Successful completion of the Franco-German project “Kaligo-based Intelligent Handwriting Teacher” (KIHT)

AI-supported pen makes learning to write easier

The Franco-German project "Kaligo-based Intelligent Handwriting Teacher" (KIHT), coordinated by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has successfully developed innovative technologies to support handwriting learning. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the project aimed to combine the advantages of handwriting with digital media.

Project goals and implementation

  • Development of an intelligent digital pen: the pen, equipped with inertial sensors, can detect the smallest movements and reconstruct the writing trace. It interacts with the Kaligo mobile app, which customizes exercises and synchronizes data.
  • Integration of AI algorithms: The French partners, IRISA / INSA Rennes and Learn&Go, developed the software and algorithms, while KIT and STABILO International took care of the hardware integration. The aim was to create efficient and miniaturized hardware that is compatible with commercially available mobile devices.

Results and benefits

  • Automated support for learning to write: the intelligent pen enables automated support for the learning to write process, giving teachers and parents more freedom for creative and communicative tasks.
  • ITIV developed various concepts for the integration of AI algorithms that are adapted to the embedded hardware. This distributes the complexity of the overall system across both the software and hardware, enabling fast and efficient AI execution.

Significance and outlook

  • Promoting handwriting: Studies show that handwritten work leads to better results. The KIHT pen supports this process and offers a modern solution for the education system.

  • Broad application: The innovative learning device is to be made available to as wide a range of users as possible in order to benefit many pupils.

The KIHT project shows how interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of modern technologies can improve learning and make education fit for the future.