Touch the page of a book with this pen, and it can read the text in either Chinese or English instantly. Science fiction? Hardly.
As the latest hi-tech product from Beijing Huaqi Information Digital Technology Co. Ltd., the Ai-pen contains digital watermark technology, OID code technology as well as an MP3 player, according to Feng Jun, President of the company.
Its measurements are 127mm (L) × 26mm (W) × 20mm (H), and its weight 37g, excluding earphones. No batteries are required; instead, a USB line to connect to a laptop or PC works as a charger. Two hours of charging delivers over 12 continuous hours of use.
"We printed papers with digital watermark technology, so that the scanning equipment on the tip of Ai-pen could identify it," said Li Weiwei, Program Manager of Ai-pen, to Beijing Review. "It was all thanks to the four-year effort and brains of the innovation team."
According to Li, an audio map of the Beijing Olympic Games, based on Ai-pen technology, is scheduled for release next year.
"The map will ‘tell' you where and how to reach Olympic venues, places of interest, accommodation information, etc. in Beijing," he told Beijing Review. "Our goal is to make the Ai-pen a multilingual electronic tour guide for foreigners in China during the 2008 Olympic Games."
"We have full confidence in the Ai-pen's prospects since the technology can be applied to various areas, such as pre-school education, tourism, karaoke, fairs and expos, books and magazines, etc.," said Li. "We are now trying to establish an Ai-pen audio book alliance in cooperation with publishing groups nationwide. When that happens, you won't have to read a book by yourself, just listen to Ai-pen. It will become a convenient e-book that is also available on the mobile phone."
As a second-generation product, the Ai-pen still has a lot of room for improvement in terms of appearance, color, as well as the storage space. The price of 1GB will be 498 yuan (about $65) and 60 euro in domestic and overseas markets respectively, according to Li. |
