Smart pen

A white paper
Prepared By: Wejdan Almunive
almunivew2@winthrop.edu
December 5, 2014

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/TECH_livescribe.html

This white paper was written as an assignment for Dr. Marshall G. Jones's EDUC 651 class at
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC. All rights reserved by the author. Permission is granted to use this
white paper provided the user notifies the author in writing prior to use.

Wejdan Almunive 2014

2 Smart Pen

Abstract
Modern technologies are considered to be indispensible part of our life. Wherever we do, we are
searching for the way to simplify this process. It doesn`t matter whether we are cooking a dinner or
writing a poem or even watching the movies, it is much easier for us to use various gadgets, devices and
other technologies to ease our live as we have already gotten accustomed to it. So, in our world writing
is not an exception. We are looking for such smart things that will help us to feel comfortable in this
world. That is why, our modern world suggests us the device that is aimed to make the process of
writing much simpler. So, we are dealing with Echo Smart Pen by the company Livescribe. It is
considered to be a device that helps to send written information into your Personal computer. We can
live with out it, but it may help us solve some particular problems.
So, this work is devoted to the Smart Pen technology. It describes its history, it usage and its
advantages as well as disadvantages. It persuades us that modern world should use this device as it gives
us an opportunity to maximum simplifying of work. It also gives certain recommendation on how to use
this device and what it is better to pay attention to. This work is interesting to read for every person who
wants to be abreast of the times.

What The Technology Is Used For? What Does It Do?

The smart pen can record audio and any notes that are written using the pen and specified paper.
The small camera near the point of the pen records any written information. The information has to be
written down on one of Livescribes spiral subject notebooks in order to be saved. Also, each pen has a
microphone which record audio liked with notes that have been taken. The notes and audio not only can
be saved by clicking the pen point on the notes you want to listen to, but also you can save them by
linking the smart pen with a computer. The notes that have been written with the smart pen are
automatically uploaded to you account with Livescribe that is free.

Smart Pen 3

Essentially, the pens are electronic and they write in the same way as standard ballpoint pens.
However, the primary advantage of the smart pen is that it can remember whatever one writes, and even
record audios of individuals speaking around them, making transcription relatively essay and worry-free.
There are a great number of synonyms that are used to describe smart pen technology. For
example smart pen may be also called: The pulse, The Echo, The Sky, Livescribe 3. The Livescribe, for
example, is a device that consists of two parts smart pen and smart paper. It differs from ordinary
smart pen because it presupposes the usage of electronic paper, whereas smart pen can simply be
connected with different gadgets. However, it is also related to the smart pen.
What is the difference between the Pulse, the Livescribe and ordinary Smartpen? Lifescribe FAQ
states that echo as well as the Pulse they are considered to be the analogues of Livescribe: Both Echo
and Pulse are fully compatible with Livescribes platform, capture everything student or teacher hear
and write and provide quick access to information. Echo has sleek, ergonomic design with a rubber grip
and is available in 4GB and 8GB models, recording more than 400 and 800 hours of a audio
respectively. The Pulse smartpin is modern titanium color and available in 2GB and 4GB models,
recording more than 200 and 400 hours for audio respectively (Livescribe FAQ,p.3). All the devices
such as The Pulse, The Sky, and The Livescribe are considered to be the variation of the smart pen
technology. All of them are of the smart pen class; however they may have differences in the appearance
and level of productivity.

Pricing:
Livescribe is the leading manufacturer of smart pens across the globe. Smart pens are available in
online stores as well as in specific electronic stores. There are so many variants and models that are
available for all the people and it is possible to choose whatever you wish.

