Livescribe Smartpen
Livescribe smartpen
In 2008 Livescribe released its first smartpen, The Pulse, which records what you hear and connects it to what you write. You can playback your lectures by taping on a particular note in your notebook or on the uploaded version on your computer. The Eco, which was released in 2010, featured a new standard USB charging cable and changed the 2.5mm headphone jack to the standard 3.5mm, in addition to increased storage capacity of 8GB as opposed to 2GB or 4GB options that were previously available.
Jim Marggraff, Founder of Livescribe Inc.
Jim Marggraft has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, he is one of the founders of Explore Technologies and StrataCom and most recently Livescribe. Before Founding Livescribe Inc. in 2007, Mr. Marggraft was the inventor of the LeapFrog Fly Pentop computer and creator of the LeapPad Learning System. He served as LeapFrog’s executive vice president of worldwide content and was the founding president of its internet division. Mr. Marggraft is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with degrees in both electrical engineering and computer science.
Livescribe’s team is made up of 10 core individuals; most have had at least 15 years experience in their related field in addition to holding top positions in other companies before joining the Livescribe team. The 10 team members are:
- Jim Marggraff – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- Dan Fraisl – Chief Product Officer, Software and Services
- Andy Van Schaack, Ph.D. – Senior Science Advisor
- Byron Connell – Chief Marketing Officer
- Helen Thomas – Vice President, General Manager International
- Jim Allison – Senior Vice President of Engineering
- Sasha Pesic – Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
- Rick Neely – Chief Financial Officer
- David Wenning – Vice President of Sales
- Holly De Leon – Vice President Sales, K–12
Personally, I absolutely love the LiveScribe SmartPen. I purchased their first version in 2008 and used it throughout my undergraduate studies. I was skeptical at first but was extremely pleased with the results, and even suggested it to family members for use in meetings, etc. In regards to my own entrepreneurial potential, after reading through the biographies I have realized that it is not impossible, but will require a lot of hard work and perhaps further educational studies.
References
Anoto AB. (Photographer). (201o). Livescribe pluse smartpen [Photograph], Retrieved October 1, 2011, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/anotogroup/4830232544/
Solis, B. (Photographer). (2008). DEMO08 day 1 afternoon – Jim Marggraff, Livescribe [Photograph], Retrieved October 1, 2011, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/briansolis/2229907754/
Posted in: Week 04: Entrepreneur Bootcamp
jenaca 11:10 am on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Ashley,
This is a really interesting device you chose. I have never seen this pen before and am definitely interested in learning more about it. I agree with you, I think the LiveScribe SmartPen is a great invention and is something I now want to buy!
The founder of the company definitely is credible and has been in the business for a very long time!
Thanks for the great post!
Jen
ashleyross 8:56 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You’re welcome. I highly recommend trying it out.
mcquaid 3:11 pm on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I noticed on their site that with the purchase of any smartpen, you get a free year of Evernote Premium. Interesting connection to our previous week!
ashleyross 9:05 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You’re right, that is an interesting connection to our previous week. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Everton Walker 5:14 pm on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This is very intriguing and different. I would really like to experience this pen. Do you think this venture has the potential to be really successful? Even though I like the idea I am not sure if I would invest in such a venture. Even though business is all about taking risk, I would chance this one. Could you please elaborate on the experience you are having with the smartpen.
ashleyross 9:25 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Yes, of course I can elaborate. I would invest in this venture; I think it has the potential to be really successful. As a hobby of mine I work with students who have learning difficulties, so I’m always on the lookout for technologies that will help them succeed in their education. This pen is great for anyone who has difficulty taking notes or wants to be able to go back and listen to specific parts of a lecture or meeting. For the students I work with, most have dysgraphia or a learning disability, which makes it really difficult for them to take notes. Using this pen they don’t even need to take any notes, they can write one word down or even draw something to make an important point they’d like to go back and listen too. The pen also has a ‘star’ feature on the notebook that they tap if something their writing is important.
I also tested this pen out during my undergraduate degree, to see how it actually worked in a classroom setting. I had large lecture halls with 300+ students and small classes with less than 30 students. It picked up exactly what you hear in a classroom, usually I sat in the front to middle of the classroom and it worked great, the odd time if I came in late I would sit in the back and it still worked. Obviously the closer I sat the front the easier it was to hear the professor but that’s the same when you sit in any classroom/ lecture hall.
Did I answer your question? Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
schiong 9:16 pm on October 1, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I am more familiar with LeapFrog product. It is an excellent learning supplement.
I have heard of Livescribe last year from a colleague. We were discussing about the “evolution” of cheating during exams.
ashleyross 9:32 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Yes, the evolution of cheating during exams – is an interesting one. During an exam I would imagine you wouldn’t be able to use the pen even if you were just using the pen to write. Are you also referring to a student who records a class can memorize exactly what you say and regurgitate it back to you on an exam… would that be considered cheating?
bcourey 10:18 am on October 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I believe that this venture has great potential. We have purchased them as a pilot study for our students with special learning needs and they are proving to be very useful. Easy to set up and very easy to use…the founder is really on to something great here.
ashleyross 9:34 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think this product is great for students with special learning needs. You’re right, the product is very easy to set up and use.
Keisha Edwards-Hamilton 1:55 pm on October 2, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you for the information. This is a tool I look forward to explore very soon.
Keisha
ashleyross 9:34 am on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You’re welcome. 🙂