Print Media Group > Products and Services > Digital Solutions

Simple, easy-to-use and cost effective, Print Media Group’s ExpeData™ digital solutions is designed to streamline workflow and improve efficiency.

The ExpeData™ Digital Pen and Paper Technology gives organisations the ability to capture information simply and naturally – as it is handwritten – automatically converting the writing into a digital format, verifying it and making it available to backend systems such as CRM, ERP, inventory management and others.

AT A GLANCE...

Each pen stroke is captured and stored on the digital form
No need to re-enter or scan data
No retraining - existing forms stay the same
All pen strokes are date and time stamped
Greater mobility - take it wherever a pen can go
Signature recognition and validation
Data is validated when imported
Each single form is uniquely numbered

Key Components of the ExpeData™ Solution

The foundation of the solution is a piece of paper. However, digital paper has a subtle micro-printed patterned background behind the form layout. The ExpeData™ technology enables a unique pattern to be created for each sheet of paper, ensuring the correct information is correlated to the right form. Equipped with the latest digital printing equipment and quality assurance measures, our manufacturing facilities produce high quality digital paper.

The Digital Pen, essentially a ballpoint pen with a camera built in, uses the pattern to record pen movements, capturing written information. Because each sheet has the unique pattern or "fingerprint", the camera in the Digital Pen recognizes the type of form being used and whether a user has moved from one form to the next. The written information is stored in the Digital Pen’s memory until it is docked (or transferred wirelessly via Bluetooth technology) and the captured information is transferred to a PC. This information is then transferred from the PC via a secure internet port to the ExpeData™ Pen Services network.

ExpeData™ Pen Services is an Application Service Provider, hosting all aspects of data capture, interpretation of the written information, and the image generation. The processed information is provided to the client as an .xml file interpreted data or in an image file format with an exact replica of the document. This in-place infrastructure is simple and effective - an ideal solution without requiring heavy capital investment.

The following diagram illustrates the process flow from when a digital paper form is created to the information flow within the customer’s environment:

Key Features:

The ExpeData™ Digital Pen & Paper system includes the following standard and optional features:

Digital Paper

Uniquely patterned digital paper is produced with advanced printing technology, ensuring high quality pattern every time and that the right data is captured from the right form at the right time. Digital paper documents are available from long-run production to print on demand at the desktop. A variety of paper sizes and configurations are available depending on application needs. No two pieces of paper will ever have the same pattern. Digital pattern from Print Media Group is never re-used.

Digital Pen

The Digital Pen captures the user’s handwriting. The current offering includes a Digital Pen with charging cradle and USB connectivity, or wireless Bluetooth-enabled pens.

ExpeData™ Pen Services – ASP

The heart of the Digital Pen & Paper system is the web-based application service that manages the routine and synchronization of captured data, images, and form layouts – all without requiring investment in a capitalized infrastructure.

Handwriting Interpretation

Successful handwriting interpretation begins with proper forms design and analysis. Our team of experienced designers and analysts understand the complexities of user behaviour when writing. The layout of the form is only one component. Behind the scenes, the fields are programmed with a variety of datatypes such as year, postcode, state, etc. that enables our software to more accurately depict user handwriting.

We also employ advanced techniques such as generic and custom datatypes, database specific look-ups, customer specific lexicons and other approaches to ensure high quality handwriting interpretation.

For situations that require a "human touch," we have validation services where a representative will review images and interpretation for completeness and accuracy.

Image Output

Picture-perfect form images, complete with all preprinted and variable printed data as well as pen data are delivered in TIF level 4 or JPG files, via data transfer or optionally delivered by email to one or various addresses.

Data Output

The pen strokes are transformed into digital data that can feed backend systems. The digital data is delivered as industry-standard XML data via data transfer or, as an option, email.

Document Viewer

Allows the user to manage captured information with the ability to view current forms, original document images, and interpreted and validated information.

Security

We employ security measures throughout the process including restricted access and user right privileges. The ExpeData™ software features multi-level password protection from user to administrative levels, restricting access to captured data and images.

The user can seal or "lock" a document after completion, preventing alterations. All data transmissions to and from our ASP are 128 bit SSL encrypted.

To ensure the data is protected and accessible, it passes through multiple firewalls and is backed up frequently.

Custom tailored security measures are used based on the data transmission process (Bluetooth or USB docking). For example, using Bluetooth’s pairing protocols, wireless pens are locked ("paired") with a specific phone, preventing communication with any other phone.