I was scrolling through TikTok one evening and happened to come across a video with a digital pen scanner. To use the pen, it works just like a highlighter, you slide it over printed text from books, newspapers, magazines, and other items like these. The pen then takes the information you ‘highlighted’ and transfers it onto your screen almost instantly. In fact, it retypes the text 20 times faster than regular typing. It has the ability to translate over languages with most versions of the pen. Another great feature is that it has the ability to read the text you’re scanning back to you. They are compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android and also come in different colors. These pens connect to your device through a Bluetooth connection and are wireless, and also are compatible with laptops, computers, smartphones, or tablets.
When it comes to design in relation to this pen, it could help you find certain typefaces so you don’t have to worry about searching for the specific font. Another way it could benefit someone is by making it easier for us to transfer text from a textbook or a magazine to quote it on a spread like in InDesign as an example.
Of course, not every product created can be perfect and ideal for everyone. The downside to the digital pen scanner is that the price is not the most reasonable for a college student. Ranging from $15 cheap ones to $250 for the nice ones that include all of the features. Accessing this pen would not be a huge issue for most since it is sold on Amazon and Scanmarker with free shipping.
The intended audience for this product ranges from students to professionals to whoever wants it. Another great aspect about this pen is that it could benefit someone apart from the visual impairment community and also those with dyslexia. With the ‘read out loud’ feature, I feel it could really help someone out. Another audience this pen could help is with those who are getting older and losing their eyesight. Many books and magazines have tiny fonts on the pages, which I know can be challenging to read for some.
I think the digital pen scanner is useful now and will be in the future as well. I am aware that many types of text have already been scanned into computer documents, yet I don’t think we will completely cut out tangible paper documents for a few decades. A direction I think that could be progressed to in the future is scanning full pages in one touch. All of this is just my prediction, change is scary yet inevitable, that’s why we must learn to adapt as life goes on.