Cutting-edge talking pen

A breakthrough technology tool

It is the next new tool in education technology. The “talking pen” -- a multimedia print reader (MPR) -- may have just given hope to millions of visually challenged and dyslexic people, especially children. Or to the elderly who want to listen to their Gita, Quran or Bible. To volunteers involved in the literacy mission. To improve your pronunciation skills.
What is MPR? It is a unique education technology which uses listening skills along with traditional reading. The tool, in the shape of a pen (of a slightly larger size), recites the written text. This pen, when held over a book that has been embedded with MPR codes, activates the pre-loaded audio files. Now, while a student is reading a sentence, he/she will hear the pre-recorded voice. MPR ‘Talking Pen’, which costs Rs 7,000 a piece, comes with an in-built speaker, camera, earphones, 2 GB memory card, 7 hour battery backup, can be charged like a cellphone.

The technology has been developed to elevate the learning experience of students by focusing on the enormous benefits of listening. It brings a human face through voice in the learning process, increasing the attention span and concentration level. The talking book technology also helps making books more interactive, interesting and educational. This breakthrough technology tool, launched on January 30 by the makers for India --  Aadarsh Private Limited , a known name in the publishing sector -- will also foster a self-learning process, specially in the rural areas, encouraging the students to work independently in the absence of teachers or teacher’s attention.

How to make a book compatible with MPR? All you have to do is, send the reading material in a CD, or the book itself, to Aadarsh and in turn you will get the embedded book plus the talking pen.

Speaking about his product, Manish Rajoria, Director, Aadarsh Private Limited told Deccan Herald: “We are in talks with various national and international NGOs, publishers, government organisations, international firms and have received encouraging feedback from all. The reading can be in any language as a single book can be printed in MPR-coded multiple languages”. Rajoria says that apart from its numerous advantages for students, MPR is beneficial for publishers as any book can be printed in multiple languages. “MPR Books will help combat the serious threat of piracy which publishers are facing today. We are confident that this unique education technology will bring in a new wave of interesting learning processes with emphasis on the vital role of education in everybody’s life”.  According to Kaneez Razavi, editor at Aadarsh, “the target groups for the product include children from KG to PG, people who want to learn through distance education, singers and others. This product, originally from Hong Kong, is being used by the Singapore government in its schools”.

MPR ‘Talking Pen’, which costs Rs 7,000 a piece, comes with an in-built speaker, camera, earphones, 2 GB memory card, 7 hour battery backup, can be charged like a cellphone.
Says Rajoria, who has spent two years in bringing the technology to shape: “Many are showing interest and joining us. They may be NGOs, publishers, educational institutions etc. This technology has just been launched in India and we already have 5 publishers joining us and 100 more will sign up shortly .  We plan to come out with 1000 books this year and they will be education, fiction, entertainment, dictionary, language learning etc. We plan to produce one lakh talking pens a year”.
Aadarsh holds the global patent for the product. There is no fear of piracy as the text cannot be copied or scanned.