Does anybody know if it's possible through PHP to use an electronic signature pad? One of these for example:
http://www.topazsystems.com/products/index.htm

I have a form that requires a signature, though not sure how these devices work, or if they can be used on websites.

I'm thinking javascript may be the answer, but I have no clue where to begin.

Anybody have experience with this?

Thanks!

I don't see any reason why you couldn't process the data using PHP, but you would need some sort of client side implementation to actually read in and format the data to be transmitted. I don't think this is something you could do with javascript alone since it requires communicating with the device.

yeah, I was hoping there would be some obscure <input> option available...

I think these devices come with their own software, I know they can be used with word, excel, etc. but implementing it on a client machine I don't have a clue.

For PHP to read any kind of hardware or driver it would HAVE to be attached to and and running on the server.

found the answer:
http://www.topazsystems.com/software.../web/index.htm

There is source code for using their signature pads. Just quickly glancing over it, it seems they call it php, but it's more like php with some vbscript embedded.

That code will only work if the PHP is on the local machine running Windows and Internet Explorer is the browser used

Good to know. Think that javascript could work?

Nope, javascript does not have that level of access to the end users system.

But how exactly is it going to be of use to you?
Unless the END USER has a signature pad connected to their machine NOTHING is going to happen.

If you want a physical signature on a document give a downlable PDF to sign and post.

The company is based in 1 city, and has employees stationed throughout America, each employee has a laptop and signature pad. They need to be able to log onto the corporate website, access the time sheets, sign them and submit them.

Now why couldn't that information be in the first post?

So now we know you have a controlled environment to work in and it is not meant to used by multiple configurations, therefore the ActiveX solution (Windows/IE only) should do what you need.