the livescribe paper-based computing platform consists of a digital pen , digital paper , software applications , and developer tools .

central to the livescribe platform is the smartpen , a ballpoint pen with an embedded computer and digital audio recorder .

when used with anoto digital paper , it records what it writes for later uploading to a computer , and synchronizes those notes with any audio it has recorded .

this allows users to replay portions of a recording by tapping on the notes they were taking at the time the recording was made .

it is also possible to select which portion of a recording to replay by clicking on the relevant portion of a page on-screen , once it has been synced to the livescribe desktop software .

jim marggraff , inventor of the leapfrog fly pentop computer and creator of the leappad learning system , left leapfrog in 2005 to form livescribe .

in november 2015 , livescribe announced its acquisition by anoto for $ 15m .

livescribe

it must be evernote software developers who correct the problems associated with merging livescribe image pages , livescribe said .
sr . global pr manager for livescribe . i ' m here to help you learn more about livescribe .
nice reasoning ! you can open / store livescribe pdfs that were created with echo desktop in the livescribe + app on ios , and you can open / store livescribe pdfs created with livescribe + in echo desktop .
commercially available livescribe notebooks can be used to collect data through livescribe echo and pulse pens . examples of these are the a5 and standard livescribe notebooks , or the leather notebooks .
livescribe : prints the template using livescribe dot pattern . this paper can be used to take notes with a livescribe pen in the field and integrate the data with a chronoviz session .
please note that the livescribe desktop software tool ( available at urltoken ) must be installed on the computer to be able to set up ethnographer + + on the livescribe pens and to retrieve notes stored on the pen . we recommend that you disable automatic opening of livescribe desktop and livescribe connect when the pen is connected . this can be done by deselecting the appropriate options in the application preferences under the livescribe desktop menu of livescribe desktop .
a spokesman for bskyb said :
we are pleased to have reached a settlement with livescribe after livescribe agreed not to contest sky ' s court action .
the livescribe 3 smartpen watch your notes appear instantly on your tablet or smartphone with the livescribe 3 smartpen . paired with the livescribe + mobile app , notes become more useful when they are organized , tagged , searchable and converted to text .
smartpen company livescribe launched its livescribe 3 smartpen electronic pen in the uk this week , after an announcement in october that touted some major changes from previous versions .
the livescribe 3 smartpen electronic pen went on sale in the uk in december , with manufacturer livescribe claiming that it had made huge changes compared with previous iterations .
livescribe commercial notebooks only work for livescribe pens , while templates can be printed for both livescribe echo and pulse pens , and for anoto blueetooth pens . for every paper template , the pattern to be used has to be selected at print time .
in a joint statement , livescribe said it accepted that the smartpen infringed bskyb ' s trademark and will rebrand it as the
livescribe wi - fi smartpen
.
before i posted this i reviewed the search results for ' livescribe display fail ' and thought i ' d give livescribe ' s live chat customer service a try .
livescribe support absolutely sucks ! all they do is read scripts with incorrect . . .
livescribe’s special digital paper operates in the same way but the new notebooks are simplified .
save the exported livescribe pdf file to your local desktop or downloads folder . then open
so you couldn’t directly capture your notes across devices / smartpens because they use different connection methods… . but the exported livescribe pdfs can be opened in both echo desktop and livescribe +
the echo smartpen is livescribe ' s most powerful and easy to use smartpen . view larger
after collecting data with a livescribe pen in the field , the livescribe data transfer tool is used to import the pen data into chronoviz and link it with the other data sources .
sharing your livescribe echo smartpen pencast video was created by two minute tech tips and curriculum2go .
let me know if you are a livescribe fan and have had this happen to you .
livescribe has placed a lot of emphasis on the ‘out - of - the - box’ experience with its new smartpen . to get started , users must download the free livescribe + app from the apple app store . from there , pairing the livescribe 3 with a device and the app involves nothing more than turning on the pen ; the livescribe + will automatically recognise it .
livescribe + mobile app on ios and android : first make sure you’ve installed the free livescribe + app from the app store or google play on your device . then send the file to your device via email or cloud service . once you have the file available , click on it to launch the open in dialog box , and select livescribe + . the livescribe + app will open , and your pencast will be available in the livescribe pdf section of the app .
sky replaces echo , and evernote replaces livescribe’s own computer software , app , and online service .
worse , livescribe’s new cloud - centric paradigm and evernote partnership engendered other , more significant faults .
for example , whereas clicking or tapping anywhere in a pencast within livescribe desktop , my livescribe or the livescribe pencast player app would immediately bring forth the matching audio for that specific place in the written notes , the same is not true with evernote . instead , the new livescribe player app always launches at the beginning of a pencast , on the first page , no matter the user’s selection . getting to the desired place and audio then requires extra navigation within the livescribe player .
updated 7 / 1 / 2015 to highlight support in echo desktop & livescribe + for android .
are you emailing your assistant the livescribe pdf file ? they only need to save the file to their desktop , open their web browser to urltoken and click on the choose your livescribe pdf button .
once the ethnographer + + application is installed on the pen , the livescribe nav plus menu ( printed on every livescribe notebook , see image below ) can be used to start and stop the application .
see the inner workings of the livescribe pulse , a computerized pen that gives handwritten notes audio support .
in a statement , livescribe said :
while livescribe does not offer any goods or services similar to those of sky and had no intention of infringing sky ' s rights , livescribe is pleased to reach a settlement with british sky broadcasting . we moved quickly to settle and look forward to launching the rebranded product as the
livescribe wi - fi smartpen
in the european union on 1 march 2013 .
the latest livescribe smartpen , called livescribe 3 , which has yet to unveil , will uniquely feature bluetooth . this will help it to pair to an ios device . so when writing in a livescribe notebook , your hand - written notes will appear in the livescribe + app for ios . there ' s also a micro - usb connector for charging and a twistable handle for powering , according to the fcc filing .
future updates or new features for sky are expected to fix some of those deficiencies , according to livescribe .
similarly , if you have myscript for livescribe installed , it will continue to be accessible from within echo desktop . myscript for livescribe continues to be fully compatible with echo desktop , so new installations will also work .
we hope this helped you get the most out of a livescribe pdf file . you can get started by
design and ergonomics the livescribe 3 smartpen has undergone some dramatic design changes over earlier models , and is now much sleeker . unlike previous iterations , the livescribe 3 smartpen has no lcd screen or built - in microphone and instead relies on apple ' s most recent ios 7 mobile operating system , taking what you ' ve written onto livescribe dot paper and throwing it onto an ios 7 device via a new livescribe + app .
design and ergonomics the livescribe 3 smartpen has undergone some dramatic design changes over earlier models , and is now much sleeker . unlike previous iterations , the livescribe 3 smartpen has no lcd screen or built - in microphone and instead relies on apple ' s most recent ios 7 mobile operating system , taking what you ' ve scribbled onto livescribe dot paper and throwing it onto an ios 7 device via a new livescribe + app .
in order to collect data on the field with a digital pen , a special piece of software has to be installed on every livescribe digital pen used for field notes and started on the pens before every note - taking session . this software , called the “ethnographer + + ” penlet , can be installed on your livescribe pen at the end of the installation process . you can install ethnographer + + on additional livescribe pens through the chronoviz livescribe data transfer tool ( available by selecting “transfer livescribe data…” from the file menu after installation ) .
also , if you remember the livescribe vs . bskyb trademark suit from earlier this year , the english high court ruled that livescribe couldn ' t call its smartpen
sky
. losing the battle forced livescribe to recall its sky wi - fi smartpen and re - brand it as the
wi - fi smartpen
.
to see a pencast in action . if you have a livescribe 3 or echo smartpen , you can create and share livescribe pdfs with anyone knowing that they can see and enjoy the benefits of the fully interactive pencast .
with pulse and echo , after completing a note–taking session , the user would connect the device to a computer with a usb cable , triggering livescribe desktop software to launch and initiate a synchronization process . this created what livescribe calls a pencast , an interactive digital copy of the notes and audio captured with the smartpen , which would be saved on the computer in the software . in turn , livescribe desktop could be used to upload a pencast to the user’s online my livescribe account , which was accessible through either a web browser or livescribe’s pencast player app .
more information about selecting a type of pattern to print is in the anoto vs . livescribe printouts section below .
yet , because they’re only images of pages , when the user taps or clicks on the virtual ink to retrieve the matching audio , evernote turns back to the livescribe cloud server to launch a linked livescribe player app on the user’s device . this app then pulls the associated notes and audio from the livescribe cloud server and starts the pencast .
alternatively , sky also can be connected to a computer with a usb cable , triggering the launch of a livescribe helper app , which is used to manually sync the smartpen with the livescribe cloud server and thence the evernote account .
apart from throwing the microphone and speaker out the window , livescribe has also sacrificed the led screen found on the livescribe sky wifi , opting for more discrete indicator lights instead . when the livescribe 3 is on , the light will be green ( not connected ) , yellow ( low battery or hardware issue ) , or blue ( paired ) .
livescribe took to the press wires today to announce two big additions to its livescribe connect service . users of the livescribe connect for echo and pulse smartpens may now share content with microsoft onenote and google sites . using one of the company’s smartpens , anything wrote in ink on their special paper can by shared online through various social and productivity services .
with a sleek design and enhanced features , the echo smartpen is livescribe ' s powerful and easy to use smartpen .
i wish livescribe 3 would play back right from the notebook . also , does livescribe 3 need wifi in order to record a pencast ? ( if i’m reporting in the field without wifi , i’m afraid i can’t use this pen… )
hi yulia – if you look in the feed view of livescribe + for the livescribe 3 , you’ll see a timestamp for each snippet of information you write down – you could grab screenshots of that page for your records . otherwise , a livescribe pdf file will include info on when the pencast was recorded . hope that helps you track your info !