4 Smart Pen

Smart pen
Livescribe 3 smartpen

Price
$149.95

Accessories

Notebook
Carrying Case
USB Cradle
Recording Headset
Ink Cartridges

Livescribe 3 smartpen Pro Edition

$199.95

Notebook
Carrying Case
USB Cradle
Recording Headset
Ink Cartridges
Livescribe+ Mobile App

2GB Sky wifi smartpen

$99.95

Notebook
Carrying Case
USB Cradle
Ink Cartridges

4GB Sky wifi smartpen

$129.95

Notebook
Carrying Case
USB Cradle

Notebook
Carrying Case
USB Cradle

2GB Echo smartpen

$119.95

Ink Cartridges

Ink Cartridges

Where The Technology Can Be Used?

Smart pen technology is used mainly in the government and business sectors. However, not only
business sector has an opportunity to use smart pen technology. There are also so many English
Language Learners who use it in order to help them in their studies.

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How Can It Be Used In Classrooms?

Students can use smart pen in many ways in classrooms, such as:
Notes and information can be exchanged and shared with other students and/or teachers with a
Livescribe account.
Students who missed or did not understand anything can review the days lesson.
Students who is unable to attend school can copy notes.
English Language learners can develop their language skills.
struggling reader can review for test/assessments.
Students with disabilities can record their oral answers to their assignments.

Pictures of The Smart Pen:

This picture shows us the appearance of Smart pen. It is
thick plastic pen with nib point. It has a button of
activation. It seems to be a bit inconvenient because of
its size. But still, some time later, the hand and fingers
get accustomed to this pen.

This picture is for the dot paper which is a standard

paper printed with pattern of dots that allows the
smartpen to capture the exact location of everything
it writes or draws. Livescribe smartpens only work
with Livescribe dot paper.

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The camera located at the tip of the smartpen takes
snapshots per second, sufficient to capture and recreate
handwriting. The camera does not see ink written by a
user, nor does it see artwork on a page. Rather, the
smartpen tracks and remembers where ink is written,
and knows the coordinates of items such as buttons.
This screen demonstrates how the device works. We
can see a pen that has strong resemblance to
ballpoint pen. However, it is a smart pen that
contains a special program that allows, touching
special digital screen (it is also demonstrated on

the screenshot), turning it into electronic text. Usually, using the smart pen people need time in order to get
accustomed to it. They feel slight inconvenience about it. But then it becomes indispensible part of their lives.

ISTE Standards:
NETS Standard of students

How to applies

Standard 2:

By using smart pens students will create a digital notes

with associated audio recordings that can be shared
with others, that is called pencast. Students can keep
their work private or share them with others by
exporting pencasts of their work to the Livescribe
website. Also, they are able to view other peoples
pencasts and comment on them. This allows them to
communicate and learn from other people around the
world and from various cultures.
Student needs to understand the technology and how it
works in order to use it properly. They also need to be
able to choose and use the available applications on
the Pulse effectively and correctly.

Communication and Collaboration

Standard 6:
Technology operations and concepts

Smart Pen 7

Environmental Factors:
Speaking about the Smart pen, it is all-important to provide a special environment for students in
order to make them feel comfortable and easy to get accustomed to the newest technologies and devices.
Access to a computer for each student in the school: the smart pen is widely used to transfer the
information written to the personal computer. As a result, there is a necessity for providing each student
with personal computer to maintain the most comfortable usage of smart pen functions.
It is also all-important to provide students with time and clear instruction. It is necessary to give
time in order to get accustomed to the newest device and not waste time during the lessons.
Also it is better to implement the device gradually. For example, from the very beginning it is
better to use the smart pen approximately 10 minutes. As it requires additional skills, it is much better
not to give up ordinary devices that students have already go accustomed to. It is not useful to waste
time on the process of getting accustomed. It is useful only in case when it students have already got
necessary techniques. Otherwise, it will certainly slow down the process of studying and cause a lot of
inconveniences for both students and teachers.

The Usage of Smart Pen:

The usage of Smart Pen is pretty simple. Imagine, that you are writing with the help of ordinary
pen. However, the text will turn into image and you can correct it, using personal computer.
You can see that Livescribe have a line of smart pens, so I am going to focus in how to use the
Livescribe Echo Smartpen.

