The Smartpen is a new product that allows students to record lessons audibly and download the files to their computer for future studying, but is it as groundbreaking as its designers would like us to think? It cuts out the middleman, which ironically was the pen. It’s bulky, but stylish, and it intends to allow users to pay attention to high points of lessons while recording the audio for future detailed review.
What a Smartpen offers is easier studying; allowing for direct access to a spoken lecture. When using the pen, you need the special dot paper to actually write your notes on. This allows the pen to memorize what you’re writing and simultaneously record the audio.
If you are anything like me when taking notes, you’ll go through a fair number of pages full of flow charts, diagrams, and doodles. Luckily there are 500 megs of space available, which can be bypassed by uploading notes onto your personal computer. This is great for college students who work and write on their computers seemingly at all times. The Smartpen notebook can also recognize some graphs and charts, acting similarly to Microsoft Excel.
As far as product alternatives go, I would suggest looking for the cheapest Smartpen available. What they mean by “smart” is that it’s a pen with memory. Sure the Echo has different features that other memory holding devices might not have, but from every single review I’ve read, it has become evident that most students are using these pens simply for mobile memory space or as recording devices.
For readers who are not so easily seduced by flashy James Bond type gadgets, but are more minimalist like myself, you might consider a hand-held recording device to place on your desk during class. This method would save you from spending 150+ dollars on a product you might not need, and could allow you to spend that money feeding yourself before class. A well-nourished college student is a ready note taker, after all.
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