For the video game controller, see D-pad The CrossPad was an electronic notepad product introduced in 1997 by American fountain pen manufacturer A. T. Cross Company and IBM. The special pen contained a small radio transmitter which told the pad where it was writing. To provide the user with feedback on where it was writing, the pen also contained ink and the user wrote on writing paper placed on top of the CrossPad. There was a small display at the bottom of the device that provided feedback about commands given, and there were six buttons which could be activated using the special pen.