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This diagram shows the anatomy of the Echo
smart pen:

Micro-USB connector
Headset/Audio jack
Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)
display
Built-in microphone
Built-in speaker
Anti-roll design
Soft rubber grip
Replaceable ink tip
Echo smartpen cap

To start using the smart pen press the Power
button to turn on your smartpen. As the smartpen
starts up, the display shows the words Livescribe
and then Starting.

The first thing you have to do when first using a
new smart pen is choose the left handed or right
handed setting, after that you can set the date and
time for you pen. Following that you can go
through the tutorial sheet that comes with the pen,
this will help you become familiar with how to use
the pen and how it works.

Smart Pen 9

The next step is to download the Livescribe
program from www.livescribe.com/install you can
choose either the Windows version or the Mac
depending on which computer you have. Once you
have completed the download of the program, plug
the cradle into a USB port on your computer and
rest the pen in the cradle. The pen will
automatically begin synching your pen to the
program. You will be prompted to register your
pen with Livescribe.com to receive updates for
your pen, this is where you will also create your
account upload and view pencasts.

To begin writing you have to use the Livescribe
dot paper. There are millions of tiny dots covering
the sheets of paper that are in the notebook
included with the pen. The pen uses the camera
located at its end to record what you are writing
and where you are writing it based on the dots on
the paper. As long as the smartpen is on, it will
capture your handwritten notes and drawings.

To capture notes and audio recordings tap on the

Record button in the Livescribe dot paper. When
you have finished taking notes and recording
audio, tap on the Stop button in the dot paper. If
you want to listen back to your recorded audio tap
on your handwritten notes.

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To record audio only press and hold the Power
button for five seconds until the display indicates
that the recording started. Tap on the Record
button in the Livescribe dot paper. When you have
finished recording audio, tap on the Stop button in
the dot paper.

How To Access The Data?

In addition to listening to the audio recording by tapping on your notes, you can transfer notes to
your computer through Livescribe Desktop software by synching your pen to your computer and
uploading your saved files to the Livescribe program. Your notes appear just as they were written. If
you have used the audio recording you can place your cursor on a word and the audio playback will
begin at that point. You can also search for a particular word and listen from there. You can add notes to
your notebook at any time and then re-dock your pen to the computer. Once a file is uploaded to the
Livescribe program on your computer you can create a pencast of the information. The pencast can
include the notes and audio or just simply the notes. You can also share your notes with your friends
through e-mail, Evernote, Facebook, and such.
There is a great number of websites that ease the learning process of how to use this device.
The problem is that people have not gotten accustomed to such electronic device. That is why there is a
great number of websites that help to simplify this process like the one listed below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HbRrLgi4B4

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Smart Pen 11

Benefits/drawbacks:
Benefits:
Students can record notes and audio from an
entire class or lecture.

Drawbacks:
It can be expensive technology and some of the
better online applications can be expensive as
well.

Students are enabling to share notes/audio-using

pencasts. Also, they can save notes in a PDF form
and email them or share them on Evernote and
Facebook.

The pen can only be synced to one computer,

but you can access your Livescribe account
anywhere so anything you save to it can be
viewed.

Free applications are available online which can

help students who unable to attuned the class to
catch up quickly. Their teacher can email them the
notes.
The smart pen technology can be helpful for
students with hearing impairments, since they
can use the headphones.

It can make cheating easier, if a student decided

to use the recorded audio during an exam.

References
Leibs, A. 2009. What is a Smartpen? [Online] Available from:
http://assistivetechnology.about.com/od/ATCAT3/f/What-Is-A-Smart-Pen.htm
About Livescribe. [Online] Available from: http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/company/

Frankenberger, C. Technology: Livescribe Smartpen [Online] Available from:

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/TECH_livescribe.html
Smartpen - How to use it - Wow! This is simple! Livescribe.[Online] Available from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HbRrLgi4B4

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