* actual recording time varies by audio quality setting . 1 livescribe paper required - - don ' t record without permission 2 these connectors are available only with livescribe connect premium 3 mobile device access requires pencast player app or flash - enabled web browser
) , but usually any color laserjet printer that is adobe postscript compatible and can print at 600dpi or higher will do . you can find more information on how to use livescribe desktop to test if your printer is compatible on the livescribe web site
one of the best news articles published regarding the livescribe smartpen , this article includes how the livescribe smartpen got it ' s start , practical uses , why it works , and some interesting ideas on notetaking . this is a must - read !
livescribe smartpens only work with livescribe dot paper , so there ' s a variety of dot paper sizes and types available : college - ruled notebooks , lined journals , blank journals , mini journals , a5 - sized notebooks , grid notebooks , flip notepads , and sticky notes . you can even print your own dot paper for free from within livescribe desktop on many printers .
san francisco java user group hosted an event on march 9th , 2010 with michael knopp and shawn silverman from livescribe who talked about their java framework for pen - based computing and the livescribe platform . truly fascinating stuff . urltoken these are their slides .
livescribe echo smartpen with 4 gb of memory , livescribe connect premium ( includes connect basic plus additional connectors for email , google docs and google sites ) , livescribe desktop software for mac or windows , 500 mb of personal online storage , starter dot paper notebook , micro usb cable , interactive getting started guide , smartpen tips and tricks guide , 2 smartpen caps , 2 ink cartridges .
professionals who make recommendations on behalf of the children they evaluate should be familiar with the livescribe smartpen as should teachers who work with dyslexic children . both parties may find that after watching students use the livescribe smartpen , they will want to purchase one themselves .
livescribe claims the new smartpen is more elegant than previous models , and says it looks and feels more like a standard pen .
the livescribe + is available on the apple ios store . livescribe 3 pens are compatible it states . i wonder if the original echo pens are compatible as well if one uses an updated firmware 2 . 9 . 9 and the echo desktop . thanks .
livescribe inc has received 1 . 22 out of 5 stars based on 5 customer reviews and a bbb rating of d - .
livescribe has a thriving community around it and the pens themselves have had some incredible hacks , like zork played on an echo smartpen .
livescribe plans to open an online applications store next year where users can buy software that will make their smart pens do even more .
the livescribe 3 smartpen is real and could land soon , as it has just surfaced in a public us federal communications commission filing .
thanks susan – the old livescribe desktop files do need flash , but not the new livescribe pdf pencasts from echo desktop , so the new files should play fine on your windows 8 . 1 device with ie or chrome ( not firefox due to open source restrictions ) .
you do not need to upgrade , you can continue using your current copy of livescribe desktop with your echo smartpen . however , you will not be offered any firmware updates after version 2 . 9 . 8 . , and livescribe desktop will not be updated in the future . phone / email / chat support will be phased out in the future , however web support resources will continue to be available for livescribe desktop .
livescribe pdfs will open in any standard pdf viewer with the notes fully visible , and audio available as an attachment that can be played back through any audio player supporting . m4a files . livescribe pdfs come to life when opened using the free livescribe + app on ios or android , when opened in echo desktop on a windows , mac or chromebook computer , or when opened in our web - based livescribe player . you can back up or archive these documents as you would any other pdf file , and share them on cloud - sharing services or learning management systems .
existing content will be automatically available in echo desktop , and all your notes and pencasts will appear as soon as you upgrade . in addition , echo desktop can open and store livescribe pdf files created from other computers or devices , such as those created by the livescribe + mobile app .
hi , i would like to be able to export the timestamped coordinates of writing from livescribe 3 for my research project . is it possible ?
the smartpen , which is known for its ability to take a note of whatever its user is scribbling and copy it on the fly , achieves this using bluetooth smart le technology , transporting everything that is written on special livescribe dot paper to an ios device via a livescribe + app .
handwriting–to–text transcription will be enabled by an optional application from software developer vision objects that is being developed in cooperation with livescribe and is expected to debut some time in the first half of this year . the send–from–pen function is expected to be available this year , but livescribe won’t say exactly when .
you are right , it’s way better than anything we had before… unless you had a livescribe echo like me , which allowed me to sync with my pc , publish my notes in an online interactive player on livescribe’s own platform and also create interactive pdf’s that i could easily share through email .
the smartpen , which is known for its ability to take a note of whatever its user is scribbling and copy it on the fly , does this now using bluetooth smart le technology , transporting everything that is written on special livescribe dot paper to an ios device via a livescribe + app .
bskyb has settled its trademark legal action against livescribe , after the digital pen maker agreed to rebrand its flagship
sky wi - fi smartpen
.
the livescribe 3 pro pack will cost au $ 265 and includes a 12 month subscription to evernote premium , along with a leather - bound notebook .
echo desktop on windows and mac computers : use file | open to open up the livescribe pdf file saved to your desktop or other location . you’ll see the file inside the livescribe pdf section on the left - hand navigation bar . you can play and pause your pencast , and skip forward and back through the audio . as the document has already been exported , you cannot edit or add to the livescribe pdf file once it’s been exported .
recipients can click a note to launch livescribe player and play back the pencast audio . they must be connected to the internet to play a pencast .
the device will only be available online and through apple retail stores from launch , and is likely to stay that way until 2014 , according to livescribe .
an update that changes the two - step process of navigating to the desired audio segment in the livescribe player is expected to be released in the second quarter of this year . the process was intended by the software’s designers , who did not consider it a problem , but “based on customer feedback , we are updating the playback feature in livescribe player to now start audio playback from the specific page clicked in evernote , ” livescribe said in response to an inquiry .
livescribe pdfs are standard pdf documents that include images of each page of notes , the recorded audio from pencasts , and handwriting recognition using the inkml open standard that helps recognize pen strokes and convert them to digital text . you’ll now be able to easily share pencasts created with the livescribe 3 or echo smartpens .
24 . java and livescribe : today < br / > < ul > < li > j2me connected , limited device configuration ( cldc 1 . 1 )
good question . i didn ' t know apple did that . sounds cheesy . i ' ll check with livescribe about the warranty on my replacement pen .
livescribe’s official reason for shutting down the development program is to concentrate on , “cloud access , storage and services . ” while we’re still wondering why livescribe would sideline the developers that give a platform more functionality , it’s astonishing that a company would take down the sdk and delete the dev forums of their own product .
livescribe’s fourth generation smart pen , the livescribe 3 , is a revolutionary step for the vendor . unlike its predecessors , it does not have an built - in microphone , speaker , or storage , but employs an app - centric model that relies on an ios - based device for recording and playback via bluetooth smart .
livescribe’s new goal with sky , bouchard said , is to turn the smartpen into “the best companion for all these new things” in the smartphone and tablet era .
livescribe is a six - year - old company that develops pens with an embedded computer . the pens , dubbed smartpens , record and digitise what you write . livescribe has made three versions of its smartpen : the pulse , the echo and the sky . they each work with compatible notebooks , software apps and developer tools .
it would be nice if livescribe provided an option to use both . and that’s another issue : there’s a real lack of options in the desktop program . you can’t even specify a default location to save files to ; it always defaults to my documents , which is annoying since livescribe connect would default wherever you wanted it to .
you’re free to continue using the older livescribe desktop and create flash - based pencasts , but hopefully this helps provide additional context on the pros and cons . thanks !
this is nonsense and the software has become a crap and useless for me . i do not use the pen anymore , thanks livescribe for a job badly done .
onenote and google sites fit well within the connect’s user base . livescribe connect allows users to send and audio recordings direct to onenote , which was built by microsoft to be a sort of digital notebook for such content . google sites is a collaborative building tool and capable of adding content from other google services and now livescribe connect .
understood – we try to highlight “works with evernote” for sky but may not have been clear . the livescribe 3 is available at best buy , paradise pen , t - mobile stores or store . livescribe . com , hope you find it useful . it’s great when you need to share sketches or notes with clients , for example .
well , that ' s my post . why do i love livescribe ? why am i sharing a fix / fudge ? i can take this handwritten post , upload the pages , convert the handwriting to text in myscript for livescribe then copy and paste the text to my blogging app . ( as i have done with this post )
the pay - tv company sued us firm livescribe over the
sky
mark in the £154 gadget , which records audio and wirelessly transfers it to users ' computers .
you could also save the livescribe pdf pencasts to a shared folder like onedrive , dropbox or google drive , and they could access the file that way without emailing it .
the livescribe 3 smartpen one of the most useful accessories for ios owners who use their device for note taking , provided you are running the latest version of the platform .
the livescribe 3 smartpen has been exclusively developed to pair with the iphone and ipad , and in particular , those running the newest version of apple’s mobile operating system , ios 7 . it’s compatible with the iphone 4s and above , the third generation ipad and above , and the ipad mini . the smartpen requires the livescribe + app to operate .
among the special controls you will find the ethnographer + + controls that enable livescribe users to easily start and stop data collection , without having to use the livescribe nav plus menu . we recommend printing out a sheet of these controls , and cutting them apart to tape them on clipboards , printed sheets , or notebooks that you plan to use .
in order to learn more about the livescribe smartpen , the ycdc asked six students , five in high school and one in eighth grade , to use the pen for six weeks . the smaller sample of students allowed us to observe how these products were actually used by the student . each student was given an echo 4gb smartpen . they were privately trained for 90 minutes and had access to other training aids , such as the livescribe getting started guide , smartpen 101 tutorial , or the livescribe website . all of the students received permission to use the pen in school . during the six - week project students were contacted once a week and asked to talk about their experience using the livescribe smartpen .
one problem with the livescribe is that there is no place for ads on the device unless it injects some ad in the digital copy of your work or something like that .
a few of sky’s features aren’t going to be available at launch . one , called wifi share , which will let you send sky notes and audio directly to e - mail , google drive , facebook and dropbox , will follow along later , as will livescribe helper , which will let you do old - fashioned usb cable syncing as an alternative to wireless transfers . livescribe is also still working on a way for existing customers who upgrade to the sky to get stuff out of the old livescribe desktop software and into evernote .
the key difference between the livescribe 3 and previous models is that all sound recording is done by an iphone or ipad . parker said the reason for this is the superior sound quality on mobile devices , though we haven ' t experienced any issues with the clarity or volume of sound when recording with previous livescribe devices , particularly the sky wifi smartpen .
i became accustomed to the disjointedness with continued usage , and bouchard said the company plans to move its livescribe player function to evernote’s cloud server , which should reduce the latency .
thank you for your feedback , shared with the product team . with livescribe pdf files , we’ve strived to make the files as small ( and therefore portable ) as possible .
hope this helps ! exciting to hear your’e finding the livescribe 3 so useful in the field – we try to make things as mobile as possible while still capturing every word .
the trademark infringement dispute prompted livescribe to pull the gadget from uk stores , although bskyb said it has now agreed for the firm to sell off stock existing prior to the rebrand .
livescribe desktop saves your notes and recordings to your computer for fast , easy access to what ' s important . search for words within your notes and find what you need fast .
i am really looking forward to the android version of the livescribe 3 pen . i just hope my current pen lasts ( my lcd doesn’t work anymore ) until it gets here !
the livescribe pulse smartpen is expected to ship in march ( pc only , mac support to follow soon ) with the 1 gb model selling for $ 149 and the 2 gb model for $ 199 . both pens come with a 100 - page dot notebook , 3d recording headset , ink and stylus refills , usb cradle , livescribe desktop app , and 250 mb of online storage .
this poster session presentation shares some honest strengths and limitations of the livescribe pulse smartpen , as well as honest student reflections . this is a helpful presentation for those considering the implementation of smartpens .
take the stress out of tests and meetings with an echo smartpen from livescribe . record everything you hear , say and write , while linking your audio recordings to your notes . quickly replay audio from your livescribe paper , a computer , or a mobile device - - all with a simple tap on your handwritten notes . it ' s never been easier to take notes and stay organized .
i was introduced to livescribe . i remember it well . the ipad had just launched and a colleague bought hers to a meeting where i bemoaned not being able to justify to myself a very expensive pdf reader ! she did then show me her livescribe pen . i immediately bought one ! and now i have an ipad ( still 2nd generation ) i wouldn ' t be without either .
the digital pen is the first to
integrate wi - fi technology and cloud services ,
according to livescribe , and a top - end model costs $ 249 . 95 ( £154 ) .
very important : before charging your echo smartpen , download and install the echo desktop software from the livescribe website . please contact the manufacturer / seller / amaon customer care for more details with this regard
while the livescribe 3 smartpen no longer syncs automatically with evernote , it can be pushed to the service , and content can also be shared to dropbox , box . net , and other services .
but an echo uses a usb cable to connect to a computer , and livescribe 3 uses a bluetooth 4 . 0 low energy connection to connect to an ios device to transfer over your handwriting .
users can upload these digital note files to livescribe’s web site to share with friends , even those who don’t have a livescribe pen . in addition , users can do keyword searches on the notes ( if at least some portion of their handwriting is clear enough for recognition software to do its job ) or even watch a “replay” of their note - taking while reviewing the audio file on the computer .
watch your notes appear instantly on your ios and android mobile devices . paired with the livescribe + mobile app , notes become more useful when they are organized , tagged , searchable and converted to text .
the result is a disjointed user experience that requires an always–on internet connection for the livescribe player to work . additionally , there is an annoying delay before the pencast appears , while its contents are fetched .
the area of the entire anoto dot pattern is huge , and represents a piece of paper the combined size of europe and asia . livescribe dot paper is based on a portion of this dot pattern .
the dev program could not have been a substantial drain on livescribe , and some costs were recovered as developers populated the app store at livescribe ( that one poster sagely advised livescribe should have developed ) . those devs who posted products to the store supposedly get some shared remuneration . my suspicion is that there is - as suggested - some patent skeleton in a trial lawyer’s closet that generated a cease - and - desist . it’s a complete shame they stunted the dev program and shorted all who invested time aiming to post apps in the store . i am sure the company will suffer from the loss of independent development .
i have version 1 . 4 – but the license precludes me from redistributing it . if someone can get livescribe to release me ( us ) from the license restrictions , i’m happy to make it available .
it’s been several years since the latest release of livescribe desktop . since then , there have been major new os releases like windows 8 and mac os x yosemite . given that this new release is focused on echo smartpens , and not sky or livescribe 3 smartpens , we wanted to avoid any confusion with the name , while using the opportunity to deliver a “reboot” of how our customers share their notes and pencasts .
now , i discover another major problem . it seems that firefox is not a supported web browser for the livescribe + online player ! really ? you allow opera , but not firefox ? ? ? why ?
if you’d like to extract the audio , open the livescribe pdf pencast in adobe reader , click on the paperclip / attachments icon to show the session _ audio0 . m4a file , then save the attachment .
we got an up close look at the livescribe pulse , and found out for ourselves what it could do . livescribe ' s ceo , jim marggraff , is the same man responsible for leapfrog ' s fly fusion pen . he left to found livescribe and work on more advanced smartpens . the pulse is about 6 inches long , about a half inch in diameter , has a 96x18 oled display , up to 2gb of memory ( good for 150 - 200 hours recording time or 60 , 000 pages of notes ) , dual embedded mics , and a data / charging dock with a similar design to a magsafe charger .
sky is an upgrade worth the price for anyone currently using one of livescribe’s older smartpens , despite drawbacks . its streamlined syncing process saves time and boosts productivity , and updates could eliminate most of its initial deficiencies .
recently however my livescribe pen has faulted in securing its initial and valued purpose in providing confidence to enable me to ' keep up ' with the world as i see it . it ' s a dyslexic thing .
while livescribe notebooks might be handy to just take freehand notes , sometimes more strtucture is required . chronoviz supports the use of custom paper templates that can be printed directly through the digital pen and paper facilities of chronoviz .
software downloads livescribe plans to maintain a clearinghouse online where users can download new applications , some created by the company and others by users . ( anyone who can program in java can write software for the pen . )
ok - i’ve read twice now that for other people to have both the audio and the notes together * they * have to install echo desktop – even though * they * don’t have a livescribe pen . that makes no sense . i agree with everything that has been posted above . echo desktop is a huge step backwards for this and all the other reasons mentioned above . i’m extremely sad that i switched from livescribe desktop to this .
the livescribe smartpen captures everything that you write and everything that is spoken . inside the pen is a camera that takes a picture of your notes as you write them . it also has a built - in microphone that lets you record what is being said . once the pen is turned on , which requires the click of a button , the pen will begin taking a picture of the notes that you write . the livescribe smartpen works with livescribe dot paper which comes in a variety of sizes . you can print your own paper if you have a compatible laser printer . if you choose not to take notes , you can record audio and replay the session .
overall , the sample group really seemed to find the pen helpful and made use of it . we feel that for students in honors - level or college - level courses the livescribe pen is a very powerful study aid . however , there are students for whom the livescribe smartpen may not be a useful tool . someone with significant auditory - processing difficulties who learns little from spoken language may be challenged by listening to the audio playbacks . although one of the icons on the livescribe dot paper allows you to slow down the rate at which the audio recording is played back , this feature did not assist the above - mentioned student , but perhaps it may help others .
it’s not all doom and gloom for android and windows phone users , however . livescribe australia and new zealand ' s general manager , mark parker , said the livescribe 3 will be platform agnostic in the future . the company has not offered a timeline , so consumers can expect at least a four - month wait , if not longer . in the meantime , the smart pen proves entirely redundant for users of google’s and microsoft’s mobile operating systems .
but the issue of reduced–size page image printing from within evernote may be confronted by livescribe itself . “we are investigating the use case and customer demand to determine if this is something we will address , ” the company said .
hi – you’re all set . no need for an active wifi connection when recording a pencast with the livescribe 3 , it uses the bluetooth smart ( low energy ) connection from smartpen to tablet / smartphone to transmit notes .
one of the key changes in echo desktop , compared to livescribe desktop , is the removal of livescribe connect . instead of requiring customers to install an additional piece of software , we’ve simplified the sharing functionality . customers can still share their notes , full pencasts or audio files easily . pages and notebooks are shared as pdf’s , audio files from pencasts can be saved as . m4a files and pencasts are exported as livescribe pdfs . from within echo desktop , any content can be sent via email or saved anywhere on your computer , including to local dropbox , microsoft onedrive or google drive folders . once on your computer , the content can be shared using the wide range of cloud based sharing services available today . we’ve created the livescribe pdf file with these new services in mind , with the ability to email or upload standard pdf files to a wider range of cloud services , so customers can use the same content management or learning management systems to save their notes as they would with microsoft office documents , or other pdf files . livescribe pdf files are universally accessible and much easier to share than the older pencast pdf files .
three versions of sky are offered with different storage capacities , and can be found at best buy , fry’s and apple stores , at many college campus bookstores , and online at livescribe . com , urltoken and amazon . com .
so far…not really liking the switch . using the livescribe pdf , i have to upload my pencast files to a an online player now that seems slow and clunky , and i’m concerned about the security issues around uploading sensitive documents .
there are several ways to play back a livescribe pdf pencast . each entails downloading a pencast or opening it the discussion . t hrac computerwever this required frequent flash updates , and dfrom email , cloud service or other storage location .
in addition , livescribe mobile software development kits ( sdks ) aimed at app developers will enable sky to forge a direct connection to a tablet or smartphone on the same wi - fi network , and to stream notes and audio to the device in realtime as they’re written on dot paper and recorded by the smartpen’s microphone . it’s conceivable that note - taking , drawing , annotation , collaboration , textbook or journal apps will take advantage of these sdks , livescribe said .
the sky also introduces a software change which is just as significant : instead of depending on its own proprietary software , it simply plunks everything into evernote , the omnipresent note - taking app / service which livescribe says a majority of its customers already use . if you’ve got a device that evernote supports — and it supports just about everything — your livescribe notes , sketches and recordings will just be there once the pen has synced , which it does without your intervention .
livescribe dot paper uses regular paper printed with a unique pattern of tiny microdots . this tiny pattern works a lot like a gps system for your smartpen . it allows a smartpen to capture everything it writes or draws on dot paper .
parker told us that when the livescribe 3 was being designed , the big question was , “how do we create a more elegant writing implement ? ” the goal was to make something which looks and feels more like a standard pen .
it is important to know that once echo desktop is installed and you update your smartpen to the latest firmware , you cannot revert back to livescribe desktop . you will need to continue using echo desktop on that computer with that smartpen .
this is the first livescribe pen with a nib that can be retracted and extended . this is achevied by twisting a textured centre portion of the pen , which also turns the device on or off , signalled by a short beep .
the loss of the sdk for this pen is going to hurt a lot of people who simply aren’t target market for livescribe . they are just people benefiting from the technology existing . without free / opensource maintainers many projects literally cannot exist .
all my handwritten notes that i save as pdf documents have really bad resolution . my livescribe pen is useless now . this is happening since i upgraded to echo , is there a way to have the good resolution i was used to ?
day in and day out , you work hard to exchange a lot of crucial information while building professional relationships with clients , partners and colleagues . because the livescribe 3 smartpen captures everything you write and hear , you can focus on engaging with your colleagues and customers during meetings rather than frantically scribbling notes . plus , with your information accessible on your smartphone or tablet , you’ll get action items , appointments and meeting notes to the people and places that need them . shop livescribe 3 >
easily send notes and audio to people and destinations such as email 2 , google docs 2 , facebook , microsoft onenote , google sites 2 , mylivescribe , your mobile device or your computer 3 - - all from your paper or livescribe desktop .
thanks as well for the feedback . if you’d like , you can install echo desktop on any of your student computers and access pencasts that way without needing an internet connection ( once you copy over the livescribe pdf files to that computer ) .
on chrome , internet explorer or safari . click the blue button that says “choose your livescribe pdf . ” browse to the file , open it and you’ll see your pencast complete with stop / start , skip and speed controls to make it easy to get to the important information you’re looking for . note : firefox does not support the aac audio compression standard , so it is not able to play back livescribe pdf pencasts . please use a different web browser to listen to your audio .
livescribe connect is still seemingly limited by the smartpens requirement of a physical link for sharing . it’s a novel idea and ultimately allows for sharing of written content , but a wireless link , even bluetooth , would broaden its appeal with increased functionality .
at about 3 : 20 in this video , jim margraff , creator of the livescribe smartpen , explains the dot pattern system that is the magic ( or math ) behind the amazing feats of this incredible technology . watch it now . . .
the other problem with livescribe is that imo it will die anyway because while it is incredibly neat technology , it exits in niche market . and i suspect the market for a digital pen will continue shrinking as the market for tablets and handhelds grows .
ok i have a new computer with my livescribe data backed up . i install the new echo software , how do i get my pages and audio to be seen in the new software ? this is driving me crazy ! chris . housden @ urltoken
this is the first livescribe pen with a nib that is retracted and protruded , done by twisting a textured centre portion of the pen , which also turns the device on or off , signalled by a short beep . the pen itself feels solid in the hand with a rounded body , although it does look and feel quite plasticy and thus a little cheap for its £130 price . however , it ' s an improvement over previous livescribe smartpen releases , looking desirable and more like a normal pen .
the pulse also comes with a charging and docking cradle that downloads content either to a pc or a macintosh . livescribe desktop software then displays an exact duplicate of the written pages of notes , instantly synchronized with the audio recordings taken at the same time .
unfortunately , this means you not only have to bring an iphone / ipad with you at all times if you intend to use the livescribe 3 , but you must also take it out of your pocket / bag so it can record audio without impediments .
hi – please see the article below if you’d like to go back to livescribe desktop , although you should be able to back up your files – the data is all in the same place for both apps . please contact us at cs @ urltoken urltoken
hi daniel – if your students have adobe reader installed , they can open the livescribe pdf files locally with just the ‘flat’ penstrokes . if you’d like to play them back locally with full pencast support , just install echo desktop and open the pencasts that way .
now livescribe has a smartpen in tune with the times . it’s introducing a new flagship model , the sky , and the major improvement to the hardware is that the pen now incorporates built - in wi - fi , eliminating the need to do transfers via usb .
but even as livescribe brought forth new and improved smartpens and software in the following years — including a second–generation pen named echo that i have not used — its products did not keep pace with fast–evolving smartphones , tablets and apps , nor with changes in computer operating systems . in fact , livescribe’s dedicated software for apple macintosh computers has not been fully compatible with the last two generations of the mac’s osx operating system ( versions 10 . 7 lion and 10 . 8 mountain lion ) , and has worked poorly with them as a result .
i can ' t deny my livescribe pen revolutionised how i deal with and cope with text . with livescribe , i am able to take notes and notate the audio taking place around me . this took away a lot of anxiety i often experience where i need to note down relevant elements but equally , pay attention and be present in a room . where there is a pressure to produce minutes or notes for circulation , striking a balance between documentation and participation came with a disorientation that prevented me doing either satisfactorily . then . . . .
one touch of the power button to turn the pen on . then i tap / prod the activity sounds volume mute button twice . once to mute the sound cues and a second prod of the icon with the pen reactivates them with a livescribe ' tock ' sound .
livescribe : we’re sorry we cannot continue to support the maintenance and monitoring of our independent developer community . as such , we have turned over our forums to ( hackaday , makezize , instructables , etc ) and are no longer supporting , nor will continue development on the public sdk .
having said all that , i still contend that the livescribe pen is a vast improvement over an old–fashioned audio recorder . with an old–fashioned audio recorder , the only way to find the exact audio passage needed ( quotation , for a journalist ) is to constantly fast–forward and rewind through the recording , in an almost random fashion . by contrast , with the livescribe pen i can simply tap on the portion of my written notes associated with the needed audio passage ( quotation ) , going directly to that audio . the time saved ( and resulting productivity increase ) is great .


