What is pen scanning?
Pen scanning is the process of using a handheld scanning device to capture printed text directly from a page.
The device uses optical scanning and, typically, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to recognize the characters it passes over.
From there, the result depends on the device. Some pen scanners are designed primarily to transfer text into a computer or mobile workflow. Others are built around reading printed text aloud, translation, dictionaries, or other standalone features.
The important thing is to choose the device based on what you actually want to do.
How pen scanning works
Pen scanning follows the same basic sequence on every device: the scanner captures printed characters, OCR recognizes the characters, the device or connected software processes the text, and you use the result.
What can a scanning pen do?
Depending on the model, a scanning pen may allow you to capture printed text, transfer text to a computer, read text aloud, translate text, look up words, save scans, edit scanned text, or share and export information.
Pen scanner vs. traditional scanner
Traditional scanners are designed around capturing pages or documents. Pen scanners are designed around capturing specific words, lines, or passages.
If you need to digitize an entire document, a conventional scanner may be the better tool. If you need to capture selected printed text while working through a book or document, a scanning pen can be much more convenient.