Portable tape recorders and small computers can be used for taking field notes. Note taking will need to be well organized for this method. The risk of oversight is larger with tape recordings than with handwritten notes because less time is available for reflection when recording the spoken word than when writing notes. Tapes should be played back after notes are recorded. Recorded notes are usually retrieved and typed later for filing.
Photographs are a quick and accurate way to store information.
They could be used more often in soil surveys than they have been in the past. The sizes and formats of the notebooks that are used in soil surveys depend on working conditions and personal preferences. Large notebooks with pages of about 21 x 27 cm provide ample space for writing and sketching. Loose-leaf notebooks, springback binders, and clipboards are widely used. These permit easy sorting and arrangement, if notes for only one site or observation are made on a sheet.