I'm hovering here while on maternity leave from Iansyst so I do have some
commercial interest with this reply but thought I would add my tuppence
worth while my knowledge is still up to date...

Mobile note takers - the problem with them is the handwriting recognition
software. They have very limited dictionaries which won't recognise
subject-specific terms that students are going to be using or spelling
errors. None of the programs I've tested (including handwriting recognition
packages for Tablet PCs) worked with assistive software such as Read & Write
and the built-in spell checkers are years behind Word. BUT the pens are good
if you are not going to be relying on the recognition packages and I would
recommend looking at them if you've got students doing maths and science
subjects who want to get equations and diagrams on to their PC as easily as
possible. 

Scanning Pens - the best pen to go for is the SuperPen Pro
(http://www.dyslexic.com/products.php?pid=397) as it come with the speech
faculty, specialist dictionaries and the ability to transfer to the PC all
built in. However only the Reading Pen displays the word in a large font so
this would be the best one for users with any visual impairment. If you want
to try either pen then contact Iansyst and they should be able to provide
pens on trial. The Reading Pen now comes with a trainer foot (sort of like a
foot on a sewing machine) that helps you keep the pen at the correct angle,
which is the most important factor in getting the pens to scan accurately.
These aren't automatically provided with the SuperPen so ask for one.

Abi James


-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Baxter, Chris
Sent: 13 October 2005 11:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pegasus Mobile Notes taker equipment

Oh EA I would have been so disappointed if you hadn't! Many thanks, this one
does say it doesn't need 'special paper', I think we will look into it
anyway, you know what a luddite I am when it comes to technology so you can
expect an honest opinion from me after trialling!
Thank heavens for people like you!
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ea
Sent: 13 October 2005 11:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pegasus Mobile Notes taker equipment


 
OK I will admit to trying the digital pens and found they used up an awful
lot of special paper and did not like my hand writing. Each page downloaded
for transcription and took time but I  know if I had good hand writing
skills it would work!  Very good for diagrams and mindmapping. With some of
the pens it is important to bear in mind the repeat cost of ink replacements
and digital paper.  Other options are at
http://www.emptech.info/products_by_subcategory.php?ID=148

Best Wishes E.A.

Mrs E.A. Draffan
Assistive Technologist
Mobile: 07976 289103
http://www.emptech.info

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Val Morgan
Sent: 13 October 2005 09:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Pegasus Mobile Notes taker equipment

I have recently bought one of these, but haven't tested it yet.....watch
this space!

Val Morgan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hmm has anyone tried these I wonder? At £150 I think we may buy one to
trial, achieving electronic notes is not simple, notetakers who are good
note takers are rarely good (safe) typists (in my experience) so if anyone
has tried one let me know if not I'll let you all know how we get on. Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susannah Barnett
Sent: 12 October 2005 20:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Pegasus Mobile Notes taker equipment


To all - following on from the scanning pen discussion - when I was on one
of the websites reccomended, there was a different piece of kit called the
Pegasus Mobile Notes Taker equipment
http://www.scanningpens.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=82
 
As I understand it this equipment works by a user hand writing there own
notes onto a special clip board and using special digital pen - this can
then later be transferred to a PC and either kept as note form or even
changed to typed text. At least I think this how the system works.  Has
anyone had any experience of using this equipment? or has any one
suggestions of anything similar?  I was interested as I currently have to
get some one else to type up my hand written notes for me, and I wondered if
this was a way of cutting out the middle man (or woman!!)?  Has anyone any
experience? or again knows where I might test such equipment?  If I have
understood this equipments use correctly - it also crossed my mind whether
notetakers working with students might also benefit from such equipment??
Saying all this, i may not have understood the ins and outs of all this, but
again if anyone has any experience I would be interested to know.
 
Many thanks
 Susannah Barnett
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#






Val Morgan
Disability Co-ordinator
Queen Mary, University of London
email: [log in to unmask]
tel: 020 7882 5175
fax: 020 7882 3617

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/131 - Release Date: 12/10/2005
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/131 - Release Date: 12/10/2005
 

This email is intended solely for the addressee.  It may contain private and
confidential information.  If you are not the intended addressee, please
take no action based on it nor show a copy to anyone.  In this case, please
reply to this email to highlight the error.  Opinions and information in
this email that do not relate to the official business of Nottingham Trent
University shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the
University.
Nottingham Trent University has taken steps to ensure that this email and
any attachments are virus-free, but we do advise that the recipient should
check that the email and its attachments are actually virus free.  This is
in keeping with good computing practice.