Wacom today launched a new line of “signature” tablets, small electronic displays that use pen input largely to collect signatures for purchases, authorizations and paperless receipt generation. The new STU family comprises three tablets, all with pen input, that range from single-line monochrome to a five-inch color display.
The STU-300 ($200) uses a monochrome LED display (400×100 pixels) and has 512 levels of pressure to make signatures unique as well as helping to ignore accidental input from hands or fingers. It draws power from a USB connection and the stylus does not require power at all. The small dimensions (6.1 inches by five inches by 0.67 inches) makes it ideal for portable or cramped-space locations.
The STU-500 ($270) has a five inch monochrome screen and resolution of 640×480 (VGA). It can use either serial or USB connectivity. Its more square design (6.3 inches by 7.18 inches by one inch) feels more like signing a receipt and the area above the signature line can be used to display other information, such as a total price or menu options/soft buttons.
The last unit and the only color model is the STU-520 ($330), which sports a 4.7 inch, 800×480 color LCD display fully capable of pushing graphics, offers, menu options and other information along with signature capture. It uses USB for power and connectivity and measures 6.3 inches by seven inches by 0.6 inches.
Development environments for the units are C++, .Net and Java, and the tablets all work with signature software from SoftPro, Silanis, CIC and eOriginal.
The STU-300 and STU-500 are available now, with the STU-520 arriving next month. All the tablets come with a two-year warranty.
