User Reviews Send this to a friend
Iris USOA400 IRISPen Express 6 Pen Scanner
Manufacturer: IRIS
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $119.25
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description The Iris USOA400 IRISPen Express 6 Pen Scanner is a portable, hand-held scanner that works just like a highlighter. You simply slide the scanner over virtually any printed text, and the text is automatically scanned directly into your computer. Ideal for remote research projects or any task in which a flatbed scanner would prove too cumbersome, this pen-sized scanner operates at a rate of over three inches per second and recognizes 128 languages.

The Iris USOA400 IRISPen Express 6 Pen Scanner offers:
  • Small size for easy portability.
  • Automatic conversion of text on paper into editable text on the screen.
  • Recognition of 128 languages.
  • PC and Mac compatibility.


The pen-sized scanner scans at a rate of over three inches per second. View larger.
Fast Scanning and High Accuracy
The IRISPen Express 6 includes Optical Character Recognition software, or OCR, that is up to 100% accurate with 128 languages. Whether you're scanning print from a newspaper in New York, Istanbul or Ljubljana, this scanner will provide you with highly accurate results. It can even read wavy and distorted images, as well as colored text and numbers, and text on colored backgrounds.

If you have special text needs, don't worry. The IRISPen can recognize alphanumeric characters, numeric data, special characters, mathematical symbols, currency symbols, and much more. The IRISPen also reads virtually any font, in a wide variety of styles and point sizes (from 8 to 20 points), as well as formatting elements, such as vertical lines, separating table cells. The scanner can even scan logos, signatures, and other small graphics.

While the speed will vary according to usage, the IRISPen can scan up to 3.15 inches per second. You simply slide the "pen" tip across your text, just as you would a highlighter, and the text is scanned directly into the application of your choice.

Wide Software and Hardware Compatibility
The IRISPen doesn't care if you're a Mac or PC user. It's compatible with practically any platform you use. The pen connects directly into the USB port of a PC, notebook, Tablet PC or Macintosh computer. Powered by the USB port of your computer, the IRISPen doesn't need an external power supply and features an "idle" mode to save energy when it's not in use.



Use the IRISPen just like a highlighter and the text appear right on your computer screen.
The scanner software is easily configured. You can assign key board shortcuts and follow the intuitive smart wizard for the quickest and easiest way of defining your settings. It proposes a series of templates with pre-defined settings means for the reading of certain types of data: text, text from columns, numeric tables, etc. These templates can be either used as such, or modified to fit more particular needs.

Once connected, your options for the destination of your scanning is virtually unlimited. You can scan your text directly into Microsoft Excel or Word, into text files, emails--you name it. If you can type in it, the IRISPen will let you scan into it.

Scanning Everything From Albanian to Zulu
Amazingly, the IRISPen recognizes 128 different languages. All American and European languages are supported, including Central-European languages. Greek, Turkish, the Cyrillic ("Russian") and the Baltic languages and Hebrew are also supported. Optionally, the IRISPen reads Asian documents in Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean.

You can activate a mixed alphabet of Greek or Cyrillic and Western characters. This is useful if Western words pop up in Greek of Cyrillic texts (this is often the case with proper name, brand names, etc.). The IRISPen will automatically switch languages whenever needed.

What's in the Box
IRISPen Express 6 pen scanner, CD-ROM, quick installation guide, register card, user's manual, test sheet, and calibration sheet.