sip-and-puff or sip 'n' puff ( snp ) is assistive technology used to send signals to a device using air pressure by " sipping " ( inhaling ) or " puffing " ( exhaling ) on a straw , tube or " wand . "

it is primarily used by people who do not have the use of their hands .

it is commonly used to control a motorized wheelchair by quadriplegics with very high injury to their spinal cord or people with als .

sip - and - puff

sip / puff headset with attached 6 - foot ( 1 . 8 - meter ) air tube and twist connector for attaching to sip / puff switch
sip / puff headset with attached 6 - foot ( 1 . 8 - meter ) air tube and twist connector for attaching to sip / puff breeze
the imperium sip and puff switch is activated with either a
sip
or
puff
of the lips with the included small mouth piece .
sterilize the straw portion of the sip and puff assistive technology switches before using .
no product reviews have been submitted yet for the sip and puff assistive technology switches .
figure 4 . output signal from the pressure sensor with a sip and puff actions .
these are operated by sucking and blowing on a mouthpiece . sip and puff pressures are programmable and will also have a mode change feature in order to operate other chair controls such as lights or actuators . they require quite a bit of practice by the user to get good at driving . not only does the wheelchair electronics distinguish between a sip and a puff , it can also recognize the strength of the sip and puff . basic sip and puff pressure is interpretation as… hard puff – forward , soft puff – right , soft sip – left and hard sip – reverse .
sip and puff drives are the solution for those users who aren ' t able to use any part of their body to operate a control device on their power wheelchair . sip and puff systems are non - proportional drives and require quite a bit of practice by the user to get good at driving . the user will either puff air into a tube or sip on the tube . not only do the wheelchair electronics distinguish between a sip and a puff , it can also recognize the strength of the sip and puff . a hard sip or puff will mean one thing to the wheelchair and a soft sip or puff will mean something else . the trick for the user is to get used to how hard to sip or puff and be consistent with those actions . pictured is the asl sip n puff / head array package .
if you can use a drinking straw you can use our sip / puff switch .
if a usb output is desired then sip / puff breeze is the proper choice .
at least one of a bite switch or a sip and puff switch incorporated into the body .
add to cart sip and puff switch sku # : end - 970 $ 261 . 85 add to cart
please note that the sip and puff devices will not be available at your advance or ordinary polling station .
sip / puff breeze is an advanced usb sip / puff switch in an extremely compact package . it connects directly to standard usb ports on computers , laptops , and aac devices and provides hardware emulation of mouse buttons or joystick functions .
grogg k , anschutz j , jones m . development of a sip and puff interface for the ipod music device .
this is a demo of sip and puff control on motorized wheelchair as a part of my research project at tas .
the origin instruments sip / puff switch with headset is the leading sip - puff system for individuals with motor disabilities and limited dexterity . this multi - user version of the popular sip / puff switch offering provides healthcare institutions , assessment centers , hospitals , etc . with a means to support multiple users while eliminating concerns over sanitation .
the disposable mouthpiece is connected by plastic , latex - free tubing to the sip / puff switch that converts sips and puffs into electrical signals . the sip / puff switch connects to the computer or interface device through one stereo or two mono cables .
for people effected with severe motor disabilities , manipulating a standard switch can be difficult , tiring and in some cases impossible . with origin instruments sip / puff offerings users can easily activate and have control over devices through a simple “sip” and / or “puff” into a mouth tube .
the imperium sip and puff switch is activated with either a
sip
or
puff
of the lips with the included small mouth piece . features a 1 / 8 - in / 3 . 5 - mm stereo plug and includes a gooseneck mount and mounting clamp .
use the second generation sip / puff breeze™ to access ipad , iphone and the ipod touch with apple ' s switch control feature .
the sip / puff switch translates sips and puffs into independent switch closures . the sip / puff switch has two ( 2 ) 3 . 5mm ports for connecting two standard mono cables or a single stereo cable and has integrated test buttons to assist in application testing .
4 . the mouth activated input device as defined in claim 1 , wherein there is provided both the bite switch and the sip and puff switch .
check it out , a sip - and - puff arduino shield . this is an assistive technology that allows the physically challenged to control things using a plastic air tube . different combinations of sucking ( sip ) or blowing ( puff ) differentiate between control commands .
jones m , grogg k , anschutz j , fierman r . a sip - and - puff wireless remote control for the apple ipod .
the multi - user sip / puff switch with headset provides healthcare institutions , assessment centers , hospitals , etc . with a means to support multiple users while reducing concerns over sanitation .
sip
and
puff
test buttons are integrated to assist in application testing .
sip and puff assistive technology switches are designed for patients with severe physical impairments , and can be hooked up to two devices . sipping on the switch will activate one , while puffing will activate the other . all sip and puff assistive technology switches come with a 19 in . gooseneck and three - way mounting clamp .
sip / puff solutions are ideal for people who have limited or no motor capability to operate switch activated devices , including computers , augmentative communication devices , adapted toys , environmental control systems and devices accessed or controlled by scanning . sip / puff technology is also popular for wheel chair navigation .
strong , lightweight and versatile , the sip / puff gooseneck features a universal mount that securely attaches to table tops , beds and wheelchairs . the flexible steel gooseneck and the ball - and - socket mount enable easy and secure mouthpiece positioning . the filtered mouthpiece is replaceable and a thin , pliable connecting tube interfaces the mouthpiece to sip / puff breeze with a simple twist connector .
with all the equipment that ' s in my face
with the sip - and - puff system ,
people saw that and not me ,
he said .
strong , lightweight and versatile , the sip / puff gooseneck features a universal mount that securely attaches to table tops , beds and wheelchairs . the flexible steel gooseneck and the ball - and - socket mount enable easy and secure mouthpiece positioning . the filtered mouthpiece is replaceable and a thin , pliable connecting tube interfaces the mouthpiece to the sip / puff switch with a simple twist connector .
the sip / puff multi - user headset is uniquely designed to support disposable mouthpieces . each disposable mouthpiece is enclosed in a sealed package that includes a pair of latex - free gloves and an instruction sheet . the mouthpiece filter eliminates sanitary concerns on behalf of both the user and the attendant while retaining sip - puff convenience , accuracy and reliability .
5 . the mouth activated input device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sip and puff switch has an elongated opening , which extends axially along the body .
dual pressure switch has two 3 . 5 - mm ( 1 / 8 - inch headphone ) connectors . one connector provides both sip and puff events with a stereo cable
although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the mouth activated input device , as described above , even more beneficial results may be obtained when the sip and puff switch has an elongated opening which extends axially along the body . the elongated opening is designed to prevent the user from accidentally blocking access to the sip and puff switch .
6 . the mouth activated input device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sip and puff switch has a saliva trap chamber with a removable cover to facilitate cleaning .
12 . the mouth activated input device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the sip and puff switch has a saliva trap chamber with a removable cover to facilitate cleaning .
if a simple switch closure over a standard switch 3 . 5 - mm connector is desired then the passive sip / puff switch is the proper choice .
a gentle sip or puff on a tube may be easier and more suitable for some than a more traditional adaptive switch . like a traditional switch , our sip puff switches can be used to access all manner of switch activated devices - speech generating devices , computers , tablets , mobile phones , environmental control systems , and other devices designed for switch scanning .
the most popular technology for operating a motorized wheelchair , called sip - and - puff devices and based on inhaling or exhaling into a tube , offers only four commands - forward , back , left and right - and is also slow and cumbersome .
there are a variety of point and click headgear mechanisms in the prior art . point and click headgear devices generally utilize ultrasound or light detectors to position the cursor on the computer screen and a “sip - and - puff” device to simulate pressing the mouse buttons . “sip - and - puff” refers to breath - operated devices wherein the user initiates commands to the control unit by either blowing or sucking air from the mouthpiece .
the multi - user sip / puff switch with headset is packaged in a compact case for easy storage and transport . the case is similar to a small briefcase , complete with handle and snap closures .
sip / puff breeze now supports ios switch control . with an apple usb camera adapter , breeze can now provide complete access to your ipad , iphone or ipod touch .
the second generation breeze builds on the original ' s comprehensive sip and puff switch , and computer interface solution by adding the capability to generate apple ios switch control events . it is a first class sip / puff sensor with an integrated usb computer interface . use breeze ' s integrated dip switch to tell it what events your application needs , plug it in , attach a pneumatic tube , and your application is ready for access .
this shield uses a pressure sensor to receive input from the plastic tubing . but we’ve also seen it done using mechanical pressure switches . that technique is what was used in the sip - and - puff kayak build .
the disposable mouthpiece attaches in seconds using a snap - fit fastener to the sip / puff multi - user headset . after usage , the mouthpiece is discarded and replaced so the system is immediately available for the next user .
