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____________________________________________________________
IBM Canada Ltd., 3500 Steeles Ave. E., Markham, Ontario, L3R
2Z1
PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENT A93-610
JUNE 29, 1993
TITLE
_____
IBM Pen for OS/2 Version 1.0
ABSTRACT
________
REVISED SEPTEMBER 7, 1993, TO ADD THE FRENCH CANADIAN
VERSION OF PEN FOR OS/2. VERTICAL BARS IN THE LEFT MARGIN
HIGHLIGHT TEXT AFFECTED BY THIS REVISION.
The IBM Pen for OS/2 operating system extension to OS/2(R)
Version 2.1 lets users access programs and operating system
services and functions using a pen, instead of a mouse or
keyboard, provides handwriting recognition, and "soft"
keyboard data entry. Pen for OS/2 supports existing
programs, including programs that were not designed to use a
pen.
Pen for OS/2 supports 16-bit and 32-bit unmodified OS/2
programs. It also supports unmodified Windows(2) programs
running in a WIN-OS/2(1) window and unmodified DOS programs
running in a DOS window.
Pen for OS/2 has integrated features built around its
ability to interpret handwriting as commands and data. This
ability also allows the keyboard to be eliminated in some
applications, reducing the physical dimensions and weight of
a system.
Pen for OS/2 provides a set of system gestures or hand drawn
symbols, that are translated into commands for the operating
system or application program. Pen for OS/2 also includes
tools that enable both pen-aware and pen-unaware programs to
----------------
This announcement is provided for your information only.
IBM's products can only be ordered under the terms of IBM's
applicable agreements. For more information, contact your
IBM marketing representative.
Page 1 of &custlast.
use a pen. These tools make pen-unaware programs work as if
they were receiving information from a mouse or keyboard.
The pen is a natural writing and pointing device. By using
the pen for navigating the Workplace Shell and all
application windows, a more natural user interaction with
OS/2 is achieved. Pen for OS/2 also supports finger
touch-sensitive digitizing devices with a separate "touch"
device type for applications for which touch is a better
user interface.
There are many uses for pens on desktop as well as in mobile
environments. Examples include:
o Interactive teleconferencing
o Handwritten notes
o Freehand drawing
o Annotation of documents
o Data capture in the field
o Sales presentations with mark-up and pointing
o Signature capture
A pen-based chalkboard applet is included with Pen for OS/2.
This application allows users to establish a link over a LAN
and share the same viewing and editing space simultaneously,
adding bitmaps, screen captures, coloured ink, shapes and
handwriting in real time.
The open architecture provided by the Pen for OS/2
Application Programming Interface (API) invites independent
software vendors to modify existing applications or create
new applications that take advantage of the pen/ink on paper
metaphor. To accommodate the rapid evolution of pen
computing components, Pen for OS/2 provides a number of
well-defined interfaces for peripheral and integral pen
devices and handwriting recognition providers. These
interfaces allow developers to take advantage of
breakthroughs in technology without appreciable impact to
previously-developed code.
A Canadian French version of this product will be made
available in October 1993. The Canadian French product will
support handwriting recognition of most characters from the
Canadian French keyboard, will support Canadian French OS/2
2.1 and the 863 code page for the pop up keyboard.
(R) Registered Trade-mark of the International Business
Machines Corporation
(1) Trade-mark of the International Business Machines
Corporation
(2) Windows is a trade-mark of Microsoft Corporation
Planned Availability Date: August 30, 1993
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| Planned Availability Date: October 30, 1993 (Cdn French)
Part Program
Number Name
------- -----------------------------
61G1171 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 3.5 inch disks
| 72G6120 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 3.5 inch disks Cdn French
61G1174 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 Add'l License
HIGHLIGHTS
__________
o Pen extensions to OS/2 Version 2.1
o Runs existing OS/2 Presentation Manager (PM), Win-OS/2
and DOS applications unmodified
o Provides mouse emulation for existing applications
o Provides on-screen pop-up keyboards for text entry
o Provides a set of standard gestures (symbols written
with the pen or touch that trigger system or application
functions)
o Allows the user to assign gestures for fast menu item
selection or macro execution
o Provides handwriting recognition which translates pen
input into alphanumeric text and forwards that text to
an application
o Provides device drivers for opaque tablets, tablet
computers and digitizers from the industry's most
popular manufacturers and allows for others to be added
in the future
o Includes LAN-based chalkboard applet
o Includes Sketch Pad tool for creating freehand drawings
that are inserted into applications through the system
clipboard
DESCRIPTION
___________
FUNCTION AND USABILITY
______________________
IBM Pen for OS/2 is a set of operating system extensions to
OS/2 Version 2.1.
