Spy Pens: High Tech Gadgetry

You may have thought that spy pens were a pretty cool fictional tool because you’ve seen them in movies or television shows, but you’d be wrong.  Spy pens are definitely cool, but they are far from fictional.  As the demand for smaller and more versatile recording equipment has increased, so has the availability of these stealthy pen recorders.  They are available in a wide variety of models depending on your needs.

Audio and Video Recording

It is somewhat mind-boggling to realize that something as small as a regular pen can be used to record audio and video.  Recording pens range in quality and memory size.  Some pens can only record audio and are very similar to voice recorders.  The very basic pens record still photos while others can also record video.  The newest and most popular pens record in digital video recording or DVR.

The type of pen that you purchase will depend on your personal needs.  Most spy pens range in memory size from 2-8 GB.  When the pen is opened up by unscrewing the top, the USB connection will come into view.  Your pen will come with a USB connector, which will plug right into the USB port on your computer.  This connector will not only download your saved recordings, it will also charge your pen.  It should also come with software, which you will need to install on your computer so that you can store the recordings.  It may also have an adapter so that it can be charged by using a wall outlet.

Useful Tool

Despite the name, spy pens are not generally issued by nameless agencies for the use of secret operatives.  You can purchase them online and many of the day-to-day uses of such pens are not nefarious in the least.  Pen recorders are great to have when you want to remind yourself to do something.  You can dictate your whole grocery list into your pen if you want to.  Can’t remember everything that was discussed in your last business meeting?  Play back your audio recording and refresh your memory.  If you’re sitting in the middle of a lecture hall and you know that your note taking skills are lacking, then you should tape the entire lecture so that you can play it back later.

Of course, spy pens can also be used to observe things you otherwise be privy to.  The neat thing about a pen is that it is a common enough object that it will not draw attention to itself and the fact that you are recording.  You could leave your pen recording on your desk so that you could find out who has been pilfering your candy bowl.  This should be done carefully as your pen could also be borrowed from your desk never to be returned.

And just in case you were wondering, spy pens are also great writing implements.  Not only do they look like a pen, but they are completely functional as well, making it both low tech and high tech gadget at the same time.