Re: Using Zoomer as Note-taker
"Stephen M. Patton" <starnet!apple!panix.com!patton>
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 20:01:18 -0500 (EST)
From: "Stephen M. Patton" <starnet!apple!panix.com!patton>
Subject: Re: Using Zoomer as Note-taker
To: zoomer-list-1993@grot.starconn.com
Cc: Multiple recipients of list <zoomer-list-1993@grot.starconn.com>
In-reply-to: <9311162100.AA02205@robsho.YP.attc>
Message-id: <Pine.3.05.9311162016.A23084-c100000@panix.com>
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Status: OR
On Tue, 16 Nov 1993, Robert Shock wrote:
> Folks--
>
> I am curious if anyone has used a Zoomer to:
>
> 1. take notes during a college or high school class.
> Typical notes may consist of drawings and text.
Not likely. I have used the Zoomer at meetings and have found the
character recognition to be poor at best. I am waiting for a better
method: allowing the "ink" data (raw handwriting) to be uploaded to a PC,
translated there by an advanced character recognition program, then
downloaded to the Zoomer. Secondly, the notes I tried to take were
limited in size by the OS somehow: after filling in the equivalent of a
quarter to a half of a 8.5x11 page of text, the Zoomer refused to enter
more "ink" data (this is in the mode where the Zoomer inputs all pen
strokes and saves them for later conversion). The other mode, on-the-fly
conversion, was totally unsatisfactory fortaking notes. It was so quick
that if I hesitated writing for two seconds, the screen would go blank,
the hourglass would appear, and I would have to wait for five-ten seconds
for the ink-to-ASCII conversion process to finish before writing any
additional text. This is not good if a Professor is reeling off
information with unpredictable pauses and a fast delivery. Final note:
the screen is so small that you cannot effectively use space on the page
to format your notes, add white space, indent, draw arrows between
concepts, etc.
Again, the ideal system is to give you a page-size screen
to write on, save all the raw penstroke data, and then allow your PC to
get your notes for the day and crunch them down while you are getting your
dinner: this is what my secretary does for me since I do not need nicely
formatted ASCII notes until perhaps the next day.
In sum: not a practical notetaking device for classrooms if you take more
than a half-page of notes at a setting.
>
> 2. Upload the resulting text to a PC
>
> 3. Load the file into a Word Processor
>
> 4. Print out the notes.
>
> I don't currently own a Zoomer or any other PDA but,
> being a major gadget junkie, find myself salivating
> over them on a regular basis. I can't really justify
> the $600+ entry fee unless I can either recoup my
> purchase by writing and selling programs or use the
> PDA in a classroom to simplify note gathering and
> other misc tasks.
As far as other "misc" tasks, if I could get my notes which are already in
ASCII form downloaded to the Zoomer for quick access, it would be of great
benefit. If you could write a program that would take a PC outline file --
the kind with the expandible/collapsible headings -- and would download it
to the Zoomer for later reference purposes it would be worth a great deal
to me in my work. I constantly need to refer to several files of
information which I never have with me. As a lawyer I could have my
secretary keep the files up-to-date and use the IR link at my desk every
morning to replace yesterday's version wih today's version. Law
students could keep their case outlines on the Zoomer, scroll through the
list or search by name, then click on the name to expand it into a short
two-paragraph description. Engineers could keep formulas in a huge
formula outline with a description of each variable for quick reference.
Find a way to download WordPerfect files from a PC (memos, legal analyses,
pleadings, document requests, schedules, etc.) and keep them in some sort
of hypertext linked format which would allow me to give my boss relatively
instant answers to 90% of the questions he needs answers to, and I would
be ecstatic.
Having used the damn thing for four weeks, I can see great potential as a
reference tool, but unless the notes are quick and short (to-do lists,
books to read, telephone numbers, etc.) it cannot be used as an effective
notetaking tool.
I hope this is of some help.
>
> -- Bob S. (robsho@auto-trol.com)
>