Can a proper name be spoken out loud?

Sometimes a word will be scanned accurately but will not be spoken immediately.  When this happens, the message “Word Not Found” will be displayed on the Pen’s screen, since the Pen searches the dictionary for the word first and may take a moment longer to bring the word to the display.  Although the Pen will not  provide the definition for these words, it can speak them out loud.  To do so, press the left arrow (pointing to the power ON button).

How can the Reading Pen help someone with a learning disability/dyslexia?

The Reading Pen can help a person with a reading difficulty work around the problem by speaking words they don't know. Many persons with learning disabilities/dyslexia can comprehend written text without difficulty if they hear the words spoken aloud.

You can use the Reading Pen to:

• Gain motivation to read more books as you will no longer needs to “bother” other people with the pronunciation and meaning of the words.
• Gain momentum in your reading speed, with the help of the scanner that spares you the interruption caused by difficult words.
• Derive confidence and pleasure in being able to read independently and enjoy the flow of uninterrupted reading.
• Improve your language ability, in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary.

How do I check the battery status?

Please be advised, that in the interest of keeping your Pen in its best condition, please check the battery level often and replace the batteries if need be.

Scroll down from the Pen Main Menu to “Information”, press ENT, scroll to “Battery Status”* and press ENT.
*In the QuickLink-Pen Elite, this function is called "View Battery Status".

How long do the batteries last?

Like any battery driven electronic device, battery life depends on how much you use the Pen, whether it is on all the time, or whether you just use it occasionally. For 'standard' usage, the 2 "AAA" batteries should last about a month. Your data is saved on the flash memory card, so you don't lose it even if your batteries run out! You can check the battery power, and the Pen will notify you when your batteries are low. If you wish to use rechargeable batteries, we recommend using these two types: Radio Shack NI-Cadm, and GP Ni-Me-Hydr.

Is the Pen adjustable for left-handed usage?

Yes.  It is a simple preference change on your Pen to make it left-handed.  From the Pen Main Menu, scroll to Preferences, press ENT. Scroll to Right/Left-handed; press ENT; select Left-handed; press ENT (the screen should flip over); press ESC to get back to the Main Menu

Should I add more memory to the Pen?

You should not need more memory for the QuickLink Pen unless you are adding third party applications or language dictionaries. The QuickLink Pen, in its present configuration, holds up to a 1000 pages of data, and you can flush that data to your computer when you QuickLink it to the computer. A 4MB upgrade (MEK) is available now. The 6 and 8 MB upgrade is available via special order.

The SuperPen already contains a 4MB memory extension card, on which you can carry approximately 2 one-directional dictionaries at once. You may, however, remove the dictionaries you've installed and add new ones instead at any time.

Adding more memory to the QuicktionaryII or Reading PenII enables the Pen to carry additional dictionaries and enhance the Pen's capabilities to add the QuickLink applications (Notes, Address Book, Internet Links, Tables, Scan to PC, QuickLink) to scan, store and send printed text.

What does the 97% accuracy mean?

Data will be captured at approximately a 97% OCR accuracy rate based on what size and type font you are scanning. If you are scanning regular words in a regular font of a normal size, in a smooth scanning motion, about 97% of the information you scan will be correct. It is not 100%. Some words may not be fully recognized by the speller because the letters may be smeared or truncated. You can easily make quick corrections by using the Opticard, the on-screen editing functions, or put it through a spell checker once you transfer it to your computer.

What does the warranty cover?

WizCom Technologies offers the following one year warranty on the QuickLink Pen, Quicktionary II and Reading Pen II from the date of purchase:

Casing and optical head, from defects in materials and workmanship.

Pen parts (flash card, display screen, control buttons, serial cable) from breakage or wear which would cause the Pen to fail to capture and display data.

All other parts are guaranteed not to fail from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase.

Misuse, abuse or unauthorized use of product will void this warranty.

What is the advantage of using the Reading Pen rather than a printed dictionary?

The Reading Pen allows you to look up a word without having to put down your book or newspaper. In addition, it presents you with the definition within seconds as well as providing you with the words’ pronunciation.

What is the auto-shut off time?

