Electric Light Pen

A man is using an Electric Light Pen

Electric Light Pen:

1.      An electric light pen is an input device.

2.      The first light pen was invented by Ben Gurley in 1959.

3.      The basic idea for the computer mouse came to Douglas Engelbart in 1961, while he was attending a computer graphics conference.

4.      It is used as a pointing device.

5.      It is easy to use. Can directly draw on screen.

6.      Light pen is a light-sensitive shaped like a pen.

7.      The light pen can be a very focused flashlight-type of device or a laser pointer.

8.      It is attached to same video display terminal.

9.      The cursor on the screen is controlled the tip of the pen with the screen.

10.   Light pen gives the user full range of mouse capabilities without the use of a horizontal surface.

11.   Commonly used to select or otherwise modify text or data on a screen.

12.   In the 1960s, they became more commonly used with graphics terminals, like the IBM 2250.

13.   In the 1980s, light pen usage expanded to home computers, like the BBC Micro computer.

14.   Light pen offers more active and accurate interaction with the computer.

15.   In specially designed display screen, data can be entered with a light pen or existing data can be modified.

16.   A light pen may also be used to describe the pen (stylus) used with a graphics tablet.

17.   A light pen is not very accurate while drawing.

18.   It is very expansive compare to other pointing devices.

19.   Today, light pens are no longer used due to the invention of touch screens.

20.   Some common types of light pen are given below:

                                                    i.          Corded light pens,

                                                   ii.          Battery light pens,

                                                  iii.          Led light pens etc.