Slate Announces PenApps; Application Development System for PenPoint Operating System

January 22, 1991 — Slate Corp. Tuesday announced PenApps, an application development system for the PenPoint operating system, which GO Corp. announced today.

PenApps will be the first software application package available for PenPoint when both ship as Developer’s Releases in February 1991.

PenApps will be used to create vertical applications for mobile professionals to capture and display data. The “Developer’s Release” will support the needs of early PenPoint developers to quickly create pen-based applications.

The product is designed for use by MIS groups, value-added resellers, systems integrators and other developers. With PenApps, developers can dramatically accelerate the construction of prototypes and the creation of full-fledged, custom applications.

“One of the major markets for pen-based computers is mobile professionals who need industry- or company-specific applications for gathering and viewing information,” stated Slate Chairman Vern Raburn. “PenApps is a tool that lets VARs, corporate developers and other developers quickly create a broad range of vertical solutions.”

Applications written with PenApps can read and write existing database formats through Slate’s unique DAA (Data Access Architecture).  DAA is an open architecture that allows any existing database to be supported through PenApps.

Initially, Slate will provide DAA services for .DBF (dBASE III format) and Slate’s sample database format. Third-party database vendors and PenApps developers, as well as Slate, will write additional DAA services.

“We believe that PenApps will be to PenPoint as dBASE was to DOS,” Raburn stated. “Every platform has a product of choice for business application development. On DOS, the critical issue was data storage. dBASE solved that problem and quickly became a standard.”

“In 1991, customers already have database standards, so the key issues are creating excellent user interfaces and providing easy access to existing databases. PenApps addresses these issues.”

Applications created in PenApps are tuned to the pen interface — they’re “pen-centric.” Slate engineers developed several unique features — such as deferred translation, targeting and SmartFields — that make input very natural for users.

With deferred translation, users can take information down in their own handwriting and perform the translation later, thus minimizing distractions. Since PenApps provides intelligent input targeting, end users don’t have to worry about “staying within the lines” when they enter data or a gesture.

PenApps determines which field ought to receive the data, even if the positioning wasn’t precise. SmartFields dynamically build choice lists for fields based on user input.

PenApps has three components in addition to DAA: PanApps Designer, PenApps Filler and PenApps Engine. The Designer allows end users to draw a form-oriented user interface with the pen and specify the types and locations of fields. The Filler is used to create new forms, fill forms out and navigate through existing forms.

The PenApps Engine handles the runtime behavior of PenApps. As an extension to PenPoint, it is the library of functions and objects that interact with the user and manage data when the application is running.

Applications created with the PenApps Developer’s Release run on Go Corp.’s pilot hardware running the developer’s release of the PenPoint operating system. Applications developed with PenApps Developer’s Release will have an upward migration path to 80386-based machines expected late in 1991 from hardware manufacturers.

The PenApps Developer’s Release is priced at $2,500. It includes a free upgrade to the commercial release of PenApps and a free, unlimited license for the PenApps Engine on GO’s pilot hardware.

Beginning in February, PenApps will be available directly from Slate Corp. or from GO Corp. as part of the Corporate Developer Program which also includes GO’s pilot hardware.

Slate Corp. was founded in February 1990 to develop software applications for pen-based computers.

Note to Editors: Additional product literature can be obtained from Wilson McHenry Co. at 415/592-7600.

PenApps, DAA and SmartFields are trademarks of Slate Corp. All other products or brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT:
Slate Corp.
Dottie Hall, 602/443-7322
or
Wilson McHenry Co., Redwood City
Julie McHenry or Kim Tarter, 415/592-7600