Livescribe

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The Livescribe paper-based computing platform – a smartpen, paper, software applications, and developer tools - was announced on May 30, 2007 at the D: All Things Digital Conference; after a series of delays in 2007, the pen was expected to ship Q1, pens are now available for purchase for under $200.00. The pen, which is about the size and weight of a large Montblanc pen, has two microphones to record sound, a speaker for playback, a small OLED display and an internal computer chip that captures handwritten notes and drawings.

“The Livescribe platform takes paper-based technology to a radical new level, integrating software applications with physical paper," said Rodney Brooks, Director of MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. "I see the smartpen as just the beginning for a new class of device with almost unlimited potential.”[1]


One very important point that is not advertised is that OCR (Optical Character Recognition - Writing to Text conversion) is not possible on the Livescribe Pulse and is not expected to be until Q4 2008. Livescribe and their smartpen are far more capable than the current competition.

In addition, many features including the highly touted "translator" are not available at launch, but they do include a limited translator application. The ability to print your own paper is to be introduced summer '08.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The smartpen is a computer embedded in a pen-sized package, with audio and visual feedback, processing capabilities, and built-in memory storage for handwriting capture, audio recording and applications. Users can capture and synch audio recordings to notes handwritten on special paper and replay audio segments by tapping on what they wrote. The captured notes and audio in the smartpen can then be uploaded via docking station to a PC where they can be replayed, saved, searched or sent to others. Jim Marggraff, inventor of the LeapFrog FLY Pentop computer and creator of the LeapPad Learning System, left Leapfrog to form Livescribe in 2005.

[edit] History

Livescribe, Inc. was incorporated in January 2007 to develop and launch the Paper-Based Computing Platform, which will include the smartpen, dot paper, applications, desktop software and tools for application and content development. The platform was expected to be be available in select education and consumer markets beginning in Q1 2008, however it was delayed until March 31st 2008. Pulse smartpens are currently available for purchase at www.Livescribe.com.

[edit] Features

The Livescribe computing platform is an integrated system of smartpen, dot paper, applications, and developer tools.

The smartpen is an advanced paper-based computer, with both audio and visual feedback, powerful processing capabilities, and built-in memory that will store up to 100 hours of audio. It’s about the size and weight of a fat Montblanc pen.

The dot paper uses a patented dot-positioning system licensed from Anoto to track and record the smartpen’s movement on the paper. Livescribe’s dot paper notebooks and documents can be purchased around the same price as standard paper or printed on laser or inkjet printers.

One of the key applications of the smartpen is called “Paper Replay,” which allows the smartpen to automatically synchronize handwriting with audio during a lecture, meeting, or conversation. Users can replay the audio from the exact moment the note was written by tapping on their notebook or transfer the entire lecture to a PC where they can replay, save, search, upload to web, or send their notes and audio.

Other applications allow users to send handwritten messages as emails, post animated drawings online, and email notes and audio directly from a notepad. There are also pre-printed materials that allow users to do calculations, translations, and definitions with the smartpen.

The Livescribe desktop software offers users to create virtual notebooks and study guides, select and share notes, and buy new applications for the smartpen. Similar to the Facebook Platform, Livescribe allows everyone – from developers to smartpen users – to create, publish, share, or sell new applications and content.

The CEO and founder of the company is Jim Marggraff, an entrepreneur and visionary who over his career has also created the Odyssey Globe, and the Leap Pad, both of which sold millions and impacted the world of education.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Helft, Miguel (2007). Take Note: Computing Takes Up Pen, Again.. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.

[edit] External links