# Computer Tablets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2000, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647 "2000-04-02T08:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/1 "2000-04-02T08:56:00Z")
how does the pen work on a computer tablet for drawing when it doesnt have a battery? does anyone know how it is able to tell between the pen and pencil and eraser settings? * * * Check out my site: [Chief’s Domain](http://qfg.tierranet.com) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/2 "2000-04-02T16:45:00Z")
Most likely, the tablet’s surface puts out a slight electrical current when pressure is applied. * * * “What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet. [www.sff.net/people/rothman](http://www.sff.net/people/rothman) ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/3 "2000-04-02T19:38:00Z")
- - - Not so in all cases. With the one I have (Calcomp Creation Station - a 4"x6" “home user” tablet) the tablet picks up the 2-button pen and the 5-button mouse even when they are held about 1/4 inch away. The instructions say that you can trace pictures through items as much as 1/2" thick though I think that is optimistic, and it doesn’t work real accurately when tracing (whenever you _move_ the pen or mouse, it tracks very well, but it tends to “lose” them if you stop moving them or hesitate while drawing, and it tends to “re-find” them just a bit away from where you stopped). Both the pen amd mouse are wireless and batteryless, and pressing anything else to the tablet doesn’t do anything. - - - Somebody asked a similar question just a little while back, didn’t they? - MC ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/4 "2000-04-02T21:00:00Z")
My Wacom Intuos tablet can recognize a number of different pens (all Wacom pens, of course). I can have each pen designated as a different type of tool. I assume that there is some difference in the signature of the signal from each. You might want to go to the Wacom site at [www.wacom.com](http://www.wacom.com) and if you can’t find the answer there, try [www.howstuffworks.com](http://www.howstuffworks.com) I think I’ll go look there myself. * * * Grow your own dope! Plant a man. (Wally made me say it) ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/5 "2000-04-02T21:39:00Z")
**OldBroad** , thanks for the http:/www.howstuffworks.com link. I may not be back for months. ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/6 "2000-04-02T23:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by OldBroad: > \*\*My Wacom Intuos tablet can recognize a number of different pens (all Wacom pens, of course). I can have each pen designated as a different type of tool. > > I assume that there is some difference in the signature of the signal from each. > > You might want to go to the Wacom site at [www.wacom.com](http://www.wacom.com) and if you can’t find the answer there, try [www.howstuffworks.com](http://www.howstuffworks.com) > > I think I’ll go look there myself. > > \*\* i looked around that site, but didnt find any informationon it. were you able to find anything? * * * Check out my site: [Chief’s Domain](http://qfg.tierranet.com) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-tablets/9647/7 "2000-04-03T15:03:00Z")
Wouldn’t it be a gas if they worked because they have a tiny bit of radioactive material in them?