suck and blow , exactly . the title made me think this was a device to help with consuming alcohol and smoking “tobacco . ” you sip a drink , you puff a cigarette and neither of those has anything to do with moving air through a tube for triggering things .
the arduino series of micro - controllers opens up a huge world of possibilities for novice programmers and hobbyists ! with freely available development systems and tutorials , and a vast array of library functions and sample sketches , just about anyone can succeed in designing and building projects that once would have required an advanced degree in electronics and programming . when i set out to develop my sip & puff controlled kayak , the subject of another instructable , i discovered that commercially available sip & puff switches were very costly , and thus prohibitive for many hobbyists to experiment with in their designs . this instructable will fully detail how to construct a u - contoller based sip & puff switch with the minimum and least expensive hardware i know of . i ' ll present complete purchasing info and detail how to fabricate a few parts you may wish to make yourself .
the second consideration is connectivity . the device that turns the sips and puffs into electrical signals ( often referred to as a
switch interface
) for a computer or aac device is available in two forms . if a simple switch closure over a standard 3 . 5 - mm connector is desired then the passive sip / puff switch is the proper choice . if a usb output is desired then sip / puff breeze™ is the proper choice .
the integramouse enables the user to activate all mouse functions with as little as 10 grams of lip pressure . left and right mouse clicks can be made with the built in sip and puff switch . use this tool for students who cannot access a standard mouse and have breath control .
this filter is required for the breeze and highly recommended for the sip / puff switch . the origin instruments sip / puff headset is designed such that gravity will generally minimize saliva moving past the headset . if saliva gets past the headset then an in - line filter is required . there is no need to insert more than one filter . for example , the gooseneck mouthpiece has an in - line filter so a second filter should not be used .
although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the mouth activated device , as described above , even more beneficial results may be obtained when the sip and puff switch has a saliva trap chamber with a removable cover to facilitate cleaning .
sip / puff headset is a comfortable , adjustable head frame . the padded headset slips over the ears and behind the head . a replaceable mouth tube is held in position with an integral stainless steel forming wire . the tube and wire can be bent and cut to adapt to individual needs .
however , if you have a limited range of motion or strength , then using the standard joystick may be difficult . there are a growing number of alternative options that are becoming available . these include light touch mini joysticks , switches , touchpads and sip and puff controls .
sip - n - puff devices are widely used for controlling powered wheelchair . in sip - n - puff system , the user gives commands to the chair by “sipping” ( inhaling ) and “puffing” ( exhaling ) on a pneumatic tube . this method works , basically , on the amount of pressure applied to the pneumatic tube and whether the sign of the pressure is negative or positive ( indicating sipping or puffing , respectively ) . sharp sips and puffs can be used to change the speed and direction of the wheelchair . steering is accomplished by lower - level sips and puffs .
using the sip and puff device with the audio session is safe and confidential . the device can be easily mounted on a table or wheelchair , for which our special voting officers are trained to assist . every elector will use a headset supplied with disposable ear covers for sanitary reasons . the audio is only heard by the elector who is wearing the headset . also for sanitary reasons , our special voting officers will use disposable latex gloves to replace the disposable tips with built - in filters from the sip and puff device after each use .
sip’n puff is the industry term used to describe this type of assistive device . although it isn’t 100 % correct , it is a more elegant description . i’m sure a suck and blow ipod dock would have recieved a bigger response from a different type crowd . : )
thanks ! i have seen just the switch and mouthpiece units starting around $ 80 . they go up from there . this project adds the endless capabilities of a microcontroller to take a project to the next step - intelligently timing and responding to sip & puff commands , and the ability to control the rest of the project beyond the user interface . referring to my earlier instructable : urltoken the same arduino that manages the sip & puff portion of the design also controls the operator display panel , communicates with the motor driver , and monitors the rc throttle input as well as the man - overboard switch .
is this likely a 2 switch setup ? urltoken ( $ 160 ) or is there simply a single pressure switch available ? i need a switch that if i sustain a puff / sip the switch will close until i release ( momentary ) . .
the sip / puff replacement mouth tube has a stainless steel forming wire to position the tube in a convenient location next to the mouth . for best results the plastic tubing should slip up to the plastic mount for the headset ' s stainless steel tube .
there are several things to consider for a sip and puff switch solution . first is the user interface . we provide two standard options for positioning the mouthpiece , a headset and a flexible shaft with universal clamp . however , you may wish to attach the mouth tube to some other apparatus already positioned next to the user . in that case we have extra tubing available for a custom interface . our multi - user headset features a disposable mouthpiece and filter assembly that is easily replaced . this sanitary solution is perfect for evaluation centers and situations where multiple people will be using the same sip / puff switch . our flexible shaft interface also features twist - on and disposable , filtered mouthpieces .
the sip / puff multi - user headset is uniquely designed to support disposable mouthpieces . the disposable mouthpiece attaches in seconds using a snap - fit fastener and includes an inline aseptic filter to enable hygienic , worry - free access by a succession of users . the system is packaged in a compact case for easy storage and transport .
sip and puff is an access method which is not as common in europe as it is in the us however it is an ideal way to increase the functionality of a joystick controlled by lip movement . see the above link to learn more about sip and puff but to give a brief explanation , it uses a sensor that monitors the air pressure coming from a tube . a threshold can be set ( depending on the user’s ability ) for high pressure ( puff ) and low pressure ( sip ) . once this threshold is passed it can act as an input signal like a mouse click , switch input or keyboard press among other things . the flipmouse also has two jack inputs for standard ability switches as well as infrared in ( for learning commands ) and out ( for controlling tv or other environmental controls ) . all these features alone make the flipmouse stand out against similar solutions however that’s not what makes the flipmouse special .
using only tongue movements , the volunteers also navigated a powered wheelchair through a 50 - meter - long course with 13 turns , 24 obstacles and occasional alarms signaling
stop ! emergency !
here , too , on average the 11 tetraplegics drove the course three times faster with the tongue system than with sip - and - puff , and just as accurately .
the jouse 2 is a joystick - operated mouse that is controlled with the user ' s mouth . users can move the joystick with their mouth , cheek , chin , or tongue to shift the mouse cursor . using a built - in sip and puff switch allows users to perform typical mouse button functions .
all user interface solutions can be attached to the separate , breeze sensor using a simple twist - on pneumatic connector . the electronic pressure sensor in breeze will sense a sip or puff and convert these events to mouse button clicks or joystick button presses , and pass these to the connected usb host device ( typically a pc or mac computer ) .
breeze is a usb sip / puff switch in a compact package . it connects directly to standard usb ports on computers , laptops and aac devices and provides hardware emulation of mouse buttons or joystick functions . for special applications , sensitivity is selectable and dynamic pressure readings can be directly accessed through the usb interface . the integrated pneumatic port connects directly to a range of available user interface options including headset and gooseneck .
you can’t drive a powerchair with a gaze tracker , at least not outdoors with a bunch of ambient ir light everywhere . driving a powerchair is something that needs to work very reliably . also , gaze trackers require calibration and take up a lot of space . for certain tasks they’re just not feasible and sip in puff is a much more appropriate solution .
assistive and educational technology tools and resources to support learning for students with disabilities and their classmates .
in this case the device is used to control an ipod dock , but [ bob johnson’s ] kickstarter project seeks to put the sip - and - puff functionality out there so that it can bridge the control gap no matter what the need . one example that he mentions in the video after the break is a morse code keyboard .
a prototype intra - oral module was developed to verify the interface functionality with the user . the intra - oral module consumes a maximum of 28ma when it is activated and zero power while it is deactivated . figures 3 , 4 and 5 show the output signals from a hall effect sensor while the moveable plate was cycled through its range , a sip and puff action on the air pressure sensor and a biting action on the switch .
why not use a pressure transducer ? you ' d only need one , plus a precious analogue pin , and this would allow you to use graduated sips and puffs ( hard puff / soft puff , etc . ) as well . this would allow quite a range of short commands , assuming your client has sufficient breath control . it would also be amenable to control using a sealed bulb - this would avoid the problem of using up all the puff or sip , which is the curse of concertina players everywhere , amongst many others . would it be an idea to include a drool catcher as well ? or is drool resistance the reason the designflex units are so satisfyingly expensive ?
the multi - user headset features a totally detachable mouthpiece assembly that is easily replaced for situations where multiple people will be using the same sip / puff switch . for situations where a headset is not desired , a flexible gooseneck style interface is available . the gooseneck user interface features twist - on filtered mouthpieces .
neural control of speech movements in phonetics and phonology in language comprehension and production : differences and similarities .
attach the head mounted or gooseneck user interface to the breeze sensor using a simple twist - on pneumatic connector . using available tubing , you can even fashion your own custom interface . the sensitive electronic pressure sensor in breeze will sense a sip or puff and convert these events into mouse button clicks , joystick button presses , or keyboard characters , and pass these to the connected usb host device .
