I have had my PenFriend now for 9 years. Every day this is an important piece of equipment that is more like an extension of my eyes and hands. It enables me to live my daily life more normally. From the time I wake up my PenFriend is involved in every aspect of my life.
I have 3 different PenFriends: one for my kitchen pantry and recipes, one for my motivational speaking business, and the third for everyday labeling and calendar.
I have come up with several creative ways of using the PenFriend. Such as putting the dots (labels) on my hangers in my closet and putting the detailed description on them so I know exactly what I am wearing. In my filing cabinets I put dots on my files to organize folders with records, information and billing. I use them to label all my CD’s and DVD’s.
I use 3x5 cards to cut out squares about 1 inch by 1 inch. I attach a dot to each square and then cover the whole square with clear tape so the card and dot do not get damaged. Then I use masking tape to attach them to the folded clothes in my dresser and the cans of food in my pantry cabinet. Also any notes or letters I receive I will tape a square to and record instructions or dates as to when it needs to be addressed. I put them on all my boxes and bottles of medications so I know when and how much