Graphics tablet (digitiser)

• Graphics tablet (digitiser): A device consisting of an A4 (or larger) sized base coupled with a pointing device (called a puck) made up of cross hairs and buttons.

Use

• Used in Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages, and graphical mapping systems, where accuracy of translation from a plan to the computer is required.
• Popular for DOS based programs, but being replaced by on-screen menus and a mouse.

Features

• A pointing device (puck) usually with four directional buttons and a cross hair for accurate positioning onto a pad (tablet).
• A template is usually placed on the tablet, containing menu selections (e.g. Different window types in house design, or as an alternative to on screen menus.)

Alternatives

• When really accurate plan translation is required cartesian coordinates (X-Y) are used.
• For landscape plotting a digital surveying device is used and data is downloaded to the computer (X-Y and Z coordinates), this can then be translated into a 3-Dimensional model.