A major challenge for many authors and writers is to keep notes organised. Authors frequently have plot ideas, character outlines and bits of brilliant prose that’s flashed into their mind unbidden during the dead of night scribbled on scrap pieces of paper.
Many writer devise a storage system, whether it’s a dedicated drive on the PC or a concertina file to hold scrap pages and motivational images. (Incidentally, I find Microsoft Office OneNote is an excellent program for compiling and managing data for articles and novels.) But even seasoned journalists find themselves jotting statistics down on a napkin while simultaneously trying to recall a sentence from an impromptu interview.
Could the Livescribe Smartpen be the solution we’re all looking for? According to the website, the Smartpen records audio at the touch of a button and has a built-in speaker for immediate playback. But the Smartpen is more than just recording equipment. It can be connected via USB to transfer handwritten notes and audio to your PC. A tiny infrared camera tracks everything you write or draw (on special Livescribe paper). An optional program will turn your handwritten notes into text – perfect for two-finger typists. Audio can be correlated with written notes; an excellent tool for replaying a difficult or lengthy interview, meeting or lecture.
I haven’t yet got my hands on a Livescribe Smartpen but I want one.