Maison&Objet 2015: French technology retailer Orée is launching a ballpoint pen that can digitally record and store notes and sketches made in a companion notebook (+ slideshow).
The Stylograph pen has been described by Orée as "the first writing instrument suited for the digital age" and pairs technology with hand-crafted elements.
The matt body of the pen has been hand-shaped from pure copper and has a triangular grip topped with a wood-tipped cap.
"The Stylograph pursues Orée's design philosophy: elegant, simple and lasting functionality crafted with the finest natural materials," the company said. "Our latest creation is made from pure copper and draws on the timeless purity and durability of this natural metal, the first ever used by mankind."
The ballpoint is sold with a leather-covered notebook, which has 192 pages of patterned A5 paper designed to work in conjunction with the pen. Paper refills for the book will be available from Orée and other selected retailers.
The pen contains a high-speed micro camera that tracks where pen strokes are positioned on the page – relying on the paper's barely visible patterns for reference. An accelerometer within the pen also detects its movement and angle.
The Stylograph stores all notes and sketches made on the paper in its internal memory, ready to be transferred to the accompanying iOS or Android app via Bluetooth where they can be edited or shared.
The ballpoint's rechargeable battery offers up to two complete days of writing, according to the company.
The pen will launch at the Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris, which will take place from 4 to 8 September 2015.
Orée aims to bring together technology and natural materials, with each piece hand-crafted in the brand's workshop in southern France.
British design brand Minimalux has also updated the classic ballpoint pen with a set of four precious-metal editions, while industrial designer Marc Newson teamed up with Montblanc to launch a luxury pen range featuring nibs plated with rare metals.
In 2014, stationery brand Moleskine created a series of notebooks that could be used with a Livescribe smartpen to turn hand-written notes into digital files.