Electronic company Interphase unveiled Penveu at the DEMO 2012 event held this week in Santa Clara, California. It is a electronic pen that converts just any flat surface into an interactive display by using a technology known as "embedded computer vision," which was originally designed for spacecraft and military navigation systems.
Yoram Solomon, vice president and general manager of Penveu, said in a statement to VentureBeat “The incumbent interactive whiteboard manufacturers have been using the same technology for almost 20 years. They don’t want to see change, we had no vested interest in the existing technology, but we had all the incentives in the world to bring new technology and disrupt this market with a much better product for a fraction of the cost of existing products in this market.”
After connecting to any standard analog computer screen (an old projector, TV or monitor), Penveu is able to draw, write and highlight in nine bright colors, without staining the surface. It works like a portable electronic wand and the "ink" can be erased with the push of a button, content such as a class lesson or a slide show can be saved for future reference. The device will cost around $499 for educational use, compared to the price of interactive whiteboards that can cost over $ 2,000.
This electronic pen could revolutionise the traditional idea of a classroom as it is easier to assemble and use. Basically it becomes an interactive screen that students and teachers can use from anywhere in the classroom.
