Digital Sketch Pad
In order to design new devices and programs, engineers must transfer their initial creative sketches from paper to computer-aided-design programs, a painstaking and cumbersome process. MIT computer scientist Randall Davis is on his way to eliminating the paper stage entirely with software that can recognize and interpret shapes sketched right on a tablet computer. When a software designer, say, sketches a rectangle, the program will recognize it as representing a specific programming function. “Once the sketch is understood, you can hand it off to other programs” that transform the sketch into a skeleton code, Davis says. The boon for designers is that they can quickly try out concepts to see how they will work before transferring more elaborate drawings to the computer. While he is still working on prototypes, Davis is already taking the idea one step further, constructing a digital drafting table, whose surface looks like an ordinary desk’s but is effectively a large-scale tablet computer screen on which drafters could sketch their designs.
Other Prototypes
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.