Decoupled applications for printed materials
Interactive digital content for printed materials is provided using applications executing in a smart pen computing system. The applications and the printed materials may be developed by separate entities but appear well integrated from the perspective of a user of the smart pen computing system. Printed content produced by a first entity is obtained. The printed content is associated with a dot pattern. An application associated with the printed content and linked to the dot pattern is produced by a separate second entity. The application includes computer program instructions for, responsive to a selection within the dot pattern, invoking a function related to the printed content. The selection within the dot pattern may be made using a smart pen device, and the function may include presenting output to a user through an output device (e.g., a display or speaker) of the smart pen device.
1. A method for providing interactive digital content for printed content, comprising:
receiving a dot pattern on a writing surface, the receiving performed by a smart pen device;
determining a plurality of available applications for a particular printed content associated with the received pattern;
receiving a selection from a user of a particular available application from the plurality of available applications; and
executing the particular available application, the executing comprising invoking a function related to the printed content.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein an output of the function is based on a location of the smart pen device on the writing surface.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available applications are downloaded to the smart pen device from providers of the available applications.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the function comprises presenting output to a user through an output device of the smart pen.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection within the dot pattern, wherein the function comprises presenting audio output to a user representing a word associated with the received selection within the dot pattern.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the audio output is a translation of the associated word.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the audio output is a pronunciation of the associated word.
8. A computer program product for providing interactive digital content for printed content, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for:
receiving a dot pattern on a writing surface, the receiving performed by a smart pen device;
determining a plurality of available applications for a particular printed content associated with the received pattern;
receiving a selection from a user of a particular available application from the plurality of available applications; and
executing the particular available application, the executing comprising invoking a function related to the printed content.
9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein an output of the function is based on a location of the smart pen device on the writing surface.
10. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of available applications are downloadable to the smart pen device from providers of the available applications.
11. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the function comprises presenting output to a user through an output device of the smart pen.
12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains computer program code for:
receiving a selection within the dot pattern, wherein the function comprises presenting audio output to a user representing a word associated with the received selection within the dot pattern.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the audio output is a translation of the associated word.
14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the audio output is a pronunciation of the associated word.
15. A smart pen device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory comprising instructions for execution by the processor for causing the processor to:
receive a dot pattern on a writing surface;
determine a plurality of available applications for a particular printed content associated with the received pattern;
receive a selection from a user of a particular available application from the plurality of available applications; and
execute the particular available application, the executing comprising invoking a function related to the printed content.
16. The smart pen device of claim 15 , wherein an output of the function is based on a location of the pen on the writing surface.
17. The smart pen device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of available applications are downloadable to the pen from providers of the available applications.
18. The smart pen device of claim 15 , wherein the function comprises presenting output to a user through an output device of the pen.
19. The smart pen device of claim 15 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for execution by the processor for causing the processor to:
receive a selection within the dot pattern, wherein the function comprises presenting audio output to a user representing a word associated with the received selection within the dot pattern.
20. The smart pen device of claim 19 , wherein the audio output is a pronunciation of the associated word.