Those clicky pens with all the different colours were the highlight of our pencil cases growing up, and now the concept has been given a serious 21<sup>st Century update. Cronzy, a "smart" pen now seeking funding on IndieGoGo, claims to let you scan the colour of real-life objects and then allows you to draw in that very shade.

Cronzy's creators claim the pen can write in over 16-million colours thanks to a special ink cartridge that custom-mixes colours on demand. The video on Cronzy's IndieGoGo campaign page claims that the pen works just like an eye dropper tool: you scan an object and the colour will appear on the accompanying smartphone app. The pen will then mix the ink and from there you can get doodling.

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Alternatively, you can select shades from a colour wheel on the app. Different tips will also be put on offer, including a fountain pen-like nib.

It all sounds very innovative, but consumers have been let down by similar promises in the past. The Scribble pen proposed a near-identical concept on Kickstarter back in 2014, before cancelling the campaign after bagging more than $360,000 (£270,000, €320,000) in funding. There is also no information on how Cronzy's so-called colour scanner works.

As for Cronzy, current funding has reached $9,010 at time of writing, out of a target goal of $200,000. The lowest amount backers can pledge to the project is $100, which will get you one Cronzy pen, a charging case (it is powered by a Li-Po battery), five interchangeable tips and two ink cartridges. At retail, the Cronzy is will sell for an eye-watering $300.

Production is expected to begin in Spring 2017. The pen and accompanying app will be compatible with Android, iOS and Windows Phones.