IOGEAR Digtial Scribe
IOGEAR has finally made something that I have always wanted, a way to transmit my hand drawings directly to a computer. I mean, I suppose I could use the paint program, but hey, I would have to learn to draw all over again.
In fact, if I were given the choice of attending a college lecture with a laptop or a notepad with pen, I know what I would take. I mean, those old professors are still using blackboards, whiteboards, and overhead projectors for crying out loud. How can a student possibly take notes on a computer from that?
Fortunately, the IOGEAR Digital Pen is just the thing needed to record a professor’s gibberish. In fact, it would make it easy for a student to have both hand-written notes that could be translated into digital text. After all, I remember this one teacher I had who would spill her guts about history, and I would frantically be taking notes. I had to take time later to write my notes out so that I would remember them for the test. Clearly, the IOGEAR Digital Pen would have made my life a whole heck of a lot easier.
Apparently, all you need to do is attach an electronic receiver at the top of a notepad and connect it to a computer via USB port. From there, an ultrasonic transmitter located in the base of the pen and an infrared sensor captures all the hand movements. In other words, the secret of the technology is in the pen, which can be refilled like any other pen. Although I’m wondering if you can still use the pen without ink and get good images. Maybe.
As you can see in the drawing, you can use this device to make drawings of any type. In fact, it will recognize the shapes and sketches and export them as JPEG images. On top of that, you can use the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to translate your handwriting into digital text. I am assuming that this will not work if your handwriting is messy, but it will work if you write in cursive, so I’m told.
It is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Office programs 2000 and higher. The pen can even work in 10 languages. The Digital Scribe sells for $99.95 USD, and is available at many retailers. The kit comes with the Digital Scribe Pen, receiver, 1 ink refill, 2 batteries, and the accompanying My Script Notes 2.1 Lite Software.
