There aren’t many things that one can do on the computer nowadays that truly impress others during a presentation.  PowerPoints, videos, flash presentations — most have seen enough of these to no longer get “wowed” by them.

What they haven’t seen are the things that you can do with a Mobile Digital Scribe by IOGEAR.  Perhaps the following video can stimulate some ideas:

While the demonstration in itself doesn’t seem to have implications for presentations or lectures, all of it can be displayed in real-time via computer.  The creative juices started flowing.  Was this the innovation that could wake up the students, impress the clients, and leave everyone involved with the feeling that they had just seen something different?

Yes.  Here’s how:

Presentations – One of the disadvantages of doing a presentation that utilizes multiple files is that the presenter is often stuck at the computer.  Using a projector, they can switch windows and display the different aspects of the presentation, but they then lose the ability to write notes, highlight features, or draw diagrams.  These handwritten items are often more compelling than any computer generated graphics, which is why some presenters still prefer a whiteboard presentation over a computer generated one.  Of course, they then lose the flexibility that a computer presentation offers.

By having the Mobile Digital Scribe page as one of the windows, a presenter can have the best of both worlds.  They can toggle between PowerPoint presentations and graphs when needed while still having the compelling whiteboard-style look.  Just watch the video for The Pickens Plan.  It took editing to achieve the goal of having it personalized with Mr. Pickens at the whiteboard while still being able to show graphs and statistics.  In a live presentation, this would have been possible with IOGEAR’s Mobile Digital Scribe.

Lectures – The same holds true for lectures as it does for presentations.  Students often require a special level of inter-activity that the good old chalkboard offers, yet they can also benefit from other resources that are available through a computer.  Melding the two together and keeping a lecture flowing can be the difference between the students “getting it” or not.

Regardless of the format, having the ability to put one’s own signature style into a presentation or lecture can greatly increase their level of success in getting the message across.

The last roadblock preventing many professionals and students from going completely paperless is note-taking. There are times when it just isn’t convenient to put notes directly into a computer document. Sometimes it’s necessary to draw pictures, skip around on the page, or flesh out ideas. In those circumstances, writing it on paper would make things so much easier.

With innovative digital pens like IOGEAR’s Mobile Digital Scribe, it is possible to have merge the flexibility of handwritten notes with the organizational advantages of digital notes. It allows its users to put their thoughts on paper while converting it directly into an editable digital medium.

When using such tools, there are things to consider that can make it all merge very easily into a digital work-flow. Here are some tips to remember when taking digital notes:

• A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words – In many ways, we are visual creatures. Many are able to grasp concepts and understand directions more easily through visual representations than we can with just words. Draw it out. Notes with visuals will make it easier to remember the subject matter at a later date when reviewing your notes or converting them to more formal presentations.
• Use the Whole Sheet – One glaring disadvantage of using document software such as Microsoft Word for note-taking is that it isn’t easy to organize on the whole sheet. Without adjusting format, most of these programs default to a linear, vertical style of organizing. Using the Mobile Digital Scribe allows you to easily make columns, groupings, or sub-notes on the entire page.
• Organize as You Go – When typing notes, it is often difficult to keep organized when the subject matter skips from topic to topic. If taking digital notes by hand, it is possible to organize very easily by establishing sections throughout the page where different notes belong. When a new topic pops up, it’s as simple as writing out a header anywhere on the page and underlining it to create a new grouping for your notes.
• Keep it Relevant – When there’s nothing to write at any given moment, people tend to doodle. There’s nothing wrong with it. It passes the time and keeps the pen moving. If room permits, have a separate sheet of paper available for doodling. If there is no room, set aside an area on your notes for doodling. This seems like a minor point, but when it comes time later on to study the notes or convert them into a formal document, keeping the information relevant can help to expedite the process.
• Write Fast, but Write Clearly – There is nothing more frustrating than looking at important notes a few days later and not understanding your own handwriting. While it is important to make the notes as comprehensive as possible, they are worthless if you can’t read them. It’s always possible to ask a professor or presenter to repeat something if you can’t keep up, but keeping up and not understanding later can be an insurmountable obstacle.

Taking proper notes is essential for successful students and professionals. Having the flexibility to write and draw by hand and still convert it to digital for editing, sharing, and viewing at a later date is the main reason why the Mobile Digital Scribe is a “must-have” for anyone who takes notes in today’s world.

The Future Lawyer blog is holding a contest where you can win a free Mobile Digital Scribe from IOGEAR. If you have an interesting anecdote regarding note taking you may have a change to win.

Watch what an artist has to say about the quality of the Mobile Digital Scribe.

Hurry! The contest ends on October 31, 2008.

Jesse Jones, at award winning King5-TV decided to put our Digital Scribe to the test with a local traditional artist, Patrick Kerr, for whom accuracy is very important.

The Digital Pen was tested in two situations: 1) Mr. Kerr created some artwork on a piece of paper and then uploaded it to the computer later and 2) he then created a drawing while the device was connected to the computer in real-time.

His response? “This is awesome! This is Great! An Excellent Drawing Tool.” You can view the test here now.

How do you see yourself using this technology?

Travel is often an important part of a professional’s life.  The ability to stay organized and productive while traveling is often the difference between those who become executives and those who flounder in the lower and middle levels of a company.  Time and how we spend it can define our professional success.

Having tools to improve productivity when not at a desk is a key element to using time effectively.  Just because a professional is on a plane, train, subway, or other tight-quarters vehicle doesn’t mean that they cannot continue to work.  For many, it is while traveling that they are able to flesh out ideas and work on projects that are otherwise difficult to get done.  This is often private time away from the phone, colleagues, and clients who are part of our daily distractions.  John Grisham, for example, wrote much of his first novel on legal pads while commuting to work on a train.

Imagine if he had IOGEAR’s Mobile Digital Scribe.  It took him 3 years to write it by hand and then type it out.  Had he been able to keep it all digital and still have the flexibility that handwriting on paper allows, he may have been published a year or two earlier.

Once at a destination, the “road mentality” does not end.  Professionals who want to excel and achieve tremendous success should utilize basic productivity concepts and tools to continue to improve their position.  At a hotel, coffee shop, lobby, or anywhere in between meetings and presentations, a tool like the Mobile Digital Scribe is perfect for staying productive.  It can fit in a pocket and works on any sheet of paper.  Any venue can turn into a brainstorming room where concepts come to life on a sheet that can easily be moved directly to the computer in the future.  Take notes, draw diagrams, or come up with the next big thing in your industry.

As we balance our professional and personal lives to maintain our edge, using time on the road to maintain a level of productivity allows us to enjoy our time at home with family and friends more practical.  There is nothing worse than wasting time that could be used to improve our situations.  Here is a video that displays the simplicity and ease that the Mobile Digital Scribe offers: