An electronic pen for interacting with a substrate having a pattern of coded data printed thereon. The pen includes an infrared light source for illuminating an area of the substrate; an image sensor for imaging the coded data illuminated in the area; a force sensor for sensing an interaction between the pen and the substrate; a processing system configured for: determining digital ink from the imaged coded data; storing the digital ink in a memory buffer; determining whether the pen is positioned within a predetermined functional zone of the substrate; and initiating a response in the pen in the event that the pen is positioned within the predetermined functional zone. The response is initiated without reference to a remote computer system.