After the impossible?

[Oaktech]

My Exec head has asked for a device that will allow her to ink-to-text directly in a word document...

 

Her actual description is 'I want something like a Remarkable, but it needs to be better, with office on it and automatic ink to text all the time exactly where I write it'

 

Neither OneNote with lasoo or handwriting panel will apparently do, the lasoo tool is apparently too awkward to use in a hurry and the handwriting panel is too slow to convert and she wants to be able to use the word document almost like a canvas, she wants to be able to ink and convert directly into cells in a template. Actual description ' Uggghhh, it's so nearly right, but it's just not... Right enough...'

 

We aren't an Apple house any more and we are unable to buy new through our central procurement - our trust is moving more and more towards MS exclusivity and we've just used our last few iPads for Signin App, otherwise I'd try an Apple Pencil with Scribble.

 

We do currently still have Android available to us.

 

Any ideas?

[cullingsh]

This?

https://www.espo.org/smartbuy-300-page-150-sheets-shorthand-notebook-052752.html

 

Others are available

[Oaktech]

This?

https://www.espo.org/smartbuy-300-page-150-sheets-shorthand-notebook-052752.html

 

Others are available

 

That is almost the exact solution we currently have in place... She is being demanding for all the right reasons - not wanting staff to wait for feedback for a week from observations and learning walks while SLT type up their notes, but I get the desperate feeling that she wants something that just doesn't exist yet.

 

My other thought is that she might be able to take paper notes then dictate them back into the template?

[mw184]

This?

https://www.espo.org/smartbuy-300-page-150-sheets-shorthand-notebook-052752.html

 

Others are available

 

Can I also recommend this:

 

Bic Cristal Original Ballpoint Pens Medium Tip (1 mm) – Black, Box of 10 : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

 

Or if that is not acceptable or good enough, these are also available:

 

Crayola Crayons, School Supplies, Classic Colors, 8 Count : Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

 

<\sarcasm>

 

In all seriousness though, you cannot work wonders, and people in power sometimes need reminding (diplomatically) that I want doesn't always get.

[Oaktech]

Can I also recommend this:

 

Bic Cristal Original Ballpoint Pens Medium Tip (1 mm) – Black, Box of 10 : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

 

Or if that is not acceptable or good enough, these are also available:

 

Crayola Crayons, School Supplies, Classic Colors, 8 Count : Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

 

<\sarcasm>

 

In all seriousness though, you cannot work wonders, and people in power sometimes need reminding (diplomatically) that I want doesn't always get.

 

I just need to be *sure* I'm right and have offered the best available solutions within our means and that I'm not missing a niche item of hardware or software!

[mavhc]

Doesn't Word do this now by default?

[Squelch]

May I recommend one of these?

 

[Dan2025]

I just need to be *sure* I'm right and have offered the best available solutions within our means and that I'm not missing a niche item of hardware or software!

 

Headteacher here upgraded from a remarkable to a boox https://shop.boox.com/collections/all/products/noteair3

Can't confirm if it has that functionality but it should be able to have Word installed.

 

Our AHT used to do offsite visits with an iPad and Logitech keyboard combo.

[andy_b]

Doesn't Word do this now by default?

 

Still seems clunky

[Rob_D]

The ultimate non-ipad solution is a surface with pencil, but that's expensive.

 

What about something like this?

 

 

May I recommend one of these?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]72418[/ATTACH]

You may joke but we have a plain one of these in the kitchen to write the shopping list on.

[mavhc]

How is it clunky? You just write on the document and the text appears

[cullingsh]

Doesn't Word do this now by default?

 

That does actually look really good.

[psydii]

Nebo.app might be what you are looking for.

 

Cross-platform too.

[synaesthesia]

Can people still actually write faster than they can type though? I know I've had years of practice but writing takes me an age without looking like a doctor's prescription!

[Roberto]

I've always been able to type faster than I can write since I first picked up a computer keyboard at 12, at least with my writing remaining readable. That might be as much to do with my terrible handwriting as it is any claim to anything special about my typing.

[mavhc]

I can swype as fast on a phone as typing on a real keyboard, if the words are real and I can spell them, in theory I can still write with a pen, but it's unlikely anyone could read it

[Rob_D]

Can people still actually write faster than they can type though? I know I've had years of practice but writing takes me an age without looking like a doctor's prescription!

I mean probably, but then I've never been a hugely fast typist.

 

And given the use case, the real question is, can you type faster than you could write, one handed, holding the laptop in the other, while running after a student?

[mw184]

The other problem I can see coming from something like ink-to-text that they want through word is accuracy. If the exec head doesn't have great writing, or it is really scribbly and fast etc, ink-to-text is probably going to have a hard time actually converting it accurately. Especially if they are walking around holding the device in one hand, writing with the other. Personally my writing is terrible when sat down, when walking it is really really bad. I don't think it would have a chance of working accurately ever with me. So unless they have perfect handwriting, it isn't going to work well. I would maybe use that as an additional "consideration" to use if they ask you about it etc, kind of pushes it back on them to consider how well this would actually work for them.

[synaesthesia]

I mean probably, but then I've never been a hugely fast typist.

 

And given the use case, the real question is, can you type faster than you could write, one handed, holding the laptop in the other, while running after a student?

 

Probably better than I could write in the same situation, but frankly if there's a need to be running then writing/typing isn't the priority