Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Signing Documents on Your iPad?


As many of you know, Apple iPads are already widely adopted by the judicial community.  One issue/desire that has arisen is the ability for judges to "sign" documents.  But unfortunately the late Steve Jobs rejected the idea that a "pen interface" was needed as standard equipment in opposition to the Tablet systems previously released by Microsoft.


(Please note that according to this New York Times blog article that Apple patented a pen device.  The article also contains a quote from Mr. Jobs that "If you see a stylus, they blew it" regarding the pad/tablet interface)

One recommended solution from several sources in courts and my NCSC colleagues has been the "Jot Pro" stylus from Adonit.  A really excellent video review of this device is available at:

http://marianneschultz.com/2011/09/12/review-jot-pro-stylus-for-the-ipad/

Further, many court documents that would be signed are in PDF format.  A PDF application for the iPad that provides the ability to "sign" the document, as well as complete forms is called PDF Expert 3 from Readdle Technology.  A very nice YouTube video demonstration from a fellow from Hawai'i named "Doc Rock" is posted at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVYO8q6mQSQ

But don't forget, signing is only one link in the document authentication and verification chain.

So what are you experience and/or solutions?  Please feel free to comment below.

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