LiveScribe Smartpen. The LiveScribe Smartpen is one of the coolest gadgets that I’ve seen in a while. The LiveScribe pen records your scribbles so that you can view them later on a PC. While that feature is cool, the ability to record audio files is what really makes this gadget shine. You can sync up the audio with your notes and select portions to playback by selecting words that that you wrote down. That way you can jot down words and use them as markers for the audio file instead of listening to the whole thing just to hear one little piece.
They really kept the user in mind when they designed the Smartpen. The software is open-source so you can write your own custom applications. It requires the use of special paper template to work, but once again, they’ve kept us in mind by allowing you to print these templates off on plain paper.
I first read about this over at portable gadget. It is due to be out in Q1 of 2008 and is expected to be priced at under $200. Livescribe looks to capture a market where Logitech and others have done poorly. Beyond capturing written text, the Livescribe has a microphone to record audio. It is rumored to hold 100 hours of audio. It uses dot paper, which can be purchased from Livescribe, or printed out at home. There is also a software devolopment kit available which will hopefully create some good 3rd party apps.
On paper, this sounds like the perfect gadget for a university student. To have the audio and the content of a lecture unified, in a digital format would be invaluable. Written notes are synchronized with audio, allowing the audio playback of the moment specific notes were written. This feature could be useful, as listening to whole lectures is pretty boring.
Hopefully, this pen will turn the tides on the underachieving market of smarpens. Livescribe has huge potential in a market where none of the available products have lived up to expectations yet. I have always thought that spartpens would be useful, but the ones that are currently available are not yet satisfactory. Hopefully, Livescribe will fill the void in the smartpen market, thus making it my most anticipated product of 2008.
| Product Design | Sleek ergonomic design with anodized aluminum housingCharcoal blue with silver band & black accents |
|---|---|
| Processor | Samsung ARM 9 (32-bit, 150 MHz) |
| Screen | 96×18 OLED Display |
| Camera | High speed infrared camera (over 70 images/sec) |
| Storage | 1GB NAND (over 100 hours recording time or 16,000 pages of digital notes)2GB NAND (over 200 hours recording time or 32,000 pages of digital notes) |
| Battery | 300 mAH rechargeable lithium (non-removable) |
| Audio – Record | Dual (embedded) smartpen microphones – mono recording3D Recording Headset – binaural or stereo recording |
| Audio – Playback | Embedded speakerAudio jack (2.5mm) for 3D Recording Headset |
| PC Connectivity | USB Mobile Charging Cradle |
| Size & Weight | Length: 155mm (6.1 in.)Width: 14mm or 0.55 in. (bottom) to 16mm or 0.63 in. (top)Weight: 36 Grams (1.3 oz.) |