Product Details
  • Portable, pen-size scanner with OCR recognizes 128 languages
  • Recognizes alphanumeric characters, numeric data, mathematical symbols, currency symbols, and much more; scans small images
  • Scans up to 3.15 inches per second
  • Mac and PC compatible; powers off USB port
  • Automatically recognizes mix of Western and Greek or Cyrillic languages; optionally reads Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
Saves a lot of time
 
Review Date: August 19, 2010
Reviewer: kit prof,
I have been using the Irispen 6 Express for a few months now. I mostly use it to scan passages from academic texts into a word processor. Overall, I'd say it has about a 95% success rate when you are using the pen correctly. I say correctly because you need a relatively steady hand and continuous pressure to the page to maximize the accuracy of the scan. When scanning into microsoft word, it usually recognizes most errors and I am able to correct them relatively easily. If I had to estimate how much time it saves me, I would say that it is about 4 times faster than typing in a passage by hand including the correction time. I read and write for a living, so I would put myself on the faster end of typing. If anyone has had experience with copying a pasting text from a pdf to a word document, you would know that there are usually errors in any text recognition software. I would say that the irispen is generally more accurate than selected text from a pdf. There are a few caveats, however. The Irispen does not work well in intense natural light. Thats not to say it wont work outdoors, but you will most likely need to sit in the shade. Also, old texts that are yellowed with age tend to make it a little less accurate. The same goes for books that have a lot of highlighting or hand writing on the page. I have given it five stars because while it is not perfect, it has exceeded my expectations and all other text recognition software I have used in the past.
IRISPen Express 6 Pen Scanner
 
Review Date: July 26, 2010
Reviewer: minimouse,
[...]
I previously owned an IRISPen Express 6 as was more than happy with it however after having to replace it recently I am less than impressed with my purchase. I have found that it appears to scan the text (usually with poor quality) but fails to convert it into legible text. If lucky, at most it will recognize one maybe two characters. It definitely falls well short of all of its promises. Take my advice and don't waste your money!
Works well for me
 
Review Date: July 8, 2010
Reviewer: VinnyNY,
I am working on my dissertation and am using the PEN as a tool to save references. EXCELLENT... minor tweaks to text xfer may be needed sometimes... If your looking for text capture to a word processor or xls like matrix... I recommend this product very strongly. No need to contact support... all worked well..
Helpful for scanning English and Hindi (Devanagari) script on Mac
 
Review Date: June 13, 2010
Reviewer: Laura De Giorgio, Canada
I read the reviews on amazon before I decided to purchase this pen. Since ectaco seems to have more happy users, I would've bought ectaco, except that I prefer to work with Mac than with PC, and this pen scanner works with Mac, whereas ectaco doesn't. I was looking for a pen that can scan both English and Hindi (Devanagari) script. As I kept on emailing different manufacturers of pen scanners looking for one that can scan Devanagari script, I was told that no such pen exists, so I was actually thrilled when I discovered that I can scan Devanagari script with this pen, even if only as an image. The pen can scan text in different languages - it was designed to scan text that is bigger than 8 pts and if you try to scan smaller letters you may not get the results you're looking for. I found that the English text I scan was scanned with perhaps 99% accuracy, which works fine for me.

I do have a selection of scanners for different purposes - some are better for scanning rapidly receipts and text that is printed on separate sheets of paper, some are better for scanning books, some are portable - this one is none of those things - it has to be attached to the computer while you're scanning, and I have purchased it and find it useful for scanning few lines of text.

You do have to get a hang of holding the pen scanner properly in order for it to work as intended and perhaps in the future they'll make pens that will have a little motor and the pen will roll across the page automatically and evenly, as you hold it above the text you want to scan, but even as it is, I find it helpful for the purpose for which I got it.

If you want to scan more than few lines of text, you may get frustrated using this pen, and perhaps different kind of scanner would be more appropriate for your needs. So far I've used this pen only with Macbook Pro and I don't know if PC users would have somewhat different experience. I found it easy to set it up.
Save your money
 
Review Date: June 11, 2010
Reviewer: Christopher A. Bufalini, USA
It does not work. I have followed all instructions and helpful hints on the internet. It has been reported that there is a learning curve, it does not exist. The only result I can produce with this pen is meaningless characters. I could live with this product if it performed some of the time. However, it does not perform at all. I would have gained more satisfaction if I would have thrown the money out of a moving automobile. It is not understandable to me how some people have reported good results with this product as I have not witnessed any resemblance of the English language throughout its use. Don't buy it.