A pen with ears - and a brain

Technically a computer within a pen, the Pulse smartpen simultaneously captures handwriting and audio, and synchronizes them together. The device is also a general purpose computer with rich I/O capabilities and a Java development environment that enables a wide range of applications, Livescribe said.

"Pulse is a new type of mobile computer that supports the four basic modes of human communication - reading, writing, speaking and listening," said Livescribe CEO Jim Marggraff. "Using an embedded speaker and display for audio/visual input, and microphones and a pen for audio/visual output, Pulse advances the power and flexibility of mobile computing - it's the missing link that now connects the paper and digital worlds."

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