The authors describe the audio notebook, a device for recording a speech while concurrently allowing the listener to record notes, drawings from the whiteboard, speaker’s explanations, or the listener’s own thoughts. In other words, the device combines the convenience of digital audio recording with the familiarity of the paper, pad, and pen trio. The report presented covers the second version of the audio notebook. This prototype offers several improvements over the previous version.

The user, during a lecture session, an interview, or a formal presentation, writes on a paper note pad placed on a digitizing tablet, while the audio unit starts digitally recording the speaker’s voice. The user takes notes and copies the figures drawn by the speaker on the whiteboard, all with the help of a cordless digitizing pen with an ink cartridge pen attached. The digitizing tablet can sense through the thickness of a notepad with a maximum of 64 sheets of paper. The LED cursor on the audio scrollbar slides along as the audio plays. The scrollbar acts as a link between the pen’s position on the page and the corresponding audio location on the timeline.

The paper includes an analysis of the experiences of four students and two journalists who used the audio notebook in their respective occupations. With the right pricing, this device will be of great service in situations where listening to a speaker and taking notes should not be mutually exclusive activities.