Let’s discuss everything you need to know about using a C-Pen, ScanMarker, or IRISPen Air 7 scanner pen.

Using a C-Pen, ScanMarker, or IRISPen Air 7

Scanning pens or reading pens are portable, pocket-sized devices that scan text and read it aloud using optical character recognition (OCR). They’re made for students with dyslexia and visual impairments. While there are many good scanner pens on the market, today, we’ll focus on the three best pen scanners: the C-Pen Reader, the ScanMarker Air, and the IRISPen Air 7.

What is the C-Pen Reader?

The C-Pen Reader is a handheld scanner that reads text aloud. With a scanning speed of 15 cm per second, students can use the C-Pen Reader to listen to texts either through the built-in speakerphones or their headphones.

Thanks to its built-in Collins English dictionary, students can search for unknown words with it as well. This portable scanner can also be used to upload text to a PC or Mac using a USB cable. This OCR digital highlighter also comes with a built-in voice recorder with playback, so you can use it to record voice memos.

The C-Pen Reader is primarily used by dyslexic learners and those who have reading difficulties, but it can also be handy for students learning English as a second language.

What is the ScanMarker Air?

The Scanmarker Air is a pen scanner that can read any printed text and translate it into more than 70 languages. It looks and weighs just like a normal marker, so you can easily carry it around with you.

This handy gadget uses optical character recognition (OCR) technology to scan texts. You can use it as a document scanner, exam reader, barcode reader, or book scanner. Since this is a multilingual scanner pen, you can use it for learning different languages.

The ScanMarker Air pen scanner reads aloud text in real-time and it can also send the text to your smartphone, Windows, or Mac computer via Bluetooth. Thanks to ScanMarker’s cutting-edge and patented technology, you can use this digital pen to scan directly into any application on your mobile phone.

What is the IRISPen Air 7?

Unlike the previous two scanner pens that read scanned text, the IRISPen Air 7 is a digital highlighter that types the text that you scan. You use it by dragging the highlighter over a line of text, and it immediately types the text on your computer. Of course, you can use it as a text reader and a translation pen as well.

This pen scanner can be used with your mobile phone, as it’s compatible with IOS and Android devices. It’s also a portable and rechargeable scanner pen, so you can use it on the go.

You can also get the IRISPen Executive 7, which offers translation from 55 languages, speech synthesis, and a barcode scanner. This pen can be used with any computer text editing app, like Microsoft Word and Excel. However, the IRISPen Executive 7 isn’t compatible with IOS and Android devices, and it doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity.

How to use a scanner pen effectively

Follow these tips to get the most out of your pen scanner:

Read the user manual

Before you start using any of the three pen scanners we talked about, make sure to read the user manual first. Some scanner pens, like the C-Pen Reader, also have buttons you can use to easily control the scanner. You can also watch video tutorials if you aren’t sure how to use your pen scanner.

Purchase headphones for your pen

It’s a good idea to buy headphones for your pen. Headphones can also be handy when you’re in a classroom and don’t want to disturb the other students while listening to audio text. If you’re using the C-Pen Reader, you can use the same headphones you would use for your mobile phone.

Avoid handwritten text

Since scanner pens are made to scan printed text, they might have trouble scanning handwritten notes. To avoid any confusion, stick to printed text in your school books or documents.

Choose between right or left-handed mode

Some scanner pens, like the C-Pen Reader, let you switch from the right- and left-handed modes. To do this, press the “Menu” button and go to “Settings.” Choose “Left-Handed/Right-Handed,” and it will switch the mode immediately. When it’s in left-handed mode, you might find it easier to scan right to left than left to right.

Keep text on a flat surface

To make sure the scanning is effective, keep your book on a flat surface like a desk.

Move your pen at a steady pace

This is very important when using the scanner pen. Don’t move the scanner pen across the line of text too quickly, but rather at a steady pace.

Speechify - The text to speech app for reading digital content

Even though scanner pens are useful for reading printed text, they can’t read digital content aloud. This is where text to speech apps, like Speechify, come in.

Speechify is a TTS tool that translates digital text into spoken language. It can be used for any type of text, including emails, documents, PDF files, and similar. Speechify also uses OCR technology, so you can use it to read text from an image.

Speechify is available as a Chrome extension and as a mobile app. You can install it on your iPhone and Android. If you want to see how it works, try Speechify for free.

FAQ

Which pen scanner is best?

It depends on the functionalities you’re looking for in a pen scanner. However, the most popular pen scanner is the C-Pen Reader.

What is C-Pen used for?

The C-Pen is used for reading aloud printed text. It can also be used as a dictionary pen since it has a built-in English dictionary.

Does ScanMarker Air work on handwriting?

You can try to scan your handwriting with the ScanMarker Air, but it might be tricky.

Does a scanner pen work on a computer screen?

No, you can’t use scanner pens with digital content.

What is the difference between ScanMarker Air and IRISPen Air 7?

These two scanner pens have many similar functionalities, but the IRISPen Air 7 can type the text you scan on your computer.