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Story URL: http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/china/0,3800011742,39159840,00.htm

Photos: Microsoft in China - a snapshot of R&D activities
The case for digital pens - which Mozart might have loved to use

By Dan Ilett

Published: Friday 23 June 2006

Welcome to Microsoft Research's Advanced Technology Center in Beijing.

There are 180 researchers working at the lab, many of whom are linked with China's top universities.

The lab has only been open for seven years but during that time about 2,000 university interns have passed through the facility and researchers have published more than 1,200 papers in academic journals.

The centre's research focuses on interfaces, wireless technology, digital entertainment and enhanced search.

This is Jian Wang, a senior researcher for Microsoft, who is looking at improving user interfaces.

In general, Wang is looking at how to make the digital world interact more easily with the physical one.

And that's how he came to invent his digital pen - something he has become famous for at the research centre.

Photo credit: Dan Ilett