Portronics’ Electropen records, converts your scribbles into editable text

Could we possibly forget how to write? Well, many may have not given it a thought, but a research commissioned by online stationer Docmail suggests that using pen and paper may soon be passé, with a typical adult not having written anything for about six weeks. Needless to say, most users don’t feel the need to stretch to reach out to a pen and paper, and prefer typing on the keyboard (of a PC or laptop) instead and also on touchscreen and QWERTY smartphones as it's simply easier to edit and send. So, will we forget to write?

Portronics, a portable and digital devices manufacturer, is looking to change this trend with its Electropen. This is an intelligent pen that can capture your handwritten notes, store them in its memory, convert them to editable text and send them to a PC. The notes can be written on ordinary paper. You can even use the pen to trace or sketch images and then transfer them to your computer.

The Portronics Electropen kit

The pen’s body is a transmitter and a clip is the receiver. You attach the clip to a stack of papers, notebook or diary, and it records your movement with the pen as you write or draw. The technologies employed here are Infrared and Ultrasound. The pen works in two modes: Offline and Online.

Offline mode involves the pen just recording whatever you’ve written down and storing them in its memory. You can later convert the recorded data into editable text on a PC via the bundled software. This mode can be useful for quick note taking; for students, executives, or for doctors.

In Online mode, you attach either the body or the clip to a computer while writing or sketching. This mode offers some other options such as drawing or tracing, which transfers anything you draw to the computer. The bundled software also lets you project whatever you’re writing down onto a screen in real time via a projector. You also get a signature capture mode, which allows you to record your signatures and store digital copies of them.

The Portronics Electopen in action

However, the device is limited by a maximum coverage range of papers sized A4/letter. The storage capacity is also limited to A4/letter-sized documents. This means that the device will work best when used with A4/letter-sized documents.

Any standard ink refill can be used to fill the pen. You have a rechargeable battery for the receiver which can last you for up to eight hours of continuous writing while the pen battery lasts for about 30 hours of continuous writing.

With a price tag of Rs 7,999, the Portronics Electropen is available across the country.