Microdots, in house, and wowing the masses***

Okay, so like a blogzillion years ago, I posted about these neat little "smart pen" devices from a company called Livescribe.  I'm happy to report that my Livescribe Pulse Pen arrived last week and I put it through its paces at a few sit-downers today.

First thing I noticed, very little documentation provided in-box.  I thought that was peculiar considering that it was such a big shift in the way I thought about a lowly pen.  Then I realized, the documentation, itself, was populated with microdots, and you were "forced" to start using the Pen right away.

Tap here, write there, and the tutorial was a snap (including, smartly, a right-hand/left-hand orientation setup option as step 1).

I realized this as I write, no software to install to start using it. Brilliant!  Since the focus is on the pen/paper relationship, and the pen/computer relationship is just adding functionality/value, why start the process with a software install?

The desktop software, though, did harbor the "Most Impressive Moment".  Install the Livescribe Desktop software (downloadable from their website; no CDs to press <green nod>) and synchronizing my Pulse Pen to the LiveScribe library.  Guess what?  I was immediately able to search my handwritten notes.  Killer feature.

If anyone's interested, stop by my desk and I'll do a quick demo for you; if there's enough interest, maybe we can do a presentation.

Do I smell Future Friday?  Who wants to get in touch with the LiveScribe CEO?  I'm telling you, put this in the hands of the incoming class of MBAs and get the Faculty to annotate their lectures using this thing and we've got teaching gold!

*** Masses = 4 people in Core Systems