Pen support enhances the usability of all application
programs by allowing users to manipulate existing
applications, but with a more direct and natural approach.
Fast path "gesture" commands can be drawn on the display to
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quickly invoke program features that previously required a
combination of mouse and/or keystroke actions to invoke.
The availability of "electronic ink" enables new
applications and features, such as handwritten annotation of
text and images and interactive communication using
handwriting and drawings.
Pen for OS/2 provides pen input capability for mouse
emulation, keyboard emulation and handwriting recognition in
existing OS/2, Win-OS/2 and DOS applications that execute in
the Presentation Manager environment. The Pen for OS/2 API
allows applications to include advanced pen capabilities
such as: high fidelity annotation of images, signature
capture, character recognition within forms and verification
of signature authenticity.
Pen for OS/2 has the following features:
o On-screen Keyboards to enter character data either with
the pen or touch
o Standard gestures that trigger system or application
operations, such as moving from one application to
another, text editing or opening a file
o User-assignable gestures for macro execution or menu
item selection
o Handwriting recognition that translates written
alphanumeric characters into text for application input
o Electronic chalkboard applet that provides simultaneous
graphical communication via LAN.
o All the advantages associated with OS/2 such as
pre-emptive multitasking, flat memory model, OS/2, DOS
and Win-OS/2 environments, etc.
Pen for OS/2 has the following related products available
from IBM:
o Software Developers Kit - provides well documented
Application Programming Interface and source code
examples for the development of pen-aware applications.
o Device Driver Kit - provides direction and source code
examples for Original Equipment Manufacturers and
Independent Hardware Vendors to write device drivers
that enable new equipment to run Pen for OS/2 under
OS/2.
Page 4 of &custlast.
USER PRODUCTIVITY
_________________
o New applications will provide the largest area of
extended user productivity. These applications will
allow the user to add comments to images, add
handwritten notes and drawings to documents, verify
signatures, fill in forms quickly and naturally and make
using the computer much easier.
o New applications will allow people who were previously
unable to use computers because of the mobile nature of
their work to have a computer that can go where they go,
helping them when they need it most.
INVESTMENT PROTECTION
_____________________
o The customer's current investment in applications is
protected by being able to run existing OS/2, Win-OS/2
and DOS applications without modifications.
o Developers can add pen functions to their existing
applications 1 while retaining the vast majority
of the existing code.
PUBLICATIONS
____________
The following Pen for OS/2 Version 1.0 publications are
available after general availability.
Title Order Number
----------------------------------- -------------------
Pen for OS/2 V1.0 Documentation Only S61G-1173-00
The Pen for OS/2 Version 1.0 Documentation Only package
includes:
o Pen for OS/2 User's Guide
o Pen for OS/2 Quick Reference Card
EDUCATION SUPPORT
_________________
The appropriate curriculum will be updated, as necessary, to
include the enhancements in this announcement. Descriptions
of Skill Dynamics Education courses are contained in
IBMLink. For access to IBMLink contact your marketing
representative.
To enroll on any Canadian or US Skill Dynamics course,
contact Skill Dynamics EDUCATION by dialing toll-free
1-800-661-2131 outside Toronto and (416) 946-1100 within the
local Toronto dialing area.
