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Monday August 20, 2007
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 Today, IOGEAR announced its Digital Scribe (GPEN100C), a digital pen that lets users transfer handwritten memos and drawings to editable text on a computer. Why is that useful? Because all of your notes can look organized (and legible if you have bad handwriting) and you can quickly search all of your handwritten notes to find the information you need.
"By attaching an electronic receiver at the top of a notepad and connecting it to a computer through a USB port, an ultrasonic transmitter located in the base of the pen and an infrared sensor capture all hand movements. The handwriting optical character recognition (OCR) software installed on the PC is able to convert notes, including those written in cursive, into digital text and supports 10 different languages." The pen, which uses standard ink refills, is so advanced that it can also detect shapes and sketches and export them as JPEG images.
Compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Office programs 2000 and above, Microsoft Messenger users can even use the Scribe instead of instant messaging. The Digital Scribe sells for $99.95 (MSRP) and is available at many retailers including NewEgg.com. It ships with the Digital Scribe Pen, receiver, 1 ink refill, 2 batteries, and My Script Notes 2.1 Lite Software.
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August 21, 2007 1:20 PM
Looks really great!
I am not using windows--how about linux?
August 21, 2007 5:17 PM
Kudos it IOGEAR for finally making something like this where the pen isn't four times the size of a normal pen.
I wonder how well the OCR really works, because my handwriting's pretty awful.
Also, I think I'd have to be a lot better about losing pens to seriously consider using this.
August 21, 2007 9:04 PM
Hey David, not sure about Linux compatibility, although I would hope it would work since I'm currently using Linux at home! I'll try and find out more info for you.
Matt, good to see you on Gearlog again!! Blogging Molly is going to be testing the Digital Scribe...so stay tuned!
August 23, 2007 4:47 PM
Things like this look good, but I wonder how it handles real note taking. I can't speak for others, but I sometimes go back and add or correct something in my notes. Wonder if you have to have it right the first time you write it. Also, I tend to doodle in the margins when thinking during a discussion. Maybe there is an on/off switch on the pen? We will see what Blogging Molly has to say.
September 5, 2007 6:30 PM
I just got this pen and am returning it. It comes with a 1.5 foot (the tech support dude said 2 feet but I think that, no pun intended, is stretching it) cord that is necessary to connect the receiving device to the USB port of your desktop or laptop computer.
The advertisement on the web says the cord is 4 feet. Tech support said 'oops' they have to fix that error. I agree.
Note that not only is the cord 1.5 feet (on an annoying retractable thingamahootchie) but there are NO extensions sold for it by the company although I suppose Radio Shack might have something.
Please note that the pen also doesn't write on anything but it's own Note software. This is my own fault I should have read their web ad more carefully. How does it work with OneNote? I asked the tech dude this and he responded with "What is One Note," which ended that line of inquiry in two seconds.
The combination of the above would have me taking sticky Notes while laying on the floor a foot and a half next to the USB port of my CPU which, frankly, is much less than useful or fun seeming option for me. (Not to mention thinking of how I can use the Notes for what I got it for - which is using it for brainstorming a planning group - imagine being tethered 1.5 feet to a CPU while facilitating a discussion group (more like some sort of weird techie S&M if you ask me).
One CAN, however, copy the script from the notes, paste it into an accompanying Lite software and then use OCR to convert it to text and THEN copy and paste it to word.
If that is fun for you, you should definitely buy this pen.
This does not seem like fun for me so I'll wait for another pen to be invented and this Pen, meanwhile, is boxed and ready to ship back to Amazon.
Zach
January 14, 2008 9:14 PM
I have this as well. It is surprisingly accurate for such a small cheap device. HOWEVER, it only works for this one stupid program that comes with it, not office one note as advertised. Until IOGEAR gets some people in charge who think clearly about how a product will be used, this great device is mostly useless.
January 23, 2008 4:04 PM
I have been using the Digital scribe for about a month. I thought it was a total jip that you got the lite version of the software with the digital scribe. Uploading the trial version has been problematic in that the recognition training in the upgraded software has not been as acurate as I would have liked. I am glad that I did not pay for the upgrade with out first giving it a try. I have done the recognition training twice and have still not been happy with the acuracy. I do not think that the instruction are very clear in some instances either. I had issues trying to find the replacement cartridges for the pen. There was only one replacement available at the office supply store that I went to. I can see huge potential for this product. I am an avid writer and am looking forward to being able to convet my written text into a word document, however I have not found this product to be able to do all that is said it would do.
April 24, 2008 6:36 PM
I purchased this pen and I love it. I am an advanced/professional computer user, but I had absolutly no problems setting up this pen and using it correctly. I'm not sure what the problem is with the reviewer above who couldn't get it to work with OneNote. It works perfectly-there are instructions available at the iogear website.
August 20, 2008 5:26 PM
i heard (or read lol) a few people complaining about how you have to be tethered to a mocputer to use it. if its that big a deal (and it is a big deal, this is made for taking notes on the go) then buy the mobile digital scribe, their newer model, its 95 dollars on amazon, and it works just the same when it is connected to the computer, but when its disconnected from its usb cable, it is now a note taking device made for on the go notetaking.