BIC needed effective innovation to connect unmet user needs with technology development like the Blackberry and PDA Phone.

ECCO’s research process discovered that writing with pen and paper was the preferred method for certain types of activities: "I use paper and pen to process and analyze. They are most flexible for understanding and learning while doing."

Users needed to edit and annotate documents, and to process and highlight while note taking, but it was a pain to hold and switch between multiple pens…

So we made the pen smarter. Unlike previous multi-functioning products, we created a primary writing tool with enhancements, seamlessly integrating all the right functions. The Smart Pen’s primary tool: Ball point or roller ball in blue or black; and secondary tools: Red or green ink, Thicker marker, Highlighter, or Highlighter crayon.

The Smart Pen platform is a family of pens that helps users think, learn, and process information. For the knowledge workers and students, it serves the increasing need to edit, annotate, and highlight printed output in the Digital Age. Unlike previous multi-functioning products, the Smart Pen is a no-compromise primary writing tool with secondary enhancements. It integrates the right tools simply, sensibly, and seamlessly.