13. Conclusions

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it's also a pretty old piece of technology. Pen-based computers meld together the ancient and the modern to produce devices that operate in a familiar way while delivering significant computing power. They should not be overlooked as we search for the best ways to do our daily work and have our daily play.

Pen computing based on paper printed with the Anoto pattern holds a great deal of promise. Early applications for devices from various manufacturers are impressive. LeapFrog's Fly Pentop Computer uses the Anoto technology with more innovative panache than any other device to date. Built-in applications run smoothly, accurately and quickly. The Anoto pattern-based paper is used creatively to allow for a great deal of flexibility when creating an application and running it. The computer's unique expandability using application cartridges further enhances the cache and desirability of the Fly.

For all of this MobilityGuru awards its Editor's Choice Award to LeapFrog's Fly Pentop computer. I hope that the company enjoys great success with the Fly and that it some day releases programming information to the general public, perhaps with easily programmable application cartridges, so that more of us can get involved in expanding the functionality of this super toy beyond even the heights reached today.

MobilityGuru also presents its Editor's Choice Award to the Anoto Group AB in Sweden. Without the company's pattern recognition paper and software the Fly and other pen-based computers wouldn't be possible.

To see the kind of creativity and energy behind the Fly, take a look at LeapFrog's dedicated Fly website. It's pretty unique.

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