Wacom Inkling Digital Sketch Pen Is New Spin on Digital Analog Technology

Gear Diary is reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. You can learn more by clicking here.

(Image courtesy of Wacom)

While the iPad has become synonymous with the term “tablet”, there has been other digital tablet technology, such as the Tablet PC and the Livescribe Pulse Pen which came out before and is surviving, albeit in more of a niche market. So it is rare for me to see any new devices, especially in the analog-to-digital space.

While I love handwriting recognition on the Tablet PC and touch typing on the iPad, there has always been an appeal to writing on actual paper. The Livescribe handles this well, but requires the use of their special (Anoto-based) paper which has a series of microdots on it. Other companies have released infrared technology, but the Wacom Inkling brings an interesting new twist.

Other devices have provided infrared, which allows you to write on regular paper using the built-in ballpoint pen (which utilizes a standard mini-ballpoint refill). But the Wacom seems to be the first one to add pressure-sensitivity by using infrared combined with ultrasonic technology. The Inkling is geared towards sketching, but would accurately represent anything that you would write on paper.

The Inkling is Windows- and Mac-compatible out of the box. But what makes the Inkling most interesting to me is the fact that it exports layered file formats (Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchBook Pro, SketchBook Illustrator, and SVG), which preserve all of your strokes, in addition to traditional static image formats. No other device has made it so easy to get to your digital strokes! This fact alone could make me tolerate carrying around an infrared receiver!

The Wacom Inkling will be available in mid-September for $199, and includes:

  • Inkling digital pen and battery
  • Pen ink cartridge (and four refills)
  • Charging case
  • Receiver
  • Rechargeable receiver battery
  • USB cable

(Wacom Inkling, via Fountain Pen Network)

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!

About the Author

Gear Diary Staff
Gear Diary was founded on September 30, 2006, with the goal to create a website that would not easily be labeled. Everyone who is part of Gear Diary is a professional who uses technology in their work and daily lives. On this site, we share our enthusiasm while exploring the gear we use — the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. Our hope is that Gear Diary visitors find this site to be a welcoming, friendly, and accessible place to learn about and discuss interesting topics — and not only those that are tech-related! Gear Diary is a place to discover and explore all kinds of new gear, including smartphones, computers, kitchen gadgets, Toys, EDC, camping gear, or even your next new car! You can follow us on Twitter @GearDiarySite.