Universal Stylus Initiative

{{Short description|Alliance proposing a technical standard for pen styluses}}

The Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) is a non-profit alliance of companies promoting a technical standard for interoperable active pen styluses on touchscreen devices such as phones, tablets, and computers.{{Cite web|title=Hands on: Chrome OS works well w/ a USI stylus|url=https://9to5google.com/2020/05/12/chrome-os-usi-stylus-hands-on/|last=Schoon|first=Ben|date=2020-05-12|website=9to5Google|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-14}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Google and Amazon Release Tablets Supporting USI 2.0 Stylus {{!}} |url=https://universalstylus.org/google-and-amazon-release-tablets-supporting-usi-2-0-stylus-2/ |access-date=2024-10-08}}{{Cite web |title=https://universalstylus.org/ |url=https://universalstylus.org/ |access-date=2025-01-29}}

It defines a two-way communication protocol between the stylus and the computer and allows the stylus to remember user preferences for ink color and stroke. It support 9-axis inertial measurement.{{Cite web|title=Google and 3M have joined an initiative working toward an open standard for styluses|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/1/16959334/google-3m-usi-universal-standard-initiative|last=Ong|first=Thuy|date=2018-02-01|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-05-14}}

Products started coming to market in 2019 including one stylus and several Chromebooks from different manufacturers. By 2019, there were over 30 members, including Google and 3M, but some major players like Apple and Microsoft had not joined. As of 2022, the promoters include Google, Intel, Lenovo, Samsung, and Synaptics. Dell, Sharp, and Wacom are contributors.

While USI promotes itself as an open standard,{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title=Research Shows Global Stylus Pen Market To Reach $24 Billion by 2027 {{!}} |url=https://universalstylus.org/research-shows-global-stylus-pen-market-to-reach-24-billion-by-2027/ |access-date=2024-10-08}} access to detailed specifications is restricted to paying members.{{Cite web |title=Membership Benefits {{!}} |url=https://universalstylus.org/membership-benefits/ |access-date=2024-10-08}}

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