the sip and puff device is attached to a vote tabulation machine designed to allow you to cast your vote with the help of an audio session . this method is ideal for individuals that already use a sip and puff device on a regular basis . when using this method , you will automatically hear the name of the first candidate . puffing will allow you to hear the names of all subsequent candidates and will return you to the top of the list once all names have been read . once you have found the candidate you want to vote for , sipping will allow you to select that individual and cast your vote . the machine will confirm to you your selection , and your completed ballot will then be printed into a secrecy sleeve . at that time , one of our special voting officers can help you deposit your ballot into the ballot box
when the user wishes to perform a mouse button command input , the user utilizes the sip - and - puff procedures to trigger a pressure transducer which converts the user - induced , pneumatic signal into an electrical signal which is relayed to a signal . transmitter unit . the signal transmitter unit transmits the mouse button command signal to sensors on the reception unit where it is converted into a serial bit stream and transferred to the computer for execution
i ' m a quadriplegic can ' t move from neck down i use sip n puff controls to drive my wheelchair , i ' ve always wondered if it was possible to fix something up to drive an rc car , do you know of anything or have you ever herd of anybody doing this ? i ' m looking for something that i can turn the car not just go forward and backward .
after just 30 minutes of training , everyone was able to move a computer cursor , clicking on targets on a laptop screen , playing video games and dialing phone numbers . accuracy and speed improved with practice , even though subjects used the system only one day a week . after six weeks the tetraplegics were , on average , three times faster with the tongue system than with sip - and - puff , which six of the 11 ( including disanto ) had been using . it was equally accurate .
target selection is another challenge for eye input to computers . while a computer mouse includes both movement tracking and selection capabilities , there is no equivalent or inherent
button click
capability for the eye . using an eye tracking system for computer input , therefore , requires an additional and satisfactory implementation of the select operation that typically follows pointing . one possibility is to use a separate physical switch for selection . the hand , a head action , or even a sip - and - puff straw can activate the switch .
awesome project ! for those of us not in the industry , could you give us a sense of what
very costly
means for a commercial sip & puff ? you ' ve specked this project out at just under us $ 100 ( i assumed 9 feet of tygon , to get a nice round $ 10 : - ) . is that half of a commercial unit ? 10 % ?
the flipmouse ( finger - and lip mouse ) is a computer input device intended to offer an alternative for people with access difficulties that prevent them using a regular mouse , keyboard or touchscreen . it is designed and supported by the assistive technology group at the uas technikum wien ( department of embedded systems ) and funded by the city of vienna ( torades project and asterics academy project ) . the device itself consists of a low force ( requires minimal effort to operate ) joystick that can be controlled with either the lips , finger or toe . the lips are probably the preferred access method as the flipmouse also allows sip and puff input .
analysis powerful real - time video , heat map and line trace recording and printable reporting .
a mouth activated input device includes an elongated tubular body having an exterior surface , a first end and a second end . a first portion of the body at the first end has a first axis . a second portion of the body at the second end has a second axis , which is inclined at an angle to the first axis . a tongue activated multi - directional sensor element is positioned on the second portion . either a bite switch , a sip and puff switch or both are incorporated into the body .
the mouth activated input device , as described above , is designed to provide maximum comfort to the user with maximum functionality . the comfort is provided by the elongated body which has a “bend” forming the first portion with the first axis , the second portion with the second axis and the tongue activated multi - directional sensor element being positioned on the second portion . functionality is achieved by the combination of the tongue activated multi - directional sensor element in combination with one or more switches . the tongue activated multi - directional sensor element is capable of controlling such things as computer cursor movement . either a bite switch , a sip and puff switch or both are used to make selections . it is preferred that both the bite switch and the sip and puff switch be provided to give maximum flexibility and functionality . although the primary market for this device is perceived to be for persons with disabilities , it will be understood that the device will also be useful to persons , such as helicopter pilots or crane operators , who may wish to use this device when their hands are occupied with other tasks .
the intra - oral module consists of four hall effect sensors coupled with four magnets , a single air pressure sensor and a single push button switch . the four magnets are permanently embedded in a moveable plate , which is attached to the main body of the device through a post . the four corresponding hall effect sensors detect the movement of the plate ( in particular the magnets ) toward and away from each sensor . the tongue is used to move this plate , much like a joystick . these movements are converted to direction and speed data , and cause the on - screen pointer to move . for ` return - to - center ' feedback , a rubber bumper is attached to the base of the post . the pressure sensor is used to detect the puff and sip actions . the puff simulates a right mouse button event , and the sip event is configurable . lastly there is a bite table , which is connected to a push button that can detect a biting event . this simulates a left mouse button click . the length of the intra - oral module is adjustable so that it fits comfortably into the mouth . figure 2 depicts the intra - oral module .
but every physically challenged person is unique . they may find headgear uncomfortable , and not prefer to wear it at times when a simpler interface , like a puff sensor , is adequate for what they want to do . or they may want to have both interfaces at their disposal simultaneously , and divide tasks between them .
according to the present invention there is provided a mouth activated input device which includes an elongated tubular body having an exterior surface , a first end and a second end . a first portion of the body at the first end has a first axis . a second portion of the body at the second end has a second axis which is inclined at an angle to the first axis . a tongue activated multi - directional sensor element is positioned on the second portion . either a bite switch , a sip and puff switch or both are incorporated into the body .
according to the national spinal cord injury statistical center , the number of people having spinal cord injury ( sci ) in the united states has been estimated at approximately 265 , 000 persons in 2010 . there is a growing interest in improving the quality of life of individuals with disability by helping them to become more independent [ 1 ] . therefore , numerous assistive technologies ( at ) have been developed , such as sip - and - puff , eye tracking system , electromyography ( emg ) switches , voice recognition , brain - computer interfaces , and head arrays [ 2 ] .
beyond the drive parameters , there are many options to consider with each non - proportional input device . you may need to program multiple functions to be performed with one switch ( e . g . , on / off , mode changes , and emergency stop ) . it may be necessary to program a specific way for a head array to control the power seat functions , or the individual pressures needed for a sip - and - puff system . setting up the programming for a non - proportional input device can take a great deal of time and investment by everyone on the team , so a big commitment will be necessary .
resrach supported in part by the national institute of biomedical imaging and bioengineering grant 1rc1eb010915 and the national science foundation award cbet - 0828882 and iis - 0803184 .
the normal electric powered wheelchair needs to be operated through joystick by hand . however , the hand function may be limited or even not available in some patients with severe disabilities . the idea of the alternative wheelchair control is to use other part of the body rather than hand to operate some sort of a proportional control joystick . [ 1 ] the alternative wheelchair control includes sip - n - puff control , chin control , head control , speech control and tongue - operated solution - each of those can in some form be found on the market nowadays .
the regression models for the able - bodied and tetraplegic participants using mouse , keypad , tds , and snp are summarized in fig . s1 , a and b .
mackenzie , i . s . and isokoski , p . , fitts ' throughput and the speed - accuracy tradeoff ,
the prototype intra - oral module was developed and the results demonstrated that all the embedded sensors and switches function properly . it fits comfortably in the mouth and is easy to operate . the next two stages of this project are the refinement of the prototype and electronics module , and the start of clinical trials .
small and lightweight , with simple setup and calibration make the mygaze® eye tracker an essential tool at home or in the classroom .
tien , g . and atkins , m . s . , improving hands - free menu selection using eyegaze glances and fixations ,
physically disabled individuals who lack the ability to utilize normal arm and / or hand movement must depend on assistive devices and / or software to help them control a computer in the same manner as a non - disabled user . existing assistive devices do not provide disabled persons with a comparable ability to both manipulate screen objects using “point - and - click” , “drag - and - drop” , and “double - click” and to control the keyboard effectively and efficiently .
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those home systems already exist , with many smartphones offering apps that control home appliances , lights and heating - and - cooling systems .
collins , j . f . and blackwell , l . k . , effects of eye dominance and retinal distance on binocular rivalry ,
comparison of four fisheye techniques to improve target selection . the techniques were no action , always on , and appearing only after fixation begins ( with and without a grab - and - hold algorithm ) .
easy eye gaze interface allows users of varying abilities to access and control windows - based programs using eye gaze . designed for the needs of ‘independent’ users as well as ‘supported’ users and their teachers and parents .
yes , this design uses two of the same ( very ) low pressure / vacuum switches joined on a ' y ' junction . one is connected at the high ( pressure ) port and the other at the low ( vacuum ) port . the common pins of the switches are tied together , and the switches can be configured as active high or active low , depending on which level the common pin is tied to . they are so sensitive that the user does not need to form a complete seal around the mouthpiece . the switches stay closed so long as there is the slightest amount of pressure or vacuum , however they do not give indication of higher or lower pressure / vacuum like a transducer switch would . there is extremely little or even no airflow through the switch , so holding a sip or puff is quite easy and the tube stays relatively dry .
suck and blow ! oh how i loathe the mamby - pamby phrases , that are incorrect . one can not sip air , only liquids . i am all for assistive tech , as i am somewhat dyslexic . i can’t stand icons just give me plain text . this should be standard for ada access . this is clearly a job for a microswitch or 2 and a diaphragm or bellows . put a 15amp switch in it and suck and the vacuum comes on . couldn’t get any easier . make the bellows trip a toggle switch both ways and you have a bistable on off setup , no flip flop required . come to think of it this rather familiar . i rebuild player pianos .
