[Athen] Smart Pen Question/Idea

[Top Tech Tidbits via athen-list]

1HM: Apologies for the cross-posting. We have been trying to figure out the best way for our math instructors to be able to post their handwritten notes after class so that they are more inclusive.

 

1AD: It's great that you're exploring solutions to make handwritten notes more accessible and inclusive. I can provide some insight into the possibilities around smartpens.

 

2HM: I know that there are smart pens that can record notes and convert handwriting to text so we had the idea that maybe this could be a way to make instructor's in-class notes more accessible.

 

2AD: Yes, smartpens have advanced in recent years and can indeed capture handwritten notes, converting them into digital formats. Some models do a good job with general text, but their success in handling math formulas is another story, which I'll cover below.

 

3HM: However, I have not worked at all with smartpens so I have some questions: Are they also able to convert math formulas?

 

3AD: Smartpens tend to struggle with converting handwritten math formulas accurately. While some devices can recognize simple equations, complex mathematical symbols, and notation (especially calculus or advanced math) usually require specialized software or manual editing afterward. A more reliable option for formulas might be a stylus with an app like MyScript Nebo or Microsoft OneNote, which can better handle math.

 

4HM: How good is the text conversion and how much work will it require from the instructors to go from handwritten to text?

 

4AD: Text conversion quality depends heavily on handwriting clarity and the complexity of the content. For general notes, conversion is usually fairly accurate but often requires proofreading and manual corrections, especially if instructors use a lot of specialized terms or shorthand. For math-heavy content, the amount of post-editing could be significant. It's often faster to use a tablet or touch screen with a specialized math app rather than relying on a smartpen for seamless conversion.

 

5HM: Does it require special paper or can they be used on a tablet or touch screen?

 

5AD: Some smartpens, like those from Livescribe, require special dot-printed paper to work, while others, like the Neo Smartpen, can write on regular paper and later sync the notes. If your goal is to work on a tablet or touchscreen, a stylus might be a better fit than a smartpen, as these allow for more flexibility and don't require special paper.

 

6HM: Do you have any recommendations for a Smartpen that would work for our needs?

 

6AD: If you're set on smartpens, you might want to look into the Neo Smartpen or the Livescribe Echo. These are two of the more reliable options for capturing handwritten notes and syncing them digitally. That said, for math-heavy notes, I recommend exploring digital note-taking apps with stylus input, like Microsoft OneNote (which supports handwriting and formula input with a stylus) or MyScript Nebo (which specializes in handwriting-to-text conversion, including math).

 

7HM: Is this even a possibility or am I wildly naive?

 

7AD: You’re not naive at all. It's GREAT that you're thinking creatively about this challenge. However, for math formulas, a smartpen might not be the best solution due to the complex nature of the conversion. A stylus/tablet combo would likely be more reliable for accurately capturing both handwritten text and mathematical notation.

 

8HM: Thanks so much for your help.

 

8AD: Always happy to share. Best of luck!

 

Aaron Di Blasi,  <https://www.pmi.org/> PMP

 

 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarondiblasi/> 

 

“The greatest barrier to accessibility is indifference.” 💡

 

PR Director (2024-Present)

AT-Newswire

Access Technology's Digital Newswire

 <https://at-newswire.com> https://at-newswire.com 🌐

 

Publisher (2024-Present)

AI-Weekly

The Week's News in Artificial Intelligence

 <https://ai-weekly.ai/> https://ai-weekly.ai 🌐

 

Publisher (2022-Present)

Access Information News 

The Week's News in Access Information

 <https://accessinformationnews.com> https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

 

Publisher (2020-Present)

Top Tech Tidbits

The Week's News in Access Technology

 <https://toptechtidbits.com/> https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

 

Sr. Project Management Professional (2006-Present)

Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

 <https://mvsltd.com/> https://mvsltd.com 🌐

 

Certified:

Digital Marketing Associate,  <https://mvsltd.com/news/aaron-di-blasi-pmp-mind-vault-solutions-ltd-awarded-digital-marketing-associate-certification-by-meta/> Meta Certified (2022 - Present)

