Computing device with detachable writing input device

A method for capturing handwritten marks using a computing device, comprising:

• receiving context information from one or more sources that describes a given context affecting a user,
• the computing device having a main computing unit, a writing input device, and a connecting mechanism that detachably couples the main computing unit to the writing input device;
• determining a rule to apply to the given context based on the context information, to provide a selected rule, the selected rule being chosen from a set of rules in a rules data store;
• applying the selected rule to identify content to be operated upon by the user using the writing input device, to provide identified content;
• sending the identified content to the writing input device;
• storing the identified content in the writing input device;
• displaying the identified content on a writing surface of the writing input device;
• receiving ink data captured by the writing surface of the writing input device while the writing input device is detached from the main computing unit as the user draws on the writing surface in relation to the identified content;
• displaying ink strokes on the writing surface associated with the ink data that has been captured;
• storing the ink data in a data store provided by the writing input device;
• detecting occurrence of a triggering event;
• and
• in response to the triggering event, transferring the ink data from the data store of the writing input device to the main computing unit.

A computer-readable storage medium for storing computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by one or more hardware processors provided by a computing device, performing a method that comprises:

• receiving context information from one or more sources that describes a given context affecting a user,
• the computing device having a main computing unit, a writing input device, and a connecting mechanism that detachably couples the main computing unit to the writing input device;
• determining a rule to apply to the given context based on the context information to provide a selected rule, the selected rule being chosen from a set of rules in a rules data store;
• at least one rule depending on context information that identifies an application that the user has activated via the main computing unit;
• at least one rule depending on context information that identifies a document or image that the user has activated via the main computing unit;
• and
• at least one rule depending on context information that specifies an identified location of the user;
• applying the selected rule to identify content to be operated upon by the user using the writing input device, to provide identified content;
• sending the identified content to the writing input device;
• and
• in response to a triggering event, receiving ink data captured by a writing surface of the writing input device while the writing input device is detached from the main computing unit, the ink data being captured as the user draws on the writing surface in relation to the identified content that was sent to the writing input device.