Fur 'n' Feathers Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 As some will know, I'm in the middle of my MSc at the moment (hence why we don't post on the forum as frequently as we'd like!). I've just bought a Zpen and having charged it today I wrote a short piece to see what its script and text recognition was like..... and it was word perfect!!! It only took seconds - I was amazed! Then I wrote a silly story and it only had a couple of errors in the text conversion, around a made up name so understandable. This will radically change the pressure for me. I can attend a session and write notes, upload them when I get home and then convert them into a text word document. I also have to submit a journal & I've had problems as they've asked for it typed. This means I need to be putting down thoughts at a computer. The Zpen has enabled me to capture my thoughts on A4 paper transferrable to the computer as and when. It also uploads drawings and diagrams! I just had to share this info, in case anyone else would benefit. Feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Sounds great & it will save you loads of time! How fab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 OMG ..................Is this going to become the next 'Omlet must have' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 looks fantastic, might be a good idea as birthday pressie for YS.....thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 That looks brilliant, just the sort of thing DS would like :D I wonder how it would cope with his handwriting (DS has dyspraxia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I want one!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 That looks brilliant, just the sort of thing DS would like :D I wonder how it would cope with his handwriting (DS has dyspraxia) Not sure. How it works is that it literally uploads the handwriting, just as if you had scanned the paper you're writing on. The problem would be the word recognition in transforming it to text, which is another process at the click of an icon. Then you can transfer the text onto a word document (another click .... it's okay .It's all simple on-screen stuff). When you have the word document up you can alter the text as normal to correct, do spell check, etc. and then save the document to anywhere you want. If you want to find out specifically, I have found the contact e-mail point at DANE-ELEC really helpful, often returning e-mails within hours! Feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Hi Fur'n'Feathers - thanks for the tip and the review. I can't believe I've missed the development of these as I've been wanting something like this for ages! I'm often in very long meetings where all notes have to be transcribed and kept for legal reasons but also have to be typed up and shared. It can take weeks to sort the whole process out! did you do any research into the market for these generally? What convinced you that this one was the 'write' one ? Not only would I be keen but as DD goes off to university in the autumn, this could be ideal for her too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 (edited) Hi Fur'n'Feathers - thanks for the tip and the review. I can't believe I've missed the development of these as I've been wanting something like this for ages! ...did you do any research into the market for these generally? What convinced you that this one was the 'write' one ? Not only would I be keen but as DD goes off to university in the autumn, this could be ideal for her too! I was in the same position in terms of wanting one. I had a friend who told me of an computer pen that turns writing into text. I decided to google "computer pen" and the Zpen came up first. There are a number of others around but I decided on this because: 1. Fur recognised the company as known & specialised & I value his opinion in these things. (Didn't recognise the other producer we saw) 2. There was a review (somewhere on the net) that said this pen's handwriting recognition programme was the best they'd tried. 3. We shop with 7dayshop.com for our printer stationery, etc. & they sell it. 4. I got very prompt responses from DANE-ELEC and I consider service backup a vital part of the overall value of a product. 5. The receiver has a 1Gb memory. and finally, 6. Gut instinct - important. I've written 4 pages of journal notes tonight, converted them and uploaded them. Yes, there were a few errors (some quite funny), but my writing's not perfect. Zpen seems to be able to recognise my handwriting at least as well as the admin staff at work That has to be a feat of engineering. The other thing I liked (although I personally wouldn't use it....on reflection possiblyfor writing Greek!)) was the number of languages available for the recognition. For a language student this must be helpful. My manager is Chinese and it has a simplified Chinese recognition programme! She wants to see the pen. Gosh I'm sounding a real geek now Hope it answers your questions. Feathers Edited March 8, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I had no idea what I wanted for Christmas, so on Christmas Eve-eve we went into Birmingham and they had a similar one in Selfridges. It was called the APCOM Digiscribble, and I nearly bought one, so that I could use it for school, but then they had no stock left. I ended up with loads of small presents, but Mom and Dad both have one now for work, and they love them. Its a really clever technology and I'm sure everyone will have one in a few years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 that's a really helpful reply - thanks! I think I know what I'm getting for my birthday and for my DD's too! Omlet effect in the making....Bulk discount, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I'm just wondering if it would be suitable for Lauren - because of the hypermobility she has problems holding a pen and her handwriting is poor.........off to have a proper look at what is available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 That would be brilliant for me writing notes in peoples homes then doing the same again in office notes but I don't think we'd get past data protection problems. Food for thought. Need one I must think of another use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