Social Marketing Professional,  <https://mvsltd.com/news/aaron-di-blasi-pmp-mind-vault-solutions-ltd-awarded-social-media-marketing-certification-by-hootsuite-world-leader-in-social-media-marketing-solutions/> Hootsuite Certified (2020 - Present)

Email Marketing Professional,  <https://mvsltd.com/news/aaron-di-blasi-pmp-mind-vault-solutions-ltd-named-a-constant-contact-certified-solution-provider/> Constant Contact Certified (2019 - Present)

 

Specializing in:

Digital Strategy and Content Marketing

Social Media Advertising

Online Fundraising

 <https://www.ada.gov/> ADA,  <https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/> WCAG and  <https://www.justice.gov/crt/section-508-home-page-1> Section 508 Compliance

 

Website:  <https://mvsltd.com> https://mvsltd.com 🌐

Email:  <mailto:ad at mvsltd.com> ad at mvsltd.com 📧

Toll Free:  <tel:+18555786660> +1 (855) 578-6660📱️

 

Subscribe:  <https://mvsltd.com/subscribe> https://mvsltd.com/subscribe

Schedule A Meeting:  <https://calendly.com/aarondiblasi> https://calendly.com/aarondiblasi

News:  <https://mvsltd.com/news> https://mvsltd.com/news

Services:  <https://mvsltd.com/services> https://mvsltd.com/services

Testimonials:  <https://mvsltd.com/testimonials> https://mvsltd.com/testimonials

Facebook:  <https://mvsltd.com/facebook> https://mvsltd.com/facebook

X (Formerly Twitter):  <https://mvsltd.com/x> https://mvsltd.com/x

LinkedIn:  <https://mvsltd.com/linkedin> https://mvsltd.com/linkedin

Instagram:  <https://mvsltd.com/instagram> https://mvsltd.com/instagram

YouTube:  <https://mvsltd.com/youtube> https://mvsltd.com/youtube

Google:  <https://mvsltd.com/google> https://mvsltd.com/google


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail and attachments, if any, may contain confidential information, which is privileged and protected from disclosure by Federal and State confidentiality laws, rules, and regulations. This e-mail and attachments, if any, are intended for the designated addressee only. If you are not the designated addressee, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this e-mail and its attachments, if any, may be unlawful and may subject you to legal consequences. If you have received this e-mail and attachments in error, please delete the e-mail and its attachments from your computer.

 

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Heather Mariger via athen-list
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2024 3:09 PM
To: Alternate Media <ALTMEDIA at listserv.cccnext.net>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Smart Pen Question/Idea

 

Greetings

 

Apologies for the cross-posting. We have been trying to figure out the best way for our math instructors to be able to post their handwritten notes after class so that they are more inclusive. 

 

I know that there are smart pens that can record notes and convert handwriting to text so we had the idea that maybe this could be a way to make instructor's in-class notes more accessible. 

 

However, I have not worked at all with smartpens so I have some questions:

*	Are they also able to convert math formulas?  
*	How good is the text conversion and how much work will it require from the instructors to go from handwritten to text?
*	Does it require special paper or can they be used on a tablet or touch screen?
*	Do you have any recommendations for a Smartpen that would work for our needs?
*	Is this even a possibility or am I wildly naive? 

Thanks so much for your help.

H.

 

Heather Mariger

Digital Accessibility Advocate

Pronouns: She/Her

 

Center for Academic Innovation

Chemeketa Community College

4000 Lancaster Drive NE - 9/126A

Salem, OR 97305

 

503.589.7832

 

*****************

Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance. 

Verna Myers, author and speaker 

 

  <https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wz2gxtvjQyMTpC_0WG-EazWKiKpKpBmV7xR5EAWQiTKtGrsvFIo9MV_3-jAopcCt5HPEuWGpw> 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20240920/715cd941/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 94349 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20240920/715cd941/attachment.png>