The auto-shut off time is a setting according to which the Pen automatically shuts off after 60 seconds if you do not scan or press any key. The Pen turns itself off automatically after a given period of idle time (i.e., when it is not being used) to protect the Pen.

What is the Opticard and how can I use it?

The Opticard, located on the back of your Pen case, is a keyboard whose keys are bar codes. In Opticard mode, when you scan a bar code key on the Opticard keyboard, your Pen enters the character it represents at the cursor of the display. You can use the Opticard to edit scanned text and to manually enter data.

When Opticard mode is activated, the light in the tip of the Pen blinks more rapidly than before.

For Quicktionary, Reading Pen and SuperPen users:
·From the input scanning screen “Scan in [language]”/"Ready to Scan", press ENT to enter Edit Mode
·The black line will disappear, and you will see a cursor blinking.

For QuickLink, InfoScan, QuickLink-Pen Elite and SuperPen Users:
Press ENT in a text field (such as Notes or Scan&Store) to switch to Edit mode.  When in Edit mode, you can edit existing text or enter additional text.

Scan the Opticard barcode at the bottom left hand side slowly from left to right/right to left to enter Opticard mode.

·Touch the barcodes associated to the letters you wish to scan in order to make up the word you wish to translate.  The letter will appear on the Pen screen.
·To enter a space, scan the spc key.
·To delete the previous character, scan the Shift key and then scan the del key.
·When you have created the desired word, scan the Opticard barcode again to exit Opticard mode.
·Press the down arrow so that “Go” is selected
·Press ENT to view the translation.

Where can the Reading Pen be used?

Because of its small size, light weight and durability, the Reading Pen can be taken almost anywhere.

Will the Reading Pen help someone who is visually impaired?

This depends on the severity of the problem. In general, the Reading Pen is not designed for persons with visual impairment.

Will the Reading Pen read the definitions?

Yes. Once you are viewing the definition, press the ENT button quickly. The cursor will move to the beginning of the first definition. Then do a 'long press' on the ENT button (about 2 seconds). The first definition will then be read aloud. To hear additional definitions, scroll down to the beginning of each and do a long press on the ENT button.

Scanning

How can I achieve the most accurate scanning results?

The secret is to hold the Pen “correctly”.  Holding it a certain way at the right angle and speed and allowing for enough space before and after the text will give you good scanning results.  Hold the Pen firmly, as you would hold a highlighter, while the Pen’s tip is at an angle of between 75 and 90 degrees to the page.  Leave enough space before the first word scanned (about a centimeter), otherwise the first letter/s may be cut off and then the word will not be found and you will end up with gibberish.  Maintain the same scanning angle while you scan the line and make sure the text is centralized between the rollers at the tip of the Pen (directly under the white lines).  Scanning more slowly is best.   You can try the same text at different angles and may get a better scan if you scan from right to left rather than the other way round.  You will soon be able to get a feel for the best angle fairly quickly.  You should wait till it finishes 'Reading' before scanning again.  If you jump to the next line before it finishes processing the original scan, it will not provide good results.

If you have a Reading PenII, QuicktionaryII, or a SuperPen (and are using the Quicktionary application), you may get inaccurate results if you have accidentally turned on inverse mode. If you see an "A" on the right hand side of your display in "Ready to Scan" or "Scan in [language]" mode, this means you are in inverse mode and must turn it off to scan regular text.

To turn off the "A", which is inverse mode, please do the following:

Turn on your Pen, so it is "Ready to Scan"
Press "ESC"
Press the down arrow till you highlight "Preferences"
Press "ENT"
Scroll down to "Inverse" - you will see a checkmark in front of it. Press "ENT" to remove the checkmark.
Press "ESC" to go back to scanning mode.
The "A" should NOT be there.

Another reason why scanning would be inaccurate is if you'd selected the "Numeric" option.

If the “Numeric” option is on, it is only possible to scan digits.  Depending on which application you are in (usually in "Scan to PC" mode), go into the Scanning options (press ESC) and press ENT.  When the check mark appears beside the option, it signifies that the option is running.  To turn it off, press ENT again.  Press ESC to exit the edit menu.

Are there any scanning limitations?

1.    The Pen allows you to scan printed text of 6-22 points in size (up to 8mm) in a wide variety of fonts and in all colors on contrasting backgrounds, except red on white, white on red, blue on black and black on blue.  
2.    The Pen will not recognize handwriting, cursive fonts, mathematical symbols or other symbols specific to a profession. If you wish to capture these items as a bitmap picture file, please use the Image Capture application. If you are scanning numerals, there is a preference setting which will provide better recognition. It also recognizes commas, periods, parentheses, capitals, hyphenations, and other forms of punctuation. It will place a space at the end of each line scanned so you can continue to keep the integrity of a sentence. Key words: limitations, colors, colours, mathematical, symbols, scanning, fonts, background, red, white, black, blue, Image Capture, numerals, numeric

Can the Pen recognize handwritten text?

The Pen cannot recognize handwritten text as it does printed text.  However, if you wish to scan handwriting, small icons and highly stylized fonts that the QuickLink or InfoScan applications would not normally capture, you can use the Image Capture application, which can be added onto the Pen, FREE OF CHARGE, if you have a flash card with enough memory inserted in the Pen's battery compartment. The application does not INCLUDE handwriting recognition.  Handwriting is captured as a picture file and if desired, can be edited by a desktop graphics application.  This is particularly helpful for students who need to scan handwritten notes, genealogists wishing to acquire data from original documents, and attorneys and other professionals who wish to capture signatures.

If you plan to capture any significant amount of handwritten text, we strongly recommend getting the memory extension kit (MEK) since even small graphics take up a lot of memory. (Graphics take up about 70K per line, so you could only scan about 30 lines of graphics before you'd have to download to your computer.)

Can the Pen scan a Microfilm/Microfiche/PC Monitor?

The Pen is not able to scan off Microfilm, Microfiche, nor monitors due to the backlighting. There is NO Pen to our knowledge that can do so.

How can hyphenated words be scanned?

In order to scan a hyphenated word (in Quicktionary or Reading Pen scanning mode), please do the following: from the input scanning screen (“Scan in [language]”), press ENT to enter edit mode. The black line will disappear. Now scan the first half of the hyphenated word (including the hyphen). Then scan the second half of the word. Scroll down to "Go" and press ENT The translation will appear on the screen.

How many lines can the Pen scan?

The Pen scans one line at a time. If you intend to scan a book, we recommend you purchase a flatbed.

In terms of display, there are three lines of text that you can see on the display screen (400 dpi).

You may edit the text on screen by using the quick erase-rescan feature or by using the Character Bar, or the Opticard, whichever method appeals to you most.

How steady must your hand be in scanning in straight lines, or does program compensate for minor transgressions?

The Pen certainly compensates for minor transgressions, so you do not have to scan perfectly straight.  However, the smoother you scan, the better results you will achieve. The Pen is great for people who cannot type well due to poor eyesight or lack of keyboarding skills, but it is not particularly accurate for people who have very shaky hands.  No matter who you are, it still takes a little practice at first - practice makes perfect!

What type of text can the Pen scan?

The Pen will scan printed text that is 6 - 22 points in size. (Six points is the small print you see on the bottom of contracts, and 22 points is about a ½ inch high.) The Pen provides the best results when there is strong contrast, such as black or blue text on white paper. It will not scan red on yellow, but it will scan red on black. It will capture stylized text including bold, italic, inverted, underlined, as well as caps-small caps, but it will not maintain that style -- it just turns it into regular ASCII. Used on very glossy paper, or laminated documents, the Pen should be held more vertically to reduce glare. You should also make sure that the wheels make firm contact with the item you are scanning in order for it to capture the data accurately. If there are pictures on the background and the text is not clearly defined, you may not get good results.

Operating the Pen

How can I remove the Inverse option (the letter A appears on the Quicktionary/ReadingPen input scanning screen)?

The Inverse preference should be used only when scanning light-colored text on a dark background.

To toggle Inverse on or off:

For QuicktionaryII users:
Press ESC from the input scanning screen.
Scroll down to Preferences and press ENT.
Press ENT to toggle the option ON/OFF (the option is ON when there’s a check mark next to it).

For Reading Pen users:
Press ESC from the input scanning screen.
Scroll down to Options and press ENT.
Press ENT to toggle the option ON/OFF (the option is ON when there’s a check mark next to it).

How can I adjust the auto-shut off time?

From the Pen Main Menu, scroll down to “Preferences” and press ENT.  Scroll to “Auto Shut-Off Time” and press ENT. Scroll to the automatic shut-off time you want using the up or down arrows.  Press ENT.

How can I set the “Speak by section” option?

The highlight option, set to the ON position by default, will highlight each word as it is spoken.  The speech in this mode is in a slower, word by word pace.  You can choose to turn the highlight option off, in which case, the speech is in a more natural pace.  

To set the “Speak by section” option, do the following:
1.    From the “Ready to Scan” screen, press ESC to reach the “Reading Pen Menu”.
2.    Press the down arrow to highlight “Preferences” and press ENT.
3.    Scroll down to “Speak by Section” and press ENT.

The check mark indicates that the option is ON.  
Press ENT to toggle the setting ON or OFF.

How do I access the cross-reference feature in the Reading Pen?

You can look up a meaning of any word in the definition.  
After having scanned the text, scroll the Dictionary screen until you reach the word you want to define and press ENT to activate highlight mode.
Highlight the word you want to define using the arrows and Press ENT.
To return to the original word, press ESC.

Why does the Pen turn off when I don’t use it?

The Pen is set to turn itself off automatically after a given period of idle time (i.e., when it is not being used) in order to protect both the Pen and the batteries. You can change the Auto-Shut Off Time to a longer duration of time.

Languages, Dictionaries and Image Capture

Can the Pen display the menus in a language besides English?

Yes.  The Pen Interface Languages available include: German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Hebrew, Finnish and Korean. These can be added to the Pen using the Pen Customization Wizard on your CD or from the web.

Can the Pen scan in Hebrew?

You cannot add Hebrew Scanning (i.e. Speller) to a Pen that was not originally a QuickLink Hebrew Pen. You can add the English to Hebrew dictionary to any Pen that was upgraded with the MEK, or to the SuperPen.

We are currently developing a Hebrew to English dictionary database for the Quicktionary application. We hope to finalize it in the near future. Please check our website in the next few months, to find out whether the database has been released and if so, how to proceed to add it to your Pen.

Can the Pen translate a whole sentence?

No.  The translation is done word by word (not a contextual translation, for an entire sentence). Before scanning, make sure the black line under “Scan in [language]” (or "Ready to Scan") appears. If not, press ESC until it does. In the input scanning screen ("Scan in [language]"), simply scan the text you wish to translate (see instructions on how to scan) [link to getting started] and view the translation of the first word scanned. To view the translation of the next word press the right arrow. To go back to the previous word, press the left arrow. To view the continuation of the translation, press the down arrow. There is no need to turn the Pen off to translate more text – simply scan again.

What is a speller?

Spellers are components that optimize the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) in a particular scanning language by correcting the spelling of the scanned text and recognizing hyphenated words and characters that are hard for the OCR to interpret.  

A speller can be loaded onto your Pen to enhance text recognition.  Spellers are available for the following languages:  German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Swedish.  Since the spellers use a fair amount of the Pen’s flash memory, it is recommended to only load spellers for languages in which you expect to scan.  

If you select a scanning language for which a speller exists but is not loaded onto your Pen, a warning message appears, “No speller for selected language”.   These spellers can be added to the Pen using the Pen Customization Wizard on your CD or from the web*.

*QuickLink-Pen Elite users can add spellers using the "Install Add-Ons" menu on their CD-ROM.

Editing and Sending Data

How can I enter Edit Mode?

QuicktionaryII/Reading Pen users:  Press ENT from the input scanning screen (“Scan in [language]”) so that instead of the black line that appears, a cursor will be blinking.

QuickLink/SuperPen/InfoScan users:
Enter the desired application.  
When in Notes (or Scan&Store) – you are in Edit mode.
When in Address Book – Select “View Addresses”, scroll to the address you want to view, then press the right button (pointing to the red power button).  Select “Edit Address” to modify the information.
When in Internet Links – Select “View Links”, scroll to the link you want to edit and press the right button (pointing to the red power button) and select “Edit Link”.
When in Tables – Select Edit Current File to open the Table and select the file you wish to open.  Press ENT so that the black line will disappear and you will enter Edit Mode.

How can I use the Opticard?

To use the Opticard: make sure you are in Edit or Scan Only mode.*

*QuicktionaryII/Reading PenII users: to enter Edit/Scan Only mode in the QuicktionaryII, press ENT from the input scanning screen (“Scan in [language]"/"Ready to Scan”), so that instead of the black line that appears, a cursor will be blinking.

Hold the Pen case horizontally, with the Opticard facing up and the Opticard title on the right.

Slowly scan the Opticard key in the bottom left corner of the Opticard, from left to right or from right to left, to activate Opticard mode. When Opticard mode is activated, the light in the tip of the Pen blinks more rapidly than before. With the tip of your Pen, gently touch the barcode key corresponding to the letter you wish to enter. The letter appears in the Pen display. Continue touching the barcode keys for the letters you wish to enter until you have created the desired word. When you have finished using the Opticard, you must again scan the Opticard barcode until the red light returns to normal blinking.**

**QuicktionaryII/Reading PenII users: scroll down using the down arrow to “Go” and press ENT to view the translation.

You can use the following keys or combinations of keys to enter the letters you want:

Lower Case Letters: to enter a lower case letter, scan the key of the letter.
Upper Case Letters: to enter an upper-case character, scan the Shift key and then scan the letter key.
CAPS LOCK: to activate/deactivate CAPS LOCK, scan Shift twice. Activating CAPS LOCK enables you to enter letters in upper case only.
Ctrl Key: to enter a controlled character, scan the Ctrl key and then the letter key. Controlled characters can be entered only for the active character set.
Ctrl + Shift: to enter a controlled character in upper case, scan the Ctrl key, then scan the Shift key (or Shift, then Ctrl), and then scan the letter key.
Space: to enter a space, scan the spc key.
Delete: to delete the previous character, scan the Shift key and then scan the del key. Continue scanning in characters as required. When you are finished, scan the Opticard key again to return to normal scanning. The application is in Edit mode.

What is Edit Mode?

Edit mode is the mode from which you may edit data, for example, when using the Character Bar or the Opticard.

What is the Character Bar and how can I use it?

The Character Bar enables you to enter text manually by overwriting or inserting characters when in Edit Mode.
Using the character bar: scroll to the position at which you want to insert or overwrite a character or simply enter the character bar option to insert characters to create a word as follows:
QuicktionaryII/Reading Pen users: enter Edit mode to use the Character Bar. Press ENT from the input scanning screen (“Scan in [language]”) so that instead of the black line that appears, a cursor will be blinking. Press ENT.
QuickLink/InfoScan/SuperPen users: once in Edit mode in the desired application and the cursor is blinking, press ENT again.
QuickLink-Pen Elite users:  Double press ENT to access the Character Bar.
The letter "a" will appear. Below that you will see the character bar with letters of the alphabet and other symbols. The first letter of the active character sequence is highlighted on the Character Bar, correlating to the string of text where it will be entered if you select it. As you move from character to character using the right/left arrow, each character is highlighted and appears in the string of text accordingly. Press ENT to select the highlighted character. It is inserted in the text string. Continue choosing the next letter in the same way until you have created the word of your choice or have corrected the word you wished to correct. To delete a character, scroll to the Delete button (the "x" sign) and press ENT. The deletion is done from right to left. To delete a character on the Address Book entry, simply position the cursor before the letter you wish to delete using the left/right arrows, press ENT to access the Character Bar, press the left arrow to select the "X" - delete function - and press ENT to process the deletion. Press ESC to return to the previous menu. After creating the word, press the ESC button QuicktionaryII/Reading Pen users: press the down arrow so that "Go" is selected. Press ENT to view the translation.

Troubleshooting

“Word Not found” appears on the Pen’s display in the Reading Pen or Quicktionary applications. Why does this happen and how can I solve this?

1.  The word was not scanned correctly
The SOLUTION is:  press ENT and scan the text again.
2.  The ENT button was not pressed long enough when in a definition
The SOLUTION is:  press ENT to return to the definition, then press the ENT button for 2-3 seconds so that the word is highlighted and spoken.
3.  A Proper Name was scanned.  The Pen searches the dictionary for the word and it may take a moment longer to bring the word to the display.  Although the Pen will not provide the definition for these words, it can pronounce them.
The SOLUTION is: press the left arrow button pointing to the power ON button to hear the word spoken.

An error message “Excessive Lighting” is displayed on the Pen’s screen. What should I do?

Move the Pen away from a strong light source (such as the sun or a lamp).

An error message “Scanned too fast” is displayed on the Pen’s screen. What should I do?

Scan the text more slowly.

How can I fix a calibration error?

If your Pen displays a message regarding a calibration error, "Device is uncalibrated. Please return to Vendor" - first please replace the batteries with fresh ones and check whether the message is no longer displayed.

If it is still displayed, please return it to its place of purchase or your local distributor or contact our support team for further assistance - usa.support@wizcomtech.com (USA, Canada, Americas); intl.support@wizcomtech.com (rest of the world).

In the interest of keeping your Pen in its best condition, please check the battery level more often and replace the batteries if need be. To do so, press ESC from the input scanning screen "Scan in [language]" to the Quicktionary menu, scroll down to "Pen Main Menu" and press ENT. Then scroll down to "Information", press ENT and scroll down to "Battery Status" and press ENT.

I receive an "Out of memory" message on my Pen. What should I do?

If you get an Out of Memory message, it most likely means that your memory card is simply loose, not that you have no memory left in your Pen.

All you have to do to fix this is open the back of the Pen (where you inserted the batteries) with your fingernail and press down firmly on the memory card with your finger.

If this does not fix the problem, then pop out the memory card with your fingernail or small screwdriver, blow on the card and on the slot where the card was inserted to remove any dust particles that may have accumulated there, then pop it back in pressing it down firmly with your finger. This should fix the problem.

My Pen will not turn on. Is there a solution?

If your pen does not seem to turn on when you press the power key, or if it seems to show a blank gray screen, please try the following:

Make sure the Pen is off.
Now do the following:
Open the battery compartment and do the following:
Insert new AAA batteries.
Verify that the extension card is firmly inserted (in the battery compartment).
Verify that you have fresh batteries.
Remove the flash card from above the batteries (if your Pen has such a card)
Blow on both the flash card and on where the card was inserted to remove any dust particles that may have accumulated there.
Place the flash card firmly back in place.
Close the battery compartment.
Press the ESC button – and hold it down for 3-4 seconds – while pressing the power ON button.

The Pen’s wheels are squeaky. How do I solve this?

The wheels should not squeak, and they really do not tend to. But if you find that your wheels squeak even for a moment, you can run the tip back and forth on paper with just a bit of pressure to eliminate the noise, or use the edge of a Pencil-tip to cause a tiny amount of graphite to fall between the wheels and the tip which will lubricate the axle. The problem should be temporary but if not, the Pen can be exchanged.

When I insert the earplug, the Pen shuts off. What should I do?

This problem occurs when the earplug is not inserted properly.  If it is not inserted firmly, the connections are loose, which causes the Pen to switch itself off automatically.

Push the earplug in very FIRMLY until you hear a “click” sound.

Why can’t I hear the pronunciation of a scanned word?

It is possible to hear scanned words in dictionaries whose source language is English.

Check which dictionary is selected on your Pen (Input Scanning screen א Press ESC א Quicktionary Menu א Dictionary א ENT א Scroll down to “Select Dictionary” א ENT).  If the dictionary’s source language is not English, you will not be able to hear the pronunciation of the words.
Check whether the volume is high enough (Pen Main Menu א Preferences א ENT א Voice Settings).
If you are using an earphone, check whether it is connected firmly to the plug (you should hear a “click” sound which verifies that the earphone is indeed connected).

Note that not all Pens are voice enabled (for instance, the QuickLink Pen and InfoScan Pen).

For the QuickLink Pen Elite, please check that the scanning language is set to English.