, inset ) . able - bodied and tetraplegic participants completed pc access and powered wheelchair navigation sessions on a weekly basis to measure learning effects .
= 3 . 1 ) . participants would likely demonstrate lower error rates if further training was provided and improved feedback mechanisms were considered and tested .
figure 14 . error rates ( a ) by block and input method ( b ) by input method and target width . error bars show ±1
sure , eye tracking is a potentially higher bandwidth , and more interactive , interface . it can be diy’ed ( see urltoken and other examples ) .
for the new study , published in science translational medicine , ghovanloo and his team tested the tongue system on 11 tetraplegia patients from rehabilitation centers in chicago and atlanta and 23 able - bodied volunteers who already wore tongue jewelry .
instead of using a keypad and the tds , participants with tetraplegia used a snp device and the tds to complete the center - out tapping task .
the universal mounting arm is composed of two separate pieces , a ball and joint assembly and a clamp . the ball and joint assembly aligns with the clamp using an orientation pin that fixes it in one of eight 45 - degree orientations
a computer user traditionally controls the movement of a screen pointer using a standard point and click mouse ; however , some individuals who have poor to no hand or finger movement or are totally disabled cannot use standard input devices . alternative input devices are required to provide similar functionality to these individuals . such devices come in many different shapes and sizes to accommodate a variety of limitations . this paper reports on an innovative intra - oral input device ; its major advantages being user comfort and ease of use . this intra - oral device requires a tongue to control cursor movement , a puff to simulate a right mouse click and a bite on a switch to simulate the left mouse click .
follow this link for more breeze information and an explanation of joystick plus mode .
progression 18 carefully graded activities designed to assess and teach early eye gaze skills .
keyboard shortcuts to easily check positioning and change interaction settings without exiting your activity .
a variation will now be discussed with reference to figs . 7 and 8 .
data and materials availability : all the raw clinical data are available on urltoken .
one degree of separation : paralysis and spinal cord injury in the united states .
comparison of letter prediction and word prediction in eye typing using a soft keyboard .
mcgriffin , m . and balakrishnan , r . , acquisition of expanding targets ,
author contributions : m . g . was the principal investigator ( pi ) in this study , and a . l . , e . r . , m . j . , and d . w . were co - pls . all authors contributed to the design and execution of the study . h . p . and j . k . were responsible for developing and troubleshooting the hardware and software . j . k . , j . b . , e . s . , d . r . , b . n . , d . p . , j . h . , and j . m . conducted the trials . j . k . and e . v . analyzed the results . j . k . and m . g . wrote the paper and all co - authors edited it .
when the user wishes to perform a mouse button command input , the user utilizes the sip - and - puff procedures as outlined in fig . 7 . for example , if the user wishes to perform a “left click” command ( i . e . , to position the cursor in a standard word processing program for text insertion ) , the user puffs or blows into the airway passage 21 a of the enhanced mouthpiece 21 an amount of air sufficient to raise the air pressure in the airway conduit enough to trigger the pressure transducer 40 . the pressure transducer 40 converts the user - induced , pneumatic signal into an electrical signal which is relayed to the signal transmitter unit 50 . the signal transmitter unit 50 transmits the mouse button command signal to sensors 15 on the reception unit 10 . the reception unit 10 converts the mouse button command signal into a serial bit stream and transfers the signal to the computer 1 for execution .
at the user level , guis are utilized by employing three basic computer mouse operations : ( 1 ) “point - and - click” ; ( 2 ) “drag - and - drop” ; and ( 3 ) “double - click” . however , while basic , these three operations actually require complex and coordinated hand and eye movements . the majority of computer operators take for granted the complex set of mouse movements , mouse clicks , and keyboard manipulations inherent in using gui applications . furthermore , the typical user is scarcely aware of the powerful user functionality created by the mouse and keyboard that allow him to efficiently utilize the software application . in fact , as a typical user ' s skill levels increase , the keystrokes and mouse clicks become more automatic and intuitive , causing the interface ' s look and feel to become deceptively easy to manipulate . however , for physically disabled individuals , the basic operations necessary to properly utilize guis and window - based applications are oftentimes arduous and cumbersome if not at times impossible .
the use and operation of mouth activated input device 10 will now be described with reference to figs . 1 through 6 . referring to fig . 11 mouth activated input device 10 is connected to an electronically responsive device by cable connection 44 and fitting 46 . guard 40 may be adjusted for individual physiology by selectively snapping it in place at any one of adjustable positions 42 . upon insertion into the mouth , a person may actuate tongue activated sensor element plate 30 by changing its orientation along one or both of perpendicular axes 32 a or 32 b . plate 30 may be inclined toward any of four primary positions and any secondary positions in between . when tongue activated sensor element plate 30 is manipulated in this way , any one of magnets 50 will be re - oriented closer to any one of hall effect sensors 51 illustrated in figs . 4 and 5 . the combination of changes in proximity between magnets 50 and hall effect sensors 51 is translated as a signal that is transmitted through cable connection 44 to an electronically responsive device . for example , the multi - directional capability of multi - directional gimbal 48 illustrated in figs . 4 and 6 , would translate into the same kind of multi - directional movement required to operate a cursor in a computer . in a similar fashion , a person can actuate bite switch 34 and sip and puff switch 36 to click and select items in a computer . due to first axis 24 being inclined at an angle to second axis 28 , mouth activated input device 10 is operated with optimal comfort .
( c ) means for relaying said first and second signals to said computerized device .
cooper ra , cooper r , boninger ml . trends and issues in wheelchair technologies .
hello : due to age and other factors , i am considering a power wheelchair . and since i have trouble with my right side , ( leg foot arm and hand . ) and need my left arm and hand to carry items , handbag etc . urltoken wondering if a powered wheelchair can be controlled with my good left foot only . no mouth or head controlls please . do you have any ideas for me ? thank you josie
takahashi , k . , nakayama , m . , and shimizu , y . , the response of eye movement and pupil size to audio instruction while viewing a moving target ,
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mygaze eye tracker is an easy and affordable eye gaze control system for hands - free computer access . easy to set up and use ; appropriate for a wide range of needs .
table s1 . summary of the statistical analysis for center - out tapping and itr tasks .
. portions of this example are based on work by zhang and mackenzie [ 34 ] .
the information transfer rate ( itr ) quantifies how quickly and accurately a command is issued following a visual or auditory cue . it is a widely used measure to evaluate and compare bcis (
this is another example of how the field of rehab engineering and assistive devices is continuously evolving and benefiting from incorporating the emerging new technologies ,
said dr daofen chen , program director at the national institute of neurological disorders and stroke , part of the national institutes of health .
shown are ccc % and itr , which quantifies how quickly and accurately a command is issued within a given period . ( a ) ccc % and ( d ) itr for 9 of 23 able - bodied participants using tds . ( b ) ccc % and ( e ) itr for participants with tetraplegia using tds . ( c ) ccc % and ( f ) itr for subjects with tetraplegia using snp . error bars represent ±sem . * p < 0 . 05 , repeated - measures anova and least significant difference pairwise comparisons for session - by - session effects .
it’s all highly situational , and there is no such thing as too many assistive tech options .
we thank pride mobility inc . for donating the quantum 6000 powered wheelchairs . we also thank x . huo for his assistance with developing the tds hardware and software . funding : national institute of biomedical imaging and bioengineering grant 1rc1eb010915 and national science foundation awards cbet - 0828882 and iis - 0803184 . j . m . was supported in part by a grant from the national psoriasis foundation .
when an eye tracker is used for computer input , how well does the interaction work ? can common tasks be done efficiently , quickly , accurately ? what is the user ' s experience ? how are alternative interaction methods evaluated and compared to identify those that work well , and deserve further study , and those that work poorly , and should be discarded ? these are the sorts of questions that can be answered with a valid and robust methodology for evaluating eye trackers for computer input .
participants were briefed on the purpose and objectives of the experiment and on the operation of the eye tracker and the selection methods employed . they sat at a viewing distance of approximately 60 cm from the display . calibration was performed before the first eye technique , with re - calibration as needed .
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, and a permanent magnetic tracer was attached to their tongue , 1 cm anterior to the tip .
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= 1 . 2 s and dropped during shorter periods to 38 . 9 ±28 . 1 % at
) revealed that the tds was easier to use than snp in terms of both speed and accuracy .
table s2 . summary of the statistical analysis for maze navigation and electric - powered wheelchair driving tasks .