Anyone tried "taking notes" with a digital camera?

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
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Since most of my courses are science/math (lots of diagrams and symbols) I can't really take notes just by using a keyboard.

So I was thinking, could I take a picture of the board (using a camera with a decent optical zoom and enough MPs), then download the pics, invert them (from white writing on black board to black writing on white board) and then print them. It would save me from writing and I could pay more attention in class.

Has anyone tried this? How well did it work? Would the lighting be enough so that I don't have to use the flash?

 

Lifer

Banned
Feb 17, 2003
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it won't work w/out the flash, unless your're in a very bright class room with a tripod.

with a flash, it'll be very disturbing to others.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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A tabletop tripod is like 5$.

I can easily take shots without the flash and without a tripod though. It's easy to get non-blurry shots with slow shutter speeds if you have something like a desk to rest your elbows on.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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that's why you need a touch pad :) with Windows Journal. allows you to draw just as if you were drawing on paper. :)
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: Lifer
it won't work w/out the flash, unless your're in a very bright class room with a tripod.

with a flash, it'll be very disturbing to others.

It will work fine. I don't know why people feel that they must use flashes....
 

MaxFusion16

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
Since most of my courses are science/math (lots of diagrams and symbols) I can't really take notes just by using a keyboard.

So I was thinking, could I take a picture of the board (using a camera with a decent optical zoom and enough MPs), then download the pics, invert them (from white writing on black board to black writing on white board) and then print them. It would save me from writing and I could pay more attention in class.

Has anyone tried this? How well did it work? Would the lighting be enough so that I don't have to use the flash?

no you wouldn't pay more attention in class, you will be busy fiddling with the camera controls.
why can't people just stick with the tried and true, just use a pen like everyone else.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
that's why you need a touch pad :) with Windows Journal. allows you to draw just as if you were drawing on paper. :)

Yeah, those are great, we have a tablet PC at home and by the time I go to college it will be outdated but I'll probably still use it for taking notes.
 

johnjbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2001
4,401
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i've done this before. it works out perfectly fine. plust you are right, it helps you listen to the prof rather than blindly copying down everything. i would suggest it.
 

dionx

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
3,500
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its best to not zoom in order to minimize shake effects on the picture. i havent tried taking notes on chalkboard, but it did work well when taking pictures from projectors
 

DaWhim

Lifer
Feb 3, 2003
12,985
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there is one guy takes notes in my macro-eco class, whenever the prof draw a graph, it is funny to see that he can't do anything. I take notes and record the whole lecture.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
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Originally posted by: DaWhim
I think take note with laptop is stupid.

i don't have a notebook yet, but i can type about 10x faster than i can write, and certainly faster than a teacher can write on the board, so i fail to see what's so stupid about it other than the noise it makes.
 

IgoByte

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
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My girl's tried it as have a couple of her classmates. It's not very effective, though good for some situations. I've found that when you look back at a board a few hours after the class has finished, you don't see nearly as much as you did during the class (this is assuming the class was good and the notes were helpful). Basically, it's kinda confusing.

I've tried recording lessons...pretty ineffective for me. Taking notes on a laptop...nope...sucks... Other people taking notes on laptops...too irritating...
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Brilliant idea! I have a student who would benefit from this... I think I'll suggest it tomorrow to other staff to see if they'd be okay with the idea.