Writing Tools Review: The Smartpen
So, ever have an idea hit out of nowhere? Ever find yourself forced to use just about anything to jot it down. Say, pen, pencil, crayon - paper, napkin, cardboard box. Not the greatest record keepers are they? Hell I've even used a typewriter on occasion, or something that might qualify as one - ever heard of a Smith Corona PWP 3000?
Well, here's what it looks like:
Yes, that tiny thing in the middle is a fold down screen (I recall a really aggravating electrical whine to it) - and yes, the PWP could print and save on disk. Something of a precursor to the laptop, although this fantastic piece of machinery was dedicated to simple word processing. Given it was the early nineties and I was growing up in rural Canada, I can't really complain. Particularly since I didn't pay for it, wasn't supposed to use it, and probably took up most of the family's supply of disk space with my first fledgling ideas.
Unfortunately, this isn't the most portable or convenient solution to sudden inspiration.
Now, as with most of us, I started writing with a pencil. Graduated to pen in highschool. But I was unsatisfied with the rather static nature of my output - I could write something down, but I was stuck with what I produced. If I wanted to edit, I had to do the whole thing over again. That's why I liked the little gizmo above, ear splitting/headache inducing circuitry aside - for the first time in my life, I could change the end result without starting from scratch. That, ladies and gentlemen, blew my frickin' mind.
We've come a long way since then. Thankfully. And one of the best investments I've made over the years, apart from the usual laptop/word-processor/printer, is something called a Smartpen. It's actually not that new a concept. Stylus based tablets and phones operate on the same principle, but they are less tactile and, dare I say, a little too 'new' for my tastes.
Smartpens are my happy medium - and I really believe they were made for writers.
Imagine, the convenience of a word processor tucked inside a slightly oversized writing implement. Imagine it - a pen recording your every squiggle (and sound if you want it to), capable of playing both back, highlighting your notes as you go. Imagine you can connect it to your computer, upload your writing and transform those chicken-scratches into usable text.
As a user of most modern technology (computer, laptop, cell-phone, tablet, video game consoles, etc., etc.), I've played with my share of novelties over the years. But the pen I use is a far cry from that.
In case you're curious, I have a LiveScribe Echo. A word of caution - it must be used in conjunction with special scribblers. I bought enough supplies at the start to cover the life of the unit, so I'd say it all ran about $200 CAD (pen, pack of replacement nibs, four 3 subject scribbers).
As I understand it, there's a camera in the pen that captures and records positioning based on a faint pattern in the page background. So while you're inking the page, a corresponding map is being created in the pen.
Anyway, connect your pen to a computer, upload your work and you can leave it as is or, if you're like me (ie. lazy and looking for shortcuts), you pay a little extra for a program called MyScript for Livescribe that turns your digital handwriting into readable text. It's not perfect, but considering my handwriting sucks, it's probably more my fault than the app's.
One of the benefits of using this system is that you have a real, physical connection to your work - a record of where you started that you can compare to the end result if/when you want to. It's also nice for brainstorming and plot-lining. It handles better than most stylus based interfaces I've tried - something about a pen is just hardwired into me I guess. And since handwriting is a bit passe, it's nice to keep the skill alive. Which is to say, I try to bastardize it as much as possible.
This isn't the only tool I use - I'll be visiting others soon, but it is one of the big ones. And, personally, within the top three of my favorites. I highly recommend anyone looking for a way to break out of a rut to try one - doesn't matter what brand or whatever, as long as it does what you want it to do, which is make the job of writing easier.
I think that's actually a good point to end on. Different approaches. One of the benefits of having multiple ways of writing - different techniques and equipment - is that each one requires you use a different part of your brain to operate. Typing, writing, speaking - they use different connections to work. And sometimes that's all it takes to get over the hump - a slightly different path to the end.
Alright, that's if for me. As always, thanks for reading!
Well, here's what it looks like:
 |
| Not a Smartpen |
Yes, that tiny thing in the middle is a fold down screen (I recall a really aggravating electrical whine to it) - and yes, the PWP could print and save on disk. Something of a precursor to the laptop, although this fantastic piece of machinery was dedicated to simple word processing. Given it was the early nineties and I was growing up in rural Canada, I can't really complain. Particularly since I didn't pay for it, wasn't supposed to use it, and probably took up most of the family's supply of disk space with my first fledgling ideas.
Unfortunately, this isn't the most portable or convenient solution to sudden inspiration.
Now, as with most of us, I started writing with a pencil. Graduated to pen in highschool. But I was unsatisfied with the rather static nature of my output - I could write something down, but I was stuck with what I produced. If I wanted to edit, I had to do the whole thing over again. That's why I liked the little gizmo above, ear splitting/headache inducing circuitry aside - for the first time in my life, I could change the end result without starting from scratch. That, ladies and gentlemen, blew my frickin' mind.
We've come a long way since then. Thankfully. And one of the best investments I've made over the years, apart from the usual laptop/word-processor/printer, is something called a Smartpen. It's actually not that new a concept. Stylus based tablets and phones operate on the same principle, but they are less tactile and, dare I say, a little too 'new' for my tastes.
Smartpens are my happy medium - and I really believe they were made for writers.
Imagine, the convenience of a word processor tucked inside a slightly oversized writing implement. Imagine it - a pen recording your every squiggle (and sound if you want it to), capable of playing both back, highlighting your notes as you go. Imagine you can connect it to your computer, upload your writing and transform those chicken-scratches into usable text.
As a user of most modern technology (computer, laptop, cell-phone, tablet, video game consoles, etc., etc.), I've played with my share of novelties over the years. But the pen I use is a far cry from that.
In case you're curious, I have a LiveScribe Echo. A word of caution - it must be used in conjunction with special scribblers. I bought enough supplies at the start to cover the life of the unit, so I'd say it all ran about $200 CAD (pen, pack of replacement nibs, four 3 subject scribbers).
As I understand it, there's a camera in the pen that captures and records positioning based on a faint pattern in the page background. So while you're inking the page, a corresponding map is being created in the pen.
Anyway, connect your pen to a computer, upload your work and you can leave it as is or, if you're like me (ie. lazy and looking for shortcuts), you pay a little extra for a program called MyScript for Livescribe that turns your digital handwriting into readable text. It's not perfect, but considering my handwriting sucks, it's probably more my fault than the app's.
One of the benefits of using this system is that you have a real, physical connection to your work - a record of where you started that you can compare to the end result if/when you want to. It's also nice for brainstorming and plot-lining. It handles better than most stylus based interfaces I've tried - something about a pen is just hardwired into me I guess. And since handwriting is a bit passe, it's nice to keep the skill alive. Which is to say, I try to bastardize it as much as possible.
This isn't the only tool I use - I'll be visiting others soon, but it is one of the big ones. And, personally, within the top three of my favorites. I highly recommend anyone looking for a way to break out of a rut to try one - doesn't matter what brand or whatever, as long as it does what you want it to do, which is make the job of writing easier.
I think that's actually a good point to end on. Different approaches. One of the benefits of having multiple ways of writing - different techniques and equipment - is that each one requires you use a different part of your brain to operate. Typing, writing, speaking - they use different connections to work. And sometimes that's all it takes to get over the hump - a slightly different path to the end.
Alright, that's if for me. As always, thanks for reading!
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