19/96) Stylus Cirque's next generation GlidePoint technology responds to a capacitive stylus, designed to differentiate between pointing and writing activities on the pad surface. The unique pen tip provides enough surface area to emulate a human finger, and uses a patent-pending switch to recognize electrical changes that occur between the stylus and the touchpad. This allows users to choose between navigating the cursor and actually "laying ink." "One of the issues we've identified with other touchpad/pen combinations is the difficulty in distinguishing between pointing and actual drawing activities. For example, placing a stylus on a membrane-based touchpad immediately puts down ink, without allowing a user to first position the cursor," said Ai. "The GlidePoint stylus comes with an internal switch, differentiating between varying pressures to provide dual functionality. A user can both navigate and sign or sketch with the GlidePoint stylus." Signature software The stylus and software give users the opportunity to add signatures and small sketches to their documents. When activated, the program provides an area for signing or sketching. Users may choose from a variety of pen thickness' and may customize a drawing's dimensions. When completed, a signature or sketch is automatically dropped into an open word processing word processing, use of a computer program or a dedicated hardware and software package to write, edit, format, and print a document. Text is most commonly entered using a keyboard similar to a typewriter's, although handwritten input (see pen-based computer) and application or saved to the clipboard A reserved section of memory that is used as a temporary holding area for data that is copied or moved from one application to another using the copy and paste and cut and paste (move) menu options. Each time you transfer something into the clipboard, the previous contents are deleted. for pasting. Each signature or drawing may be saved as a bitmap file A file that contains an image in one of various bitmap formats such as TIFF, GIF, JPEG and BMP. See graphics formats. for future use. The software will be available for both retail and later, OEM products. "This pen feature is for signatures and small sketches which enhance day-to-day faxes and other communications. We are not trying to replace the graphics tablet See digitizer tablet. with this first generation stylus device," said Richard Woolley Richard Woolley may be:
Information about the Cirque(R) Input Center(TM) is available by calling 800-GLIDE-75 and at Cirque's address, http://www.glidepoint.com on the World Wide Web. Cirque, a privately held Utah corporation, was founded in 1991 with a mission to provide intuitive and rich interfaces for direct fingertip fin·ger·tip n. The extreme end or tip of a finger. control of computers. As the original developer, Cirque holds the patents for GlidePoint technology and manufactures a broad product line of touchpads and touchpad modules for retail and OEM customers. Cirque currently licenses patented GlidePoint technology to Alps Electric Inc. and other non-disclosed companies. CONTACT: Cirque Corp., Salt Lake City Angela Keeney, 801/467-1100, ext.147 |
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