A great handy tool to have if you are a student, a teacher, or even work in an office environment is a pen scanner. What is a pen scanner you may ask? A pen scanner works exactly like a highlighter.
You slide the scanner across text and the pen scanner will scan it, store it, and then transfer it onto your computer when needed. It will also allow you to scan small images, and some models can read the text to you as you scan it. That feature has proven to be a great assistance to young children and also those affected with dyslexia. Some features of a pen scanner that make it a great assistance tool are as followings:
* it is very easy to use
* it is much faster than copying or typing text
* easily transfer to your computer so you can edit it
* most pens recognize over 50 languages
* can also read cursive writing
* along with text it can also read numbers and barcodes
As you can see a pen scanner can be of great assistance no matter what you would use it for.
There are quite a few on the market with varying features so it can be a little difficult choosing the right scanner for you. I have managed to compile a list of seven very reputable pen scanners that are available to suit your needs.
So read and find the pen scanner of your dreams!
1). IRISPen Express v6 - $129.99
This pen scanner connects directly to your computer via a cable and as you scan it over text it instantly inputs it into whatever application you have open on your computer.
Let's say you have figures you need to enter into excel.
Simply slide the pen scanner over them and they will magically pop into excel in your selected cell. Express v6's accuracy rate is near 100% and its speed is unbeatable!
It also provides foreign language support and has the capability to capture small graphics. Express can recognize up to 3.15 inches of text per second or 1,000 characters per second. It is also ergonomically designed so it's comfortable to use for extended periods of time.
2). IRISPen Executive v6 - $189.95
The IRISPen Executive v6 works very similar as its "little brother," the Express v6. It will read any kind of printed information ranging from newspapers, magazines, letters, etc and will insert the text
instantaneously onto your computer. One very important extra feature that the Executive v6 has is voice synthesis. As you slide the scanner across text it will read it out loud. It also has the ability to read hand printed text and numbers, along with recognition of 16 different barcode types.
Executive v6 also has a unique image control where you can adjust the brightness of the scanned image. The pen scanner can recognize up to 128 different languages and can be used in an unlimited amount of computer applications.
3). Infoscan TS Elite - $186.77
Infoscan's TS Elite is definitely a revved up version of the standard pen scanner. In addition to scanning data and transferring it onto your computer it will also read the text back to you as you scan it, store up to 500 pages of text at a time and it can also provide definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary as needed. TS Elite is also compatible not only with a computer or laptop, but also a PDA. It is also easily adjustable for right or left handed use and uses auto shut off to help preserve its battery life.
As far as scanning languages its list is limited compared to other pen scanners, being able to recognize only five languages. So if you prefer the added feature of the dictionary and only need a few languages then this could be the pen scanner for you.
4). QuickLink Pen Elite - $124.98
This pen scanner is the latest in QuickLink's series and like all the others, it's used just like a highlighter to electronically scan and collect text anytime and anywhere.
What makes this pen unique from the others mentioned so far is that it does not need to be connected to a computer in order to transfer data; as it can transfer data through a IRDA Infra red connection to a PDA or Smartphone.
Additionally it does come with a USB connection to transfer data directly to a computer. Pen Elite also has the capability to read aloud what you are scanning and it does have an English dictionary installed.
Images can also be scanned, captured, and stored as well. This pen scanner requires 2 AAA batteries and comes with a protective carrying case.
The only downfall to this pen scanner would be its comfort factor, as it is difficult to hold for longer periods of time. A little better ergonomic construction and this pen would be perfect.
5). SuperPen Professional - $139.95
SuperPen Professional allows you to scan printed data whenever and wherever you need to.
It can store up to 2,000 pages of information and can transfer it to your PC or PDA when you are ready.
It also includes the
American Heritage Dictionary, Steadman Medical Dictionary, Wall Street Words, Computer and Internet Words, Science, Geography, Abbreviations, Idioms, and a Thesaurus. Compared to all of the other pens available this has a great assortment of dictionaries which can assure any word you scan will be recognized! It also has the built in speech technology where the pen will say a line of text or a word out loud when you press a button.
Like the QuickLink Pen Elite it also has the capability of transferring data through infrared or a USB port. Additionally you can also transfer data through a 9 pin serial port. Its accuracy is rated about 97%, a little lower than the other pen scanners, but still very high. The number one downfall that the SuperPen has is that it is only compatible with Windows.
6). Ectaco C-Pen - $279.99
This pen scanner comes in as the most expensive, even though it offers the same exact features as other scanners. As you sweep the pen scanner from left to right it will transfer the text from your book into electronic characters and display them on your computer.
It will also function with any Windows program as the text will appear wherever your cursor is. Accuracy is right around 98%, very good for a pen scanner.
My friend has one of these scanners as she is in Med school and she says she notices an error maybe once or twice per paragraph. One of the major downfalls to the C-Pen is that it must be used with the USB port directly, it does not run on batteries like most pen scanners.
Also if the page you are scanning has other marks on it such as previous highlighting or underlining, its accuracy can be thrown off.
7). Penpower Chinese Expert - $188.99
What makes this pen unique from all the other pen scanners is that it is strictly for Chinese learning. I thought it deserved a mention because there are a lot more people studying and learning the Chinese language these days and this makes a great tool for just that. This pen scanner works in conjunction with software that will help you read, speak, write, and translate into Chinese.
You simply run the pen scanner over the Chinese characters and it will transfer them to your PC. It can recognize horizontal and vertical characters, including 13,000 traditional Chinese characters and 6,700 simplified Chinese characters.
The pen scanner fits very comfortably in your hand and would make the perfect tool to assist a student or young business person become a Chinese expert in record time.
