My New Tech Toy: The Pulse Smartpen

Imagine a pen that allows you to turn everything you write on your notepad into a digital version on your computer. In addition, it records all the audio at the time of writing. Wherever you tap on your notes, the audio plays back at the point in time. Well that’s exactly what the new Pulse Smartpen does and much more.

Here’s an unboxing video I made when I first got it:

Here’s a video of the setup process which was easy and fun:

Aside from the basic function of transcribing your notes and recording your voice, the pen is also a computer. It can perform instant language translation, mathematical calculations and even be a digital piano based on a keyboard that you draw on paper! There’s even an app store planned so developers can create future applications for the “pen computer” platform.

Here are some practical uses for the pen:

1. The device is perfect for lecture/ seminar type events where you can capture what is being spoken as you write your notes. When you need to refer to it later, you get a perfect recall.
2. Diary/ Journal. How about adding your own voice/ thoughts as you journal in your notes. These notes can then be stored on your diary/ computer and you can even do a search for words that you have written. Now your notes can capture your thoughts and emotion at the time for recall later.
3. Present an idea on paper and send it to someone else to view as though you have just presented it on a whiteboard in front of the other person. The smartpen allows you to upload videos of your recording (called “pencasts”) and share them with friends.

The thing I like most about this pen is that it removes the need to bring a laptop along to take notes or input data. There are times now when I can just use the Smartpen, the notepad and my iPod Touch and leave the laptop at home.

I’m loving my new Pulse Smartpen and I think technology like this will change the way our kids study and learn.

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Tags: gadgets, livescribe, pulse, smartpen, Technology, unboxing