The Math Department currently uses and supports several electronic writing or graphics tablets from Wacom. Tablets are very useful in classroom instruction and for grading homework submitted in electronic format. This webpage was created to help tablet users setup tablets on their privately owned computers or fix problems when the tablet stops working.
Tablets are connected to a computer by a USB cable or wirelessly, usually through Bluetooth.
The department mostly uses Wacom tablets. We mainly use the Intuos line of tablets, but also some of the older Bamboo tablets. There is now a newer set of tablets called the One by Wacom.
Using the Intuos or Bamboo tablet with a PDF annotation software, like PDF Annotator, a grader can take homework submitted in PDF (or other) formats and "write" on the document.
Tablets are usually issued with laptops provided by the Math Department and are setup with the required software and should be ready to use. Sometimes, tablets are issued for use on privately owned PC's. The instructions here can help users setup the tablet on their private computers.
First determine which tablet model you have. Look at the bottom of the tablet. It will either say Bamboo or Intuos or One by Wacom.
You can download the drivers for both Windows and Mac from the official Wacom Download site. You can either enter the model number for the tablet you have or scroll down to the Latest driver downloads and click on the Download under the OS you are using.
The official manual for the Bamboo is here, the Bamboo Fun/Touch/Pen is here, the Bamboo Create is here, the Intuos Pen tablet is here, and the One by Wacom is here.
To check if the Wacom drivers are installed for the Tablet |
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| 1. From the Start Menu, open up the Control Panel. If you see either the Pen Tablet Properties, Bamboo or Wacom Tablet Properties Control Panel, then the drivers are installed and you can skip to Step # 3 | 
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| 2. If the drivers are not installed, download the latest drivers from the links above in the Drivers section. Once you install the drivers, you will have to reboot your PC. After you login, wait until all startup items are finished, should take 30 seconds to 1 minute. |
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Connecting the Tablet to the PC |
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| The Intuos or Bamboo tablet should start working as soon as you plug it in to the USB port on your PC. One or more lights on the tablet should light up to indicate it
is operational. However, the very first time you plug the Bamboo into a USB port, Windows may see it as a new device and should automatically
re-install drivers for it. If this happens, you will see little popup notifications about a new device found, installing drivers and such and the tablet
indicator light(s) may start blinking on and off. You must allow this to happen and it can take several seconds. Once the tablet is ready,
the indicator light(s) should remain on and not blink. Important Do not unplug the Bamboo while the drivers are installing as it may cause the tablet to not function properly. Sometimes, it can take a minute or more for all associated drivers to install after it is plugged in, so be sure to wait several seconds after plugging in the tablet before unplugging it. |
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Using a tablet can take some time to get used to depending on whether you use the tablet in Pen (the default) or Mouse mode. In Pen mode, the stylus moves the on-screen cursor according to where the pen is in relation to the monitor(s). If you move the pen to the lower right of the tablet and lift up the pen and place it back down in the upper left corner, the cursor will jump from the lower right of the screen to the upper left. In Mouse mode, the stylus just continues moving the cursor around on-screen no matter where you place it on the tablet.