PENfriend

If you like the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen for taking notes at lectures, you’re going to love this assistive technology device for labeling household objects!  The PENfriend from Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) can record personal messages that are recalled by touching the tip of the pen to a label.  A person with low vision or print disability could record audible cooking instructions on a box of Hamburger Helper, for example.  Let’s try it out!

The PENfriend only has four buttons, so it’s pretty uncomplicated and easy to use.  To turn it on, hold down on the top button for about three seconds.  After you hear a beeping sound, you can get started.  Adjust the volume with the second button (you can turn it up pretty loud for those who are hard of hearing).  The third button is for changing the mode, which I’ll talk about later.

The fourth button is what you press to record messages, which I will walk you through now.  Let’s pretend the sample label on the packaging is on a bottle of prescription medicine.  All I have to do to create a recording is touch the tip of the pen to the PENfriend label and press the bottom button until I hear a beep.  While still holding the button, I can say the name of the medicine, what it’s for, when I need to take it, what the dosage is, if I need to take it with food, etc. Once I’m done, I let go of the button.  Now any time I touch the PENfriend to that label, I will hear my recorded message!

There are four different modes on the PENfriend.  The default mode is the recording function when you first turn the device on.  Hold the third button down for a few seconds to switch to the Print setting.  This function is still in development, so we’ll skip it for now.  Hold the button down again to access the MP3 function.  In this mode, you can listen to music transferred from your computer.

You can re-record over your messages as many times as you want, and there is no limit to how long each message is.  The pen has 1 GB of memory, so you can record up to 70 hours.  If you run out of labels that came with the pen, you can buy replacement packs.

Imagine how useful this device could be!  You can organize your food, music, movies, paperwork, and record notes or shopping lists.  If you think you’d like to try it for yourself, head on over to the INDATA Loan Library and check one out.  You can also purchase one from Independent Living Aids.