SIMPLER, RICHER INTERACTION WITH THE DIGITAL WORLD

ISKN’s The Slate is revolutionizing the relationship between physical objects and the digital world. This smart tablet digitizes handwritten drawings, notes, and sketches in real time.

Technology

ISKN’s technology sets itself apart from today’s existing devices by its simplicity and variety of potential uses. It’s as easy as this: the user writes on a piece of paper with a regular pen that has been outfitted with a small magnetic ring. The pen generates a magnetic field that is measured in real time by The Slate’s 32 threeaxis magnetometers and a digital version— precise to the millimeter—instantly appears on the user’s tablet, PC, or Mac. The digital file can then be modified, enhanced, shared with other users, and even played as a video of the drawing’s progress. The result of four years of research at Leti, ISKN was launched in February 2014, and raised $2 million in October 2014. The startup has licensed several patents held by Leti and has signed a multi-year R&D contract with the institute.

Until now, ISKN has mainly addressed the consumer market. However, with the development of targeted applications, its technology could also respond to certain commercial needs from survey-taking to gathering health data and more.