----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I agree that tablets are cumbersome but, in more than 25 years of
dealing with the choices of input devices, I keep coming back to the
tablet as the most accurate and easiest (least strain on your muscles)
to use.  I used light pens for input from about 1980 onwards and found
that the hassle of making sure the light beam was EXACTLY perpendicular
to the surface of the detector was not worth the effort.  I strongly
recommend sticking with the tablet, tedious as it is.
 
This also raise the issue of infrared detectors other than light pens
and they have the same problem, even though they work differently.
 
Once you get whipping along on the tablet, I think you should be able to
digitize about 4000 to 5000 points per hour.  As long as I've been doing
this, I presently digitize at about 7500 points per hour.
 
HTH.
 
virginia
 
\ /     Virginia R. Hetrick, here in sunny California
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Date:    Tue, 13 Feb 1996 09:53:39 EST
From:    Mohamed Matsah <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: light pen
 
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi;
 
I am digitizing topo maps using the cumbersome tablets.
I would like to know if anybody knows about on screen digitizing using stylus
or light pen.
The idea is to use any tracing or CAD program with a scanned image in the
background and then creating an overlay digitized on screen.
 
Another request is if anybody came accross any program that converts raster
contour maps into vector format.
 
Thank u all for ur kind and helpful reply.
 
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