How Do Graphic Tablets Work?

Accuracy

Graphic tablets are computer peripherals which allow computer users to interact with their computers more accurately and naturally than a mouse. The accuracy of moving the cursor to a precise location on the screen is improved by the user touching a stylus pen to a graphic tablet. A mouse, however, requires users to test and feel their way around the screen. With a graphic tablet the user knows where the cursor will be on the screen to a greater degree of certainty.

Pen

The stylus pen, or digitizer pen, is operated without the use of batteries, which allows the pen a lightweight design (giving it the feel of an ordinary ink pen). A graphic tablet gives power to the pen via electromagnetic waves. Because it is more natural for people to hold a pen, as opposed to a mouse, the trigger finger syndrome (pressing a mouse button by reflex) is removed from the computing experience. A digitizer pen with an eraser end allows the user to erase text, or even activate the eraser tool in graphics applications like Photoshop or Paint.

Tablet size

Tablet sizes range anywhere from 4-by-5 inches, to 10-by-13 inches. Variety in tablet size is important to different users. Drafters and illustrators, for example, will use the larger graphic tablets for need of extra surface area for complex drawings. However, the typical computer user will select the smaller size graphic tablet in order to reduce unnecessary arm movement to navigate their operating system. A smaller surface area means less strain on the arms, wrists and hands. As for monitors, the tablet's surface area is irrelevant to monitor size, because the software that comes with the tablet maps the surface area of the tablet to the monitor's screen display area.

Pressure

Graphic tablets come in different levels of sensitivity to pressure applied on the surface by the digitizer pen. Applied pressure on the drawing surface of the graphic tablet gives a mark or line its thickness. Pressing the digitizer pen hard against the drawing surface will result in the line or mark being very dark. Lightly touching the pen to the surface of the graphic tablet will result in a lighter mark or line. With pressure sensitivity the user experiences a more natural approach to drawing on a computer (as opposed to using a mouse).

Connections

Graphic tablets are able to connect to computers in a number of ways, including serial port, USB and Bluetooth. Serial ports require the tablet to have a separate power source from the computer. USB connections run electricity from the computer to the graphic tablet. Bluetooth allows graphic tablets to connect to a computer wirelessly.

Resources

• Best Graphic Tablets for Office Use