Passive stylus only works on certain online whiteboards

ncrowder78 · 18 May 2020

Note: I'm using as Asus Transformer windows 10 pc with touchscreen, and I normally use Chrome but have tried Firefox to solve these issues also.

I'm a teacher and I've noticed some online whiteboards will allow me to write using my stylus with no problems (limnu is one). Others, such as twiddla and the cam app that I use (https://apps.huehd.com/) will not. The screen "feels" the stylus, and will allow me to change from pen to marker to eraser, etc. but when I actually try to draw or annotate, nothing.

But really the larger problems is that we use an LMS called Canvas and students typically upload written work and we grade through the website using something called speedgrader (part of Canvas), which should allow you to annotate directly on top of student work in pdf form. It works using a mouse (similar to the aforementioned whiteboards that don't work with the stylus), but not with the stylus itself.

It seems to be a widely known problem as folks post about in the Canvas discussion forums too, but no one seems to have a solution. Is there anything I can do on my end to make the stylus work on all of these types of applications?

I fear that it might be how the apps/sites are coded or something, since some whiteboards seem to respond to the stylus, but some won't. In that case I guess I'd just be outta luck.

I've tried multiple browsers. Any insights appreciated.

sygnus21 · 18 May 2020

Not sure if this is applicable, but...

Be aware there are two basic stylus types - active and passive/capacitive and which works on what depends on whether the "touchscreen" itself supports "digitizer" tech (for active styluses). Not all touchscreens do.

Typically, an active stylus has a hard tip and requires some sort of power source. A passive stylus requires no power and has a rubber tip. A passive stylus won't work on a touchscreen using digitizer tech.

My Lenovo Notebook has a digitizer touchscreen (also came with an active stylus) and a "passive" stylus won't work. My finger works, but a stylus with a rubber tip won't work.

Here's a good read - Artist Guide to Active vs Capacitive Styluses.

All that said, whether a touchscreen uses digitizer tech or not should not matter to the the apps used on a PC using a touchscreen... unless the app specifically requires a digitizer touchscreen - something that should be noted in the "system requirements" for the app.

Hope this helps.