I recently purchased a stylus for my iPad2. I shopped around and finally decided on a Touchtech. The pen has a retractable ball-point at one end and the stylus at the other. The big, fat tip bothered me a bit (I used to use a Newton, which has a much more delicate and precise stylus!) and so I wrote to the company to find out why it had to be so obese.

Jerry Leto at Touchtech responded right away. I now have a much better understanding of the screen technology and thought I would share his response with you, with his permission of course. I found it very informative.

Being new to capacitive touch technology and all of its wonders, and shortcoming, can be tough at first. You hit it dead on with the statement that it is a function of the technology. Oh, the Newton. Lots of great features to that product, I must say. Here is the nuts and bolts of iPads, etc. (Multi-Touch Capacitive Touch Screens). They work by capacitively coupling to the human body, are designed for interaction with fingers and have a very specific range of size they detect. If you are curious, you can Google search Brian Huppi, the guy who designed the tech for Apple. He is actually an associate of mine. In other words, if they were to detect a small area, such as a pen nib (1mm), when you press your finger to the screen it would detect a multi-touch and it would confuse the software. Generally speaking, it is about 4.5mm and anything smaller, or larger than say 6.5mm, wont trigger or drive the device. The reason for the squishy, is that if you hold the device to eye level and slowly press your finger to the screen, you will see a depression left in your skin of approximately 4.5mm. Harder materials or anything that will not quickly conform to the 4.5mm diameter circle, have issues operating/driving the devices. Those tips I designed are to depress as easily as your skin would so you get a very fast and accurate response from the screen. I also designed a coating for the tips to more closely replicate the drag of the human finger on the screen. Many styli actually have a very high drag or chatter and people really hate that, me included. You also have to push really hard to make them work, and I tried to engineer the TT II pen to work around those common complaints from consumers. I am not sure if this answers some of the questions you have, but if you have anything else you would like to know about the tech, please call or email me. I have no problem answering your questions to the best of my ability.

I have nothing whatsoever to do with Touchtech and have never met Mr. Leto, but I was impressed by this outfit's commitment to customer satisfaction. (Elsewhere in his message he mentioned that if I was dissatisfied in any way with it he would refund my money immediately.) I really like companies that go the extra mile for their customers.

Here's the company's website... Touchtech - Home

And here's where I bought mine... Amazon.com: touchtec pen

Great to read that very full and clear explanation. It will be useful when other Members ask about the touch screen technology.

Thanks for posting it.

Tim

Yes, that video was great! So many new things coming, very sci fi.

sent with love from my iPad on IPF

Great info! I'm currently waiting patiently for the wacom stylus to turn up on ozzie shores *annoyed much*. In the mean time, I've got a great targus 2-in-1, works like a beauty, with a stylus on one end and a capped ball point on the other. Stylish and sleek, fits right with all my fountain pens. Only annoying thing is when used as a pen, u have to make sure u don't wind up loosing the cap coz it doesn't fit on the stylus end.

Thanks for that clear explanation Plainsman.

I have been using the AluPen stylus for the last month over all my other styluses. If you want to see my review just search for AluPen review on you tube under my name mtealo.

Originally Posted by mtealo

I have been using the AluPen stylus for the last month over all my other styluses. If you want to see my review just search for AluPen review on you tube under my name mtealo.

I too use the Just Mobile Alupen but have been waiting for the Wacom Bamboo in order to compare the two.

Originally Posted by raven_blackhart

Great info! I'm currently waiting patiently for the wacom stylus to turn up on ozzie shores *annoyed much*. In the mean time, I've got a great targus 2-in-1, works like a beauty, with a stylus on one end and a capped ball point on the other. Stylish and sleek, fits right with all my fountain pens. Only annoying thing is when used as a pen, u have to make sure u don't wind up loosing the cap coz it doesn't fit on the stylus end.

Hi, if you need a really responsive stylus while you're waiting for the waucom I purchased a Kensington and it's really brilliant. Smooth, direct and very nice to use

Originally Posted by info

I too use the Just Mobile Alupen but have been waiting for the Wacom Bamboo in order to compare the two.

Had a good review in iPad magazine so let us know how you feel about it compared to AluPen o.k.

Does that stylus work well or not for writing text on the IPAD? I've been waiting for something to come out to enable taking notes during meetings, etc.
tx, hmark