Digitization of handwritten notes: 4 recommended digital pens

U.S. students are starting to return to school in most areas.Some students are taking classes in the classroom for the first time in a year, while others are still studying at a dining table at home.But no matter where the place is, you need to take notes in class.

Typing on a laptop may be faster, but moving your hands and writing it will remain in your memory, and your learning efficiency will be higher.Some people like to write on paper with a real pen, but if you have a digital backup, it will be useful for organizing and studying on the go.

In such a case, if you use a digital pen (also called an electronic pen or smart pen), the handwritten content will immediately become a digital file.Files can be stored as files such as PDF, images, and doctors, or recorded in "Google Document" in text, allowing them to search.

There are also digital pens that can be recorded, so it is very useful for lectures and interviews.If you need to buy a new notebook, I would recommend you try digital pen.

What is the mechanism of the digital pen?

The digital pen consists of a dedicated pen, notebook, and attached app.It is common for infrared cameras near the tip of the pen to track the movement of the pen.A grid with dots is printed on the notebook, and if you write something, you will recognize the movement of the pen as a coordinate.The data indicating the movement of the acquired pen is transferred to a PC or smartphone via a Bluetooth connection or a USB port.

This makes it unusable for your favorite paper notebook, but it's a shame for those who have a strong commitment to notebooks.Also, as you use it, you need to replenish the pen to the pen.

What you can do with a digital pen

* Note: The pen must always be charged and available.Otherwise, the battery may be cut off in the middle of writing.You can "write" even if the battery runs out, but the written characters are not digitized.

If you buy "iPad" now, which one should you choose?New and old recommended model complete guide

The best option so far: NEO SmartPen M1+

"NEO SmartPen M1+" ($ 129, 15,500 yen in Japan) feels like the thinnest, light, and ordinary pen of the digital pen I've tried so far.It is also important to be able to feel good when you hold it in your hand.You can choose the optimal size and style notebook for you, such as a ring -type ruled university notes and planners (schedule management notebooks).

The dedicated app "NEO STUDIO" (compatible with iPhone and Android) is very excellent.It has a system that makes it easy to find the desired notebook, and can also search for pages from page numbers and dates.

Photograph by Neo SmartPen; Medea GIORDANO

You can change the color of the ink and the thickness of the line on the page while writing, or edit it later.This pen has no recording function, but a voice recorder that can be combined with a pen is also sold separately.

Other options: NEO SmartPen Dimo is the lowest price ($ 59, 8,800 yen in Japan) in the same series.However, the battery uses batteries instead of rechargeable.Unlike the other digital pens featured in this article, it does not support "Google Calendar", "ICALENDAR" or "Outlook".There is "NEO SMARTPEN N2" ($ 169, 16,100 yen in Japan) with excellent design, but it has not yet been tried in the "WIRED" US version.

If you choose by famous brands, "Moleskin Smart Lighting Set"

Speaking of Moleskine, it is a brand with enthusiastic followers in notebooks and diary, but it has now advanced to a "smart" world.The "Smart's Writing Set" is a set of notebooks and pen, so it will be perfect for most people who use it for the first time [edition Note: 15 languages including English and Japanese].Pens can be purchased alone.Notebooks and diary are available in various sizes.

Dedicated application "MOLESKINE NOTES 2."0" (compatible with iPhone and Android) is easy to use once you get used to it.You can also get the old version by downloading it, but "2."0" is more convenient and more reasonable.Actually 2.0 is still in the process of developing, so if a problem occurs in your device, you will need to return to the previous version.However, when I used it with "iPhone 11", there was no problem.

Photograph by moleskine; Medea GIORDANO

If a recording function is required: Livescripe "Symphony SmartPen"

LiveScribe's "Symphony SmartPen" has all the functions required for digital pens.Among them, the recording function is particularly important.

At the bottom of the notebook page, there is even a label for recording, pause, and recording stop, and can be operated simply by pressing with a pen.This feature was very convenient.However, the app is a bit difficult to use, and the conversion tools to text are not as smart as other products.

In addition, Symphony has no power button.Instead, when the cap is removed, the power is turned on, and when it is returned, it is turned off.This is an excellent feature theoretically, because you never forget to turn on the power before you start writing.However, since the cap easily comes off, there is a risk that the power will be turned on and the battery runs out.

Photograph by Livescripe

If you want to complete it digitally: "iPad"+"Apple Pencil"

If you can write directly on the display, you can strictly experience the same experience in the combination of "iPad" and "Apple Pencil".Basically, if you have an Apple Pencil compatible iPad, you can choose any of them.Other low -priced stylus pens have a spherical structure, but Apple Pencil can be written much more accurately.

Photograph by Apple

Other options: Remarkable 2, a tablet terminal that uses e -in electronic paper, is also highly evaluated in WIRED.However, the price is $ 399 (about 44,160 yen), which is equivalent to the iPad mini, does not have the same function.It is recommended if you are not a fan of Apple products or want a tablet device just to take notes.

* Click here for a gadget review article by "WIRED".

If you buy "iPad" now, which one should you choose?New and old recommended model complete guide

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