But just like our increasingly powerful mobile devices, the Erascan doesn’t just have two functions. It can also recognize the information it scans, such as handwriting, URLs or email addresses. You can also share and delete – for a second time! – the stored data from the Erascan itself.

There are already whiteboards that can save what’s scrawled on them (among other things), but a device like the Erascan is a bit more useful simply because it’s portable. Although if we’re going to make stuff up anyway why don’t we go wild and imagine an eraser that can un-erase – i.e. re-write or re-draw – whatever it erases?

[via Yanko Design]

The iConvert measures 12.1″x 4.4″x 2.8″ and weighs only 1.44 lbs., but it’s powered by an AC adapter so it’s not as portable as the iPad. As you’d expect, you need to download a complementary app to use the iConvert, but aside from that it seems like there’s no other setup required. It’ll scan documents between 2″ to 8½” wide, with the usual preview, save and delete options. And it has that neat animation where the document looks like it’s going into the tablet. Take that, desktop scanner!

Head to Brookstone to pre-order the iConvert for $150 (USD). I like that it’s easy to setup and extends the functionality of the iPad, but I still think it’s overpriced. But that’s because I rarely need to scan documents.

[via Cult of Mac via SlashGear]

Another thing previous generations, including mine, were able to do? Go to school the “manual” way. And I say manual because schools in Washington County, Florida are actually using fingerprint scanners to keep track of their students. Instead of the teacher calling out names during roll call, all students have to do is press their thumbs against the machine and they’re good to go.

The scanners have been in place since the beginning of the current school year, but the schools are planning to go a step further by installing the scanners inside school buses to save even more time. It just makes me think, though, that it might be easier for kids to just check in with the scanner and then skip school after stepping off the bus. But that’s just me.

[via PopSci via Dvice]

Turns out I was quite wrong, because LG’s LSM-100 Smart Scan Mouse is to be released later this year.

It’s pretty obvious from the name itself that this mouse has a bit more to it than it lets on. Aside from being a mouse, it’s also a handheld scanner. Yes, you read that right: this sleek and compact mouse can replace that bulky flatbed scanner on your desk and perform scans by simply moving it back and forth across the page or picture that you want to scan. (That has got to be the most number of times I’ve ever used the word “scan” in one sentence.)

Anyway, the LSM-100 has the capacity to scan pages that are up to A3 in size, which beats other portable scanners that are limited to smaller-sized documents in terms of what they can and can’t scan. In addition to the regular left and right click buttons that you find on most computer mice, this one also has a Smart Scan button that the user presses down when doing some scans.

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The scanned images can be saved in PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PDF, XLS or DOC format. Aside from that, the LSM-100 is also equipped with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology that can detect text in scanned documents and convert them into editable text. The Smart Scan, which will retail for around $150, was made available in Europe at the end of August and will be launched everywhere else shortly after.

[via Gizmag via Oh Gizmo!]

The scanner involves the Kinect – which in the demo video below is simply clipped to the edge of a table – a poster board box, and a makeshift turntable. The box has a hole in the middle for the object to be scanned. LED lights mounted on each upper corner of the box provide lighting.  The green markers help the Kinect with tracking. Jeromin used the Kinect RGBDemo software made by Nicolas Burrus.

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I have no specifics regarding the actual rendering time and the quality of the 3D image generated, but A.J. did comment over at Hack a Day that this $150 (USD) scanner works a lot faster than the multi-thousand dollar equipment he and his colleagues use at work.

While this is still not direct proof of the Kinect’s usefulness as a scanning device, this could be a cheap way for game developers on a tight budget to create their games. And imagine if instead of spending a long time on the character customization screen of a game (only to end up with something that looks nothing like what you had in mind) you could simply have the Kinect scan you and voila – you’re in the game.

