The LiveScribe Smart Pen: an interviewer’s dream device
By James • Jun 25th, 2010 • Category: Uncategorized
- Photo: Stock.Xchng
Anyone whose ever had to do a writing assignment that requires interviewing will tell you what a chore transcription and paraphrasing for your output article/report is. Not only do you have to go over your notes, you also have to scrub through an audio recording on a Dictaphone to make sure you don’t miss the gist of what your interviewee was saying. A little company called LiveScribe identified this problem and invented the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen to solve it.
What is the LiveScribe Pulse SmartPen?
The LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen combines the basic functionality of a pen – i.e. writing – with a built-in recorder for recording audio, too. But the magic really lies in how LiveScribe combines the two technologies – you don’t have your audio and writing separate, as the pen combines the two functions.
Basically, what the pen does is record while you’re writing and, using fancy detection software on the pen coupled with special paper, tapping your pen on a any word you’ve written down plays back what was said from that point. This audio is stored on the LiveScribe Smartpen’s built in memory and can be played back in isolation or in tandem with your notes.
Sharing functionality
Once recorded, the Pulse Smartpen let’s you digitise your documentation and audio into a handy flash file. Once uploaded to LiveScribe’s site, you can send and share your recorded files with others who may not have the hardware. Here’s the biggest drawback against the company, though – LiveScribe does not give users the ability to export their files so that they can host it on their own site. This we feel is a gross oversight, especially for organisations who value their privacy, and for the commercial value inherent in what users could be transcribing.
The limitations on sharing is a deal breaker for many, but that doesn’t stop the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen from being the interviewer’s dream device. It effectively replaces all but the most sophisticated Dictaphones in one swift sweep!
Tags for this article: Dictaphones, interviewer, LiveScribe, LiveScribe Pulse, SmartPen