IRISPen Executive 6
Ectaco C-Pen 20 Handheld Scanner
IRISPen Executive
You slide the scanner across text and the pen scanner will scan it, store it, and then transfer it onto your computer when needed. It will also allow you to scan small images, and some models can read the text to you as you scan it. That feature has proven to be a great assistance to young children and also those affected with dyslexia. Some features of a pen scanner that make it a great assistance tool are as followings:
* it is very easy to use
* it is much faster than copying or typing text
* easily transfer to your computer so you can edit it
* most pens recognize over 50 languages
* can also read cursive writing
* along with text it can also read numbers and barcodes
As you can see a pen scanner can be of great assistance no matter what you would use it for.
There are quite a few on the market with varying features so it can be a little difficult choosing the right scanner for you. I have managed to compile a list of seven very reputable pen scanners that are available to suit your needs.
So read and find the pen scanner of your dreams!
1). IRISPen Express v6 - $129.99
This pen scanner connects directly to your computer via a cable and as you scan it over text it instantly inputs it into whatever application you have open on your computer.
Let's say you have figures you need to enter into excel.
Simply slide the pen scanner over them and they will magically pop into excel in your selected cell. Express v6's accuracy rate is near 100% and its speed is unbeatable!
It also provides foreign language support and has the capability to capture small graphics. Express can recognize up to 3.15 inches of text per second or 1,000 characters per second. It is also ergonomically designed so it's comfortable to use for extended periods of time.
2). IRISPen Executive v6 - $189.95
The IRISPen Executive v6 works very similar as its "little brother," the Express v6. It will read any kind of printed information ranging from newspapers, magazines, letters, etc and will insert the text
instantaneously onto your computer. One very important extra feature that the Executive v6 has is voice synthesis. As you slide the scanner across text it will read it out loud. It also has the ability to read hand printed text and numbers, along with recognition of 16 different barcode types.
Executive v6 also has a unique image control where you can adjust the brightness of the scanned image. The pen scanner can recognize up to 128 different languages and can be used in an unlimited amount of computer applications.
3). Infoscan TS Elite - $186.77
Infoscan's TS Elite is definitely a revved up version of the standard pen scanner. In addition to scanning data and transferring it onto your computer it will also read the text back to you as you scan it, store up to 500 pages of text at a time and it can also provide definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary as needed. TS Elite is also compatible not only with a computer or laptop, but also a PDA. It is also easily adjustable for right or left handed use and uses auto shut off to help preserve its battery life.
As far as scanning languages its list is limited compared to other pen scanners, being able to recognize only five languages. So if you prefer the added feature of the dictionary and only need a few languages then this could be the pen scanner for you.
4). QuickLink Pen Elite - $124.98
This pen scanner is the latest in QuickLink's series and like all the others, it's used just like a highlighter to electronically scan and collect text anytime and anywhere.
What makes this pen unique from the others mentioned so far is that it does not need to be connected to a computer in order to transfer data; as it can transfer data through a IRDA Infra red connection to a PDA or Smartphone.
Additionally it does come with a USB connection to transfer data directly to a computer. Pen Elite also has the capability to read aloud what you are scanning and it does have an English dictionary installed.
Images can also be scanned, captured, and stored as well. This pen scanner requires 2 AAA batteries and comes with a protective carrying case.
The only downfall to this pen scanner would be its comfort factor, as it is difficult to hold for longer periods of time. A little better ergonomic construction and this pen would be perfect.
5). SuperPen Professional - $139.95
SuperPen Professional allows you to scan printed data whenever and wherever you need to.
It can store up to 2,000 pages of information and can transfer it to your PC or PDA when you are ready.
It also includes the
American Heritage Dictionary, Steadman Medical Dictionary, Wall Street Words, Computer and Internet Words, Science, Geography, Abbreviations, Idioms, and a Thesaurus. Compared to all of the other pens available this has a great assortment of dictionaries which can assure any word you scan will be recognized! It also has the built in speech technology where the pen will say a line of text or a word out loud when you press a button.
Like the QuickLink Pen Elite it also has the capability of transferring data through infrared or a USB port. Additionally you can also transfer data through a 9 pin serial port. Its accuracy is rated about 97%, a little lower than the other pen scanners, but still very high. The number one downfall that the SuperPen has is that it is only compatible with Windows.
6). Ectaco C-Pen - $279.99
This pen scanner comes in as the most expensive, even though it offers the same exact features as other scanners. As you sweep the pen scanner from left to right it will transfer the text from your book into electronic characters and display them on your computer.
It will also function with any Windows program as the text will appear wherever your cursor is. Accuracy is right around 98%, very good for a pen scanner.
My friend has one of these scanners as she is in Med school and she says she notices an error maybe once or twice per paragraph. One of the major downfalls to the C-Pen is that it must be used with the USB port directly, it does not run on batteries like most pen scanners.
Also if the page you are scanning has other marks on it such as previous highlighting or underlining, its accuracy can be thrown off.
7). Penpower Chinese Expert - $188.99
What makes this pen unique from all the other pen scanners is that it is strictly for Chinese learning. I thought it deserved a mention because there are a lot more people studying and learning the Chinese language these days and this makes a great tool for just that. This pen scanner works in conjunction with software that will help you read, speak, write, and translate into Chinese.
You simply run the pen scanner over the Chinese characters and it will transfer them to your PC. It can recognize horizontal and vertical characters, including 13,000 traditional Chinese characters and 6,700 simplified Chinese characters.
The pen scanner fits very comfortably in your hand and would make the perfect tool to assist a student or young business person become a Chinese expert in record time.
IRISPen Executive 6
Ectaco C-Pen 20 Handheld Scanner
IRISPen Executive
No comments:
Post a Comment