HP’s Digital Sketch and Pocket Whiteboard

The new Digital Sketch from HP allows teacher’s to connect wirelessly to laptops and sketch out problems, ideas, and assignments with a few simple natural “writing” and “drawing” motions rather than slaving away at a keyboard.  Not only does this make conveying complex ideas (especially diagrams) a heck of a lot easier, it also gets rid of the technological chokepoint that many modern classrooms face.

The pad has an internal battery that runs the device for up to 25 hours of constant use—not too shabby, where can I get one for my netbook?—and is compatible with Sketchbook Windows software (sorry Mac users.)

It’s intended solely for the classroom but I can see many application for this tech in the business world and creative think tanks—A.K.A. garages and basements.
The Pocket Whiteboard that HP is launching concurrently shares some of the functionality of the Digital Sketch while upping the cool factor considerably.  While other digital white boards will do the same thing, none are as small.  The three button stylus can sync with any laptop, is ultra portable, and can magically turn any flat surface within reach into a blank canvass for your ideas.  Oddly though, the stylus is still changed to the PC by a USB cable.

You’ll have to wait until next month (March) to get your hands on one of these (or even find it on the official HP website) but it may just be worth the wait.