What is light pen | history, uses, advantages, disadvantages

In this article we will discuss What is light pen. The Light Pen is used to select text or draw with precision on a computer, graphics tablet, touch screen monitor or smartphone. This allows the user to point to an object visible on the screen or to draw on the screen, similar to a touchscreen, with greater positional accuracy. Light Pen is also known as Stylus.

Definition in English: “Light Pen : a pen-shaped device for direct interaction with a computer through a cathode-ray tube display.

Light pen is a light-sensitive computer input device, light pen works like a mouse, cannot work more accurately than a mouse, but where the work of drawing, graphic designing, illustration is done, then we need a light pen. it occurs. If you have limited desk space, light pen systems can be very compact input devices, originally known as a stylus, that can be used to select text, draw pictures, and draw on a computer screen or monitor. But is used to interact with the user interface element.

The light pen works well with CRT monitors because this type of CRT monitor scans the screen, one pixel at a time, therefore, the light pen works well with CRT monitors.

The term light pen may also refer to an input pointing device using a light, typically used during a presentation. A light pen is a very focused flash light-type device or laser pointer. It can be used to direct the viewer’s attention to a specific area, such as in a picture in a text presentation. Light Pen is an Input Device of the computer. Which is used in the computer like a mouse. Light Pen can also be called a Pointer Device.

Let’s run the Light Pen from the top of the computer screen. With the help of Light Pen, you can click on any icon on the computer screen, you can open it. It works just like Enter and OK.

Light Pen is also useful for editing any text. This device remains exactly like a pen, but it cannot be written on any paper. Because it is an Electronic Pen. Waves of light emerge from the nib of this pen.

Light pen can only be written on the computer screen. Its most important thing is that there is no need to install any kind of software separately in the computer to use it.

History of Light Pen

The light pen can be considered a predecessor to touchscreen technology and was first created in 1945–1955 as part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Whirlwind Project, a Cold War vacuum tube military computer. The first light pen, at this time was still called a “light gun”. Where it was used to select various symbols on the screen.

The first light pen was created around 1955 as part of the Whirlwind project at MIT University. Light pen uses were common on graphics terminals such as the IBM 2250 during the 1960s, and were also available for the IBM 3270 text-only terminal.

The first light pen was invented by Ben Gurley in 1959. The original idea for the computer mouse concept came to Douglas Engelbart in 1961, while he was attending a computer graphics conference. He was dissatisfied with all the other pointing devices available at the time. After all, the light pen was invented by Ben Gurley.

Which device is a light pen?

Light pen is an input device. When the user gives input data to the computer with a light pen, it is called an input device. Since the light pen provides input data to the computer, it is considered an input device. For example, when a user selects text or an object on a light pen, it is an input command, so a light pen is an input device.

Type of Light Pen

There are mainly four types of light pens –

1. Corded Light Pen
2. Battery Light Pen
3. Design Light Pen
4. LED Light Pen

1. Corder Light Pen (कॉर्डेड लाइट पेन)

Most of the old design Light Pens are Corded. A pen is attached behind them. There is no need to recharge this type of pen.

2. Battery Light Pen (बैटरी लाइट पेन)

These are cross light pens, when they are used they produce very bright light. Its battery lasts for a long time.

3. Design Light Pen (डिजाइन लाइट पेन)

This type of Light Pen is made for Designer, with the help of which Designer can make Sketch using Light.

4. LED Light Pen (एलईडी लाइट पेन)

When this type of Light Pen is used, it produces bright colors.

Uses of Light Pen

Nowadays a light pen means a pointing device pen with a sensitive pad attached to the computer. It is still available and is used to create graphics where it is difficult to use a mouse. Some of the major uses of light pen are as follows

• The graphic artist way of designing graphics is to use a light pen to create detailed designs.
• Light pens are used for digital painting on a computer screen.
• The Light Pen is used to select, highlight, or point to any text or image visible on the monitor.
• Light pen can be used as a locator

Advantages and Disadvantages of Light Pen

The advantages of using a light pen are many, in terms of accuracy it gives better results than a mouse, but there are also some disadvantages to operate it. Let us know what are the advantages and disadvantages of a light pen.

Advantages of Light Pen

There may be some situations where a light pen is more effective than a mouse. This special light pen allows you to interact with your computer desktop directly from your monitor, and its interface eliminates the need for a traditional mouse. Light pen works correctly when you use any particular pen and screen. Light pens are less popular than other input devices because they are fairly niche devices. However, there are many advantages of using a light pen, which are as follows:

• Precision Selection tool
• Light Artistic Application
• Desk Space Efficient

Precision Selection tool | प्रेसिजन चयन उपकरण

With a light pen, you click directly at the location of the cursor or object on the screen. Hence, it provides the users with the advantage of interacting with the display screen with precision and accuracy. Light pens are more useful where you need quick, precise selections than Precision Selection tools.।

Light Artistic Application | लाइट कलात्मक अनुप्रयोग

Compared to a mouse, a light pen works well for illustration and design work. If you do anything design related or work on a computer, a light pen will give you the same feel of a paint brush, pencil like tool. A light pen has the ability to work with a drawing tablet, allowing users to create smooth, clean lines, realistic drawings with the aid of natural drawing motions. However, compared to a graphics tablet, a lighter pan is known to be less precise for drawing applications due to lag issues.

Desk Space Efficient | डेस्क स्पेस

If you have limited desktop space, light pen systems can be very compact because they do not require a pad like a mouse, and do not require extra space. In fact, computer cabinets, keyboards and monitors take up much of the desk space. When equipped with a monitor, a light pen can be placed in the clip, which reduces the desk space required, and thereby saves desk space.

Disadvantages of Light Pen

As its advantages are many, apart from this there are some disadvantages of a light pen as well, which are given below:

• Awkward Positioning
• Specialized Monitor Required
• Inefficient for General Use

Awkward Positioning | अजीब स्थिति

With a light pen, positioning is one of the biggest pitfalls that can lead to wrist strain. Due to the interaction with the screen, a somewhat awkward position is required to use a light pen efficiently. For example, in order to absolutely maximize your accuracy, you have to bend a bit in most cases which distorts a body’s position. There may be a condition or dependent on the size and orientation of the monitor.

Specialized Monitor Required | विशेष मॉनिटर की आवश्यकता

In order for the computer to interact with the pen, a dedicated special monitor is required by the Light Pen system. In the case of almost all light pen systems, the monitors are exceptionally heavy and cumbersome, as they work with cathode-ray tube technology. Also, in CRT monitors, the electron beams used in the monitor are detected by the light pen to determine the position of the on-screen elements. Compared to graphics tablets and touch screen monitors, the uses of light pen systems are obscure. so it can be difficult to even get a kind.

 Examples of Light Pens In Hindi

1. Design Pen
2. LED Light Pen

1) डिजाइन पेन (Design Pen)

A “design light pen” is also a type of pen that allows designers to sketch using light. The Light Pen allows sketching in 3-D.

2) एलईडी लाइट पेन (LED Light Pen)

LED light pen, light pen is another variation. This pen produces bright colors when squeezed.