Page 5 of &custlast.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
_____________________
SPECIFIED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
_______________________________
MACHINE REQUIREMENTS: IBM Pen for OS/2 minimum system
requirements:
o Processor capable of running OS/2 Version 2.1
o VGA-resolution display and digitizer tablet, integrated
display and digitizer tablet or tablet computer system
with embedded digitizer
o 2MB random access memory (RAM) over the requirements for
OS/2 2.1.
o 5MB of DASD over the requirements for OS/2 2.1.
PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS: IBM OS/2 Version 2.1
COMPATIBILITY:
Pen for OS/2 supports:
o DOS applications running in an OS/2 DOS window
o Windows (1) applications running in a WIN-OS/2 window
o OS/2 16- and 32-bit applications
(1) Trade-mark of Microsoft Corporation.
LIMITATIONS:
o Gestures will not work with full-screen DOS or OS/2
sessions.
o Some Win-OS/2 applications may not operate consistently
when gestures are mapped to menu items because not all
applications create their menus and pull-down menu items
with the proper OS/2 mechanism. If an application
adheres to the OS/2 standard, gestures can be mapped to
menu items for a shortcut to calling application
functions.
PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
o Mouse pointing devices report their movement at a rate
of 60 points per second, while pen pointing devices can
be configured to supply considerably more of these
reporting messages (Pen for OS/2 recommends 100 points
per second). The increased number of messages that the
system message queue receives can impact system
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performance due to the extra number of CPU cycles needed
to process the increased message traffic.
o Pen for OS/2 installs a system "hook" that examines each
system event, deciding whether it is an event that needs
to be processed by Pen for OS/2, for mouse emulation,
macro execution or other similar function. If the
message needs no further Pen for OS/2 processing, the
normal OS/2 message processing is allowed to continue.
If the message requires further Pen for OS/2 processing
Pen for OS/2 calls a procedure to perform the necessary
function. All of this processing adds overhead to all
system events, some more than others.
o System performance degradation with Pen for OS/2
installed under OS/2 2.1 has been measured in extensive
test scenarios to be less than 4 percent as an average.
PLANNING INFORMATION
____________________
PACKAGING: The Pen for OS/2 product package contains:
o Two 3.5 inch program diskettes
o IBM Program License Agreement
o Proof of License
o Pen for OS/2 User's Guide
o Pen for OS/2 Quick Reference Card
o Service Information on the inside cover of the User's
Guide
o "Retail" box
The separate Documentation Only package for Pen for OS/2
Version 1.0 includes the following:
o Pen for OS/2 User's Guide
o Pen for OS/2 Quick Reference Card
SECURITY, AUDITABILITY AND CONTROL
Pen for OS/2 provides no special security features.
User management is responsible for evaluation, selection and
implementation of security features, administrative
procedures and appropriate controls in application systems
and communication facilities.
ORDERING INFORMATION
____________________
Orders may be placed by calling IBM Direct - toll free at
1-800-465-7999.
Page 7 of &custlast.
If you are interested in this announcement, please contact
any of the following:
o IBM Marketing Representatives
o IBM Direct - ID01
TERMS
_____
(for a description of terms, see Announcement Glossary A93 - 2)
LICENSING: IBM Program License Agreement (PLA)
LIMITED WARRANTY - PROGRAM: Yes
PROGRAM CORRECTION SERVICES: Yes
End Date: July 30, 1995
CHARGES
_______
(For a description of terms, see Announcement Glossary A93 -
2)
Prices are subject to change without notice.
GST and Sales Taxes, where applicable, are extra.
Program One-Time
Number Order Type Charge ($)
-------- ------------------------------------ ----------
61G1171 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 Program Pkg $ 116
| 72G6120 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 Program Pkg Cdn Fr 116
61G1174 Pen for OS/2 V1.0 Additional License 103
ALLOWANCES AND DISCOUNTS
________________________
EDUCATIONAL ALLOWANCE - PROGRAM: N/A
VOLUME DISCOUNT: No
Page 8 of &custlast.