Livescribe
Encyclopedia
The Livescribe paper-based computing platform consists of a digital pen
, digital paper
, software applications, and developer tools.
Central to the Livescribe platform is the smartpen, a ballpoint pen with an embedded computer and digital audio recorder. When used with Anoto digital paper
, it records what it writes for later uploading to a computer, and synchronizes those notes with any audio it has recorded. This allows users to replay portions of a recording by tapping on the notes they were taking at the time the recording was made. It is also possible to select which portion of a recording to replay by clicking on the relevant portion of a page on-screen, once it has been synced to the Livescribe Desktop software.
Jim Marggraff, inventor of the LeapFrog
FLY
Pentop computer and creator of the LeapPad Learning System, left Leapfrog in 2005 to form Livescribe.
The user can choose to record audio in addition to the handwritten text. Recorded audio is kept indexed with the handwritten text—tapping on a written word starts playback of the recorded audio from that part of the recording.
The smartpen allows the installation of as many applications as there is memory, and ships with several applications. If tapped on the correct images, it can function as a calculator, for example, or can translate words (the translator software as shipped includes only 21 words in a small selection of languages - as of September 2010 there are no public plans to make a full version of this translator available ).
Livescribe sells two versions of its smartpen: the Pulse and the Echo. The Pulse, released in March 2008, is available with either 2 or 4 Gigabytes of flash storage. The 2 GB model holds about 200 hours of audio depending on recording quality settings. The Echo, released in July 2010, comes with either 4GB or 8 GB of memory, is less round in shape, and uses more standardized connection ports. The Echo integrates with the Desktop software via a standard micro USB cable and can connect to headphones with a 3.5-millimeter jack. The Pulse requires a special USB cradle and uses a less-common 2.5mm headphone jack.
Some users have noted that ambient noise can be a problem. The built-in microphone on the pen can pick up small amounts of noise from writing on paper, and adjacent ambient noise is often louder than a far away speaker. However, the included headphones have embedded microphones that reduce this ambient noise.
A September 2011 review in the Associated Press
compared the Livescribe Echo pen to an iPad for the purpose of note-taking, and concluded that the Echo is "the best tool".
Apple's release of Snow Leopard caused functionality and compatibility issues with Livescribe's driver installation. On 31 August 2009, Livescribe released beta 1.2 which fixes all compatibility issues, albeit those who previously tried to install the old software would need to manually delete the old file extension.
Handwriting recognition functionality is provided by a third-party application, MyScript by Vision Objects
Inc., which sells separately for $29.95. As of August 2009, this is available on both Microsoft Windows and Mac (Intel-processor) systems.
.
The Anoto pattern consists of numerous small black dots in patterns that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but can be detected by the pen's infrared camera. The pattern indicates the exact position of the digital pen on the page, and each page has a unique identity so that they can be distinguished from each other.
However, as of July 29th 2011, Livescribe will close its third-party developer program. With cloud technology and mobile information access becoming increasingly important, Livescribe is realigning its focus and resources on cloud access, storage and services.
In 2009, Livescribe is SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum Winner.
In July 2009, the company is named among 50 Best Tech Startups by Business Week
In March 2009, Livescribe gets MacLife Editor’s Choice Award.
In 2008, Livescribe named received a Silicon Valley Business Journal Emerging Tech Award.
In June 2008, Livescribe is the winner of PC World
93/100.
Digital pen
A digital pen is an input device which captures the handwriting or brush strokes of a user, converts handwritten analog information created using "pen and paper" into digital data, enabling the data to be utilized in various applications. For example, the writing data can be digitized and uploaded...
, digital paper
Digital paper
Digital paper, also known as interactive paper, is patterned paper used in conjunction with a digital pen to create handwritten digital documents. The printed dot pattern uniquely identifies the position coordinates on the paper...
, software applications, and developer tools.
Central to the Livescribe platform is the smartpen, a ballpoint pen with an embedded computer and digital audio recorder. When used with Anoto digital paper
Anoto
Anoto Group AB is a Swedish technology company which has invented, developed and licensed a product line of digital pens and a product suite to manage information capturing utilizing these . The Anoto Group has around 110 employees...
, it records what it writes for later uploading to a computer, and synchronizes those notes with any audio it has recorded. This allows users to replay portions of a recording by tapping on the notes they were taking at the time the recording was made. It is also possible to select which portion of a recording to replay by clicking on the relevant portion of a page on-screen, once it has been synced to the Livescribe Desktop software.
Jim Marggraff, inventor of the LeapFrog
Leapfrog
Leapfrog is a children's game in which players vault over each other's stooped backs. The first participant rests hands on knees and bends over, which is called giving a back. Games of this sort have been called by this name since at least the late sixteenth century.The next player places hands on...
FLY
Fly (pentop computer)
The Fly is a personal electronics product manufactured by LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. It is called a "pentop" computer by its manufacturers, and is essentially a pen with a computer inside. The company claims it is the first of its kind....
Pentop computer and creator of the LeapPad Learning System, left Leapfrog in 2005 to form Livescribe.
The Smartpen
A Livescribe smartpen is about the size and weight of a large pen (5/8" x 6 1/8"), and is equipped with a removable ball-point ink cartridge, a microphone to record audio, a speaker for playback, a small OLED display, and internal flash memory that captures handwritten notes, audio and drawings.The user can choose to record audio in addition to the handwritten text. Recorded audio is kept indexed with the handwritten text—tapping on a written word starts playback of the recorded audio from that part of the recording.
The smartpen allows the installation of as many applications as there is memory, and ships with several applications. If tapped on the correct images, it can function as a calculator, for example, or can translate words (the translator software as shipped includes only 21 words in a small selection of languages - as of September 2010 there are no public plans to make a full version of this translator available ).
Livescribe sells two versions of its smartpen: the Pulse and the Echo. The Pulse, released in March 2008, is available with either 2 or 4 Gigabytes of flash storage. The 2 GB model holds about 200 hours of audio depending on recording quality settings. The Echo, released in July 2010, comes with either 4GB or 8 GB of memory, is less round in shape, and uses more standardized connection ports. The Echo integrates with the Desktop software via a standard micro USB cable and can connect to headphones with a 3.5-millimeter jack. The Pulse requires a special USB cradle and uses a less-common 2.5mm headphone jack.
Some users have noted that ambient noise can be a problem. The built-in microphone on the pen can pick up small amounts of noise from writing on paper, and adjacent ambient noise is often louder than a far away speaker. However, the included headphones have embedded microphones that reduce this ambient noise.
A September 2011 review in the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
compared the Livescribe Echo pen to an iPad for the purpose of note-taking, and concluded that the Echo is "the best tool".
Availability for operating systems
The product was initially available only for use with Microsoft Windows-based computers, but Version 1.0 of Livescribe Desktop for the Mac was made available via download in March 2009. It requires OS X 10.5.5 or higher, and was one of nine products designated as "Best of Show" at Macworld Expo 2009. There is no official Linux version at this time, however, there have been efforts to make the product work with Linux, such as LibreScribe and Smartpen-Browser. Livescribe has provided a user forum at the request of Linux users.Apple's release of Snow Leopard caused functionality and compatibility issues with Livescribe's driver installation. On 31 August 2009, Livescribe released beta 1.2 which fixes all compatibility issues, albeit those who previously tried to install the old software would need to manually delete the old file extension.
Handwriting recognition functionality is provided by a third-party application, MyScript by Vision Objects
Vision Objects
Vision Objects is a software editor , headquartered in Nantes, FRANCE, that provides online handwriting recognition based applications and software development kits...
Inc., which sells separately for $29.95. As of August 2009, this is available on both Microsoft Windows and Mac (Intel-processor) systems.
Paper, applications, and sharing
Livescribe's special paper that allows the recording of notes uses a patented dot-positioning system licensed from AnotoAnoto
Anoto Group AB is a Swedish technology company which has invented, developed and licensed a product line of digital pens and a product suite to manage information capturing utilizing these . The Anoto Group has around 110 employees...
.
The pattern
As with all Anoto pattern-based pens, the smartpen can only determine its position on the page when used with paper pre-printed with the dot pattern. Livescribe sells notebooks in several styles, and users can also print their own dot paper with a colour laser printer capable of at least 600 dpi.The Anoto pattern consists of numerous small black dots in patterns that are essentially invisible to the human eye, but can be detected by the pen's infrared camera. The pattern indicates the exact position of the digital pen on the page, and each page has a unique identity so that they can be distinguished from each other.
Developer tools
Livescribe developed a Penlet SDK to allow application development for the smartpen. The SDK was based on Java, and applications ran directly on the pen itself. Applications could display text and menus, as well as produce audio feedback. A Desktop SDK for Microsoft and Macintosh operating systems was also promised, to allow developers to access files stored on the pen.However, as of July 29th 2011, Livescribe will close its third-party developer program. With cloud technology and mobile information access becoming increasingly important, Livescribe is realigning its focus and resources on cloud access, storage and services.
Awards & recognitions
In 2010, Livescribe receives SIIA CODiE Award.In 2009, Livescribe is SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum Winner.
In July 2009, the company is named among 50 Best Tech Startups by Business Week
In March 2009, Livescribe gets MacLife Editor’s Choice Award.
In 2008, Livescribe named received a Silicon Valley Business Journal Emerging Tech Award.
In June 2008, Livescribe is the winner of PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
93/100.
External links
- Livescribe, Inc.
- Livescribe Apps
- http://www.penlets.com Provides resources for users and developers of the Pulse smart pen from Livescribe, Inc.
- Livescribe Mexico
- Livescribe Canada
- The Shape of Computers to Come? at Wall Street Journal
- D5: A new pen for a new era at The Tech Chronicles, SF Gate.com
- Livescribe K-12 Educational Applications