Wacom Tablet Requires Software-Level Support or Just OS Support for Input?

[astrostu]

I do a lot of repetitive work in a graphing/programming package called "Igor Pro" where I draw freehand polygons over image plots over and over and over and over again. I do it with a mouse at the moment and it's leading to some wrist strain and I worry somewhat about getting carpal tunnel. Because of this and because I think it would go faster if I had a pen input instead of a mouse, I'm considering getting a Wacom tablet input device to use instead of my mouse.

The issue is that it's a "Wish List" item that my parents are planning on getting for me. But, I'm concerned that it may not work with that specific software because I don't know the specifics of whether the tablet input is just OS-based where OSX passes the input onto the software, or if it really requires software-level support. If it doesn't work, it'd be a pain to go through returns because my parents and I live in different states, etc., and it'd just be nice to know ahead of time. If it matters, Igor is still Carbon.

Can anyone help me out here? Thanks!

 

[Mal]

The basic support is OS-level (kernel extension, I believe, though it may just be a prefpane) and is built-in but Wacom has their own, somewhat more advanced version they include. Individual applications can choose to leverage the features available, however, like pressure sensitivity. As far as I know, the application would have to acknowledge that a pressure sensitive input method was in use, so that may or may not work depending on the program. The basic input will work though.

jW

 

[dextermorgan]

A Wacom will work well for what you are trying to do. Regardless of the software the OS sees the tablet as your mouse.