[via Hack a Day & Kinect Hacks]

Their concept device is called Thimble. It has two primary functions, the first one directly addressing the concern I mentioned above. Thimble connects to smartphones via Bluetooth. It lets users “read” data – for example, news or Twitter – from the phone by converting text to Braille, which the user detects via pulses from the fingertip of the glove. But what makes Thimble such an appealing device is that it also has OCR capabilities, which means it can scan written text – a newspaper for example – and convert it into Braille.

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According to their Vimeo page, Hedberg and Bennet are already working on a patent for Thimble, which of course is not the same as actually making the product. But I think it’s a really practical gadget concept, short of an equally portable device that converts digital or analog text to speech.

[via core77]

Or not. Actually the Tableau hides a scanner and a printer; the former is used to digitize what you want to send, and the latter prints what you receive.

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If the Tableau was real, I imagine it would be quite tedious to use it. Also if you receive a lot of stuff, you’ll run out of ink before you know it. Still, the concept is quite charming and magical. I can imagine myself sending secret messages from one Tableau to another. It kind of reminds me of the inter-universe typewriter in Fringe. Check out Kestner’s website for more info.

You can also enter tags to make searching for info a lot easier. The scanner has a built-in 2GB micro SD card, but I’m not sure if you can take it out or replace it. You can order the Pitrec business card scanner at Japan Trend Shop for $412 (USD). If you can’t stomach the price, you can always take pictures of cards using your phone. But that’s not as savvy isn’t it?

The magnifier can operate as far as 15 feet from its base station, which connects to TVs via an RCA cable. You can order the Wireless Page to TV Magnifier at Hammacher Schlemmer for $150 (USD).

Watch and be amazed. Freakin’ magic:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I really hope this technology gets refined and popularized. The benefits that the human race would gain from a digital, searchable database of all the world’s books and other written text is immeasurable. As amazing as that sounds, that may just be a part of Ishikawa’s awesome gifts to the world: at the heart of the scanner is what he calls the Super Vision Chip, and he and his team are looking at other applications for it, such as tracking individual bacteria and building a motion-capture system for video games.

[via Wired and IEEE Spectrum]

The tracking technology, developed by the Department of Information Physics at the University of Tokyo’s Komuro Laboratory, Sticky Light uses a laser diode, a photodetector and a pair of beam-steering mirrors to automatically trace your movements. In its default mode, the Sticky Light will detect high-contrast objects placed beneath it, following the contour of drawings, hand movements or objects placed in front of its sensor. In addition, the laser interaction system can be used to produce interactive games like a tabletop multiplayer version of Pong, or even light pinball as shown in the video below:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

While the system is somewhat reminiscent of the multitouch capabilities of technologies like Microsoft’s Surface, the laser-based interaction really makes Sticky Light unique. Now if only they used high-wattage cutting lasers instead of a safe low-power red beam – that would be really cool.

[via WAXY via Hacked Gadgets]

But Neatdesk’s doesn’t stop there; the included NeatWorks software “identifies and extracts the important information and automatically organizes it for you.” From what I can tell, it can recognize and automatically classify your scanned documents.

It’s very helpful not only for organizing and archiving, but for accounting as well, because the software recognizes US and Canadian business cards, as well as receipts and other records accepted by the IRS. The Neat Company claims that NeatWorks can export data to Outlook, Excel, Quicken and TurboTax too.

You can order a Neatdesk over on Amazon for about $399 (USD). A Mac-compatible version is also available.

[Neatdesk via Everything USB]

Typical 3D object scanners have to be mounted with a tripod or mounting arm, and it’s almost impossible to scan small, enclosed spaces or objects which could not be brought to the scanner.

You can scan objects in a single pass, then download the data to your machine via a FireWire connection. You can even scan confined spaces such as the interior of an automobile or a room. You’ll still need to place reflective targets on the key vertices of objects to be scanned, but that’s par for the course for 3D scanning.

All this convenience does come at a price though. The scanner runs $39,900 USD, but if you’re a 3D imaging professional, you’ll want one of these in your bag of tricks.

[via core77]