Basically, the Triped combines the mouse, the touchpad, and the digitizer pen into one ergonomic device. That having been said, its main advantage over the traditional pen is in the area of text entry. According to the product page, the combination of mouse and pen functions, with improved document navigation would make it a better choice. Unfortunately, we won't know if these claims hold water until the device is picked up by a manufacturer—but something tells me that will probably happen fairly soon. [Simtrix via Stuff.co.nz]

[Funshop via TFTS]

The Falter 2D hand-made flat pen is hand-made in Italy, from a design by Albert Ebenbichler developed by ATOdesign in Florence. The question now is: who hand-mades the hand-made hand-made pens? I sense a time-space galaxy-destroying paradox coming up. [Parafernalia]

The Etch a Sketch pen is neat, too. Both run $5.50. [Product Page via nerdapproved]

It reminds me of Tintin's rocket, for some strange reason. [Aving USA via New Launches]

[Fish Pen]

I don't know about you, but if I had this in school, my written notes wouldn't have just sat there, unused in my notebook. You can click on the paper, and the whole audio segment plays itself back. That's also nice because you don't have to write every little thing down; you can take loose notes, and then actually spend time thinking about what the teacher/interviewee is saying.

The amount of RAM wasn't indicated, but I heard that the pen will store an hour 100 hours [UPDATED] of audio. Good for short assignments and lectures. The paper? You can print out the templates on almost any laser printer, and on many inkjets. They're more into selling the apps than the paper. And the pen's software development kit is going to be nice and open, so geeks can write their own apps on top of the ones you can buy. (And the pen already does neat stuff like the math and translation.)

The pen also uses some neat logic built into our hearing system to filter noise. The microphones are in the earbuds, in stereo. When your brain hears the same signal equally in both ears, it has a much better time focusing on that noise. As the microphones record the sound as your ears would ear it, it plays it back in the same stereo resolution. So your brain has an easy time filtering out the background rumble.

A very cool app, and Jim Marggraff's 6th generation paper interface device (He also made that cool talking globe for kids you can click on for geography lessons.) And if you're wondering if this thing'll read your handwriting, I can say with first hand knowledge that Jim's handwriting absolutely sucks, and it still read his. – Brian Lam

Livescribe Launches New Mobile Computing Platform

Smartpen, Applications, and Developer Tools Connect Paper and Digital Worlds

D: ALL THINGS DIGITAL, CARLSBAD, Calif. - May 30, 2007 - Livescribe Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jim Marggraff today unveiled a new chapter in mobile computing - a new paper-based computing platform. The Livescribe platform turns plain paper into a computer screen and bridges the gap between the paper and digital worlds. The platform enables a broad range of new applications in personal productivity, learning, communication, and self expression.

The Livescribe platform includes:

- Smartpen: a Montblanc-size computer with advanced processing power, audio/visual feedback, and substantial memory for handwriting capture, audio recording, and applications
- Dot Paper with Dot Positioning System (DPS): technology that enables interactive, "live" documents using plain paper printed with micro-dots
- Software Applications: a breadth of solutions that leverage audio/ink capture, handwriting recognition, and Internet connectivity to enhance personal productivity, learning, communication and self expression
- Development Tools: easy-to-use tools for consumers and developers to create, publish, and share or sell new applications and content online

The possibilities for paper-based applications are endless. Livescribe's first key application is "Paper Replay." When taking notes during a discussion or lecture, the smartpen records the conversation and digitizes the handwriting, automatically synching the ink and audio. By later tapping the ink, the smartpen replays the conversation from the exact moment the note was written. Notes and audio can also be uploaded to a PC where they can be replayed, saved, searched and sent.

Additional applications will be available for download from www.livescribe.com. Some use handwriting recognition. For example, when a user writes a math problem, the smartpen interprets the writing, calculates the answer and speaks or shows it on the smartpen's OLED display. When a user writes a word, the definition or even translation can be heard or seen. Other applications use pre-printed materials to bring paper to life. Tapping a magazine ad, map, customer survey, or study guide instantly launches an application and enables interaction. Still other applications use the power of the Internet to let people broadly share and collaborate. Handwritten messages can be sent as emails. Animated, hand-drawn "movies" can be posted and shared online. Spoken messages can be recorded, linked with written notes and emailed directly from a notepad. Livescribe holds intellectual property around these and other paper-based computing solutions.

"The basic modes of human communication - reading, writing, speaking and listening - are enhanced by Livescribe with a completely intuitive, portable, low-cost tool," said Marggraff. "A smartpen that captures your notes, records what you hear, solves your math problems, translates languages, and sends handwritten emails is extraordinary to experience. It is the harbinger of a new era of mobile computing."

"The Livescribe platform takes paper-based technology to a radical new level, integrating software applications with physical paper," said Rodney Brooks, Director of MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. "I see the smartpen as just the beginning for a new class of device with almost unlimited potential."

Livescribe is funded by VantagePoint Venture Partners and has an executive management team with deep experience from successful consumer technology companies such as LeapFrog, Palm, Apple and IBM. Marggraff is best known for inventing LeapFrog's billion-dollar LeapPad platform and the award-winning FLY Pentop Computer. Joining him at the D conference are Chief Operating Officer Sasha Pesic and Chief Marketing Officer Byron Connell.

Anoto AB, inventor of optical pen technology and dot pattern, holds intellectual property that allows quick and reliable transmission of handwritten text from paper to digital media. Livescribe has licensed this technology for use in its smartpen and dot paper.

Product Availability
The Livescribe paper-based computing platform - a smartpen, dot paper, software applications, along with development tools - will be available online beginning in Q4. The smartpen will be less than $200. Additional dot paper will be available at prices comparable to standard paper products.

About D: All Things Digital
D: All Things Digital is a gathering of the movers and shakers who are at the forefront of the digital revolution. Producers Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher invite the best people in the business each year to participate in D, including the individuals making news and successful leaders and pre-eminent thinkers who are shaping the digital world. The conference, which is sold out, takes place May 29-31 near San Diego, Calif. For more information, see http://d.wsj.com/.

About Livescribe
Located in Oakland, Calif., Livescribe has developed a new low-cost mobile computing platform that connects the paper and digital worlds. Founded by Jim Marggraff, an entrepreneur and inventor of paper-based computing, including the LeapPad and Fly Pentop Computer, the company is designing innovative solutions that enhance personal productivity, learning, communication, and self expression for anyone who writes with pen and paper. For more information, visit Livescribe at www.livescribe.com.

And $29.95 for one week of self-satisfaction is a bargain in my book. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via geekologie]

So there's Elton John, sitting in his office, all Writer's Block-ed out, and flipping his Bic biro in despair. He liked the way it moved, "Like a rocket," he thought. "I know, I'll write a song about it and call it Rocket Pen". It was only the return of Bernie Taupin from the kitchen, where he had been making the tea, who told Elton that it wouldn't work. "Better Rocket MAN, Elt, old chum," he said. "Save the Rocket Pen for the 21st Century. It might work better as a gadget than a song*."

Three decades later, Sir Elton is sitting in his office, bored of songwriting, flipping his Bic. He thinks back to his original Eureka! moment but this time decides to turn it into a $7.99 office toy** for bored workers to amuse their colleagues and, occasionally, hit their bosses in the eye by mistake. Or on purpose. I don't know. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [ThinkGeek via New Launches]

* This might not be true.
** This is true, but not the Elton John part. Obviously.
*** Bonus video with William Shatner to know who all these people are, right after the jump

Rocket Man by the other rocket man — it's a bit scary for a Tuesday morning

We've seen enough movies to know that just about anything can be made into a shiv, so it'll just be a matter of time that we'll need to move on to allowing prisoners to write with finger paints. – Jason Chen

Product Page [SpyCatcher via Oh Gizmo via Uber Gizmo]

Not only that, the four switchable tips are a pencil, a ball-point pen, a highlighter, and a stylus. We had one of these switchy-pens when we were kids, but none with a stylus and none with a ruler painted on the side of it. This is nerd heaven. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Acme Studio via Boing Boing]

Once the pen does "dry up", you'll have to either get a new one or find some kind of crazy laser or diamond-tipped sharpener to make it write again. Kinda pricey at $30, but it does make for a neat desk pen or gift for a college student. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Grand Illusions via Spluch via Oh gizmo]

Nothing extraordinary, but neat nonetheless. Plus, if you enter in "FREEPICO" during checkout and spend more than $20, you'll get a free PicoPad—an in-wallet note pad. – Jason Chen

Prduct page [Every Day Innovations]

Pico Pad [Every Day Innovations]

Chain of custody documentation, Child care and custody records, Patient consent and HIPAA compliance, Sarbanes-Oxley signoff for corporate SEC filings, US Customs Entry and Biometric Passport Authentication

Not really a big deal for everyday use, but for high security situations like handing off a Metal Gear, you want to make sure the guy you're giving it to really is who he is, and not just Snake in a mask. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Pen-One via Red Ferret via Oh Gizmo]

The color light flash will be stronger and stronger when the detector is nearer to the suspicious transmit, then you can touch or hold the cap of a pen to reduce the sensitivity of the detector, until find the source of the signal

It apparently also scans money to see if it's counterfeit, but it's doubtful that you'll get an accurate read from a $17 toy. – Jason Chen

Product Page [China Vision via Red Ferret]

You should probably have some kinda training at this other than reading the included instruction manual, otherwise you're just poking yourself with a pen—something you can do with the ones lying around the house. – Jason Chen

Aster to present a multi-functional pen for hand accupuncture [AVING]

Product Page [Latest Buy via Coolest Gadgets]

There's something about scrolling LED text that attracts an unbelievable amount of attention. Some of us wore LED scrolling buttons as promotional devices at a trade show last year, and people were constantly asking us about them. Sure beats smoke signals. It's $29.95. – Charlie White

Product Page [GadgetUniverse, via Oh Gizmo]

In any case, if anyone needs to be able to write anywhere, this is available now for $25. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Inka via Neatorama]

The young ladies are going to love this shredder pen that fits perfectly into Girl Tech's Password Journal. There are so many secrets for the young fillies, and here's a way to write them down and then shred them right up, Nixon-style. It's downright therapeutic.

There's also an FM radio inside with an attached earphone, so the snide little girls/women/bitches-in-training can completely tune you out, you, like, non-listening, like, non-understanding parent, you know? – Charlie White

Product page [Girl Tech, via Shiny Shiny]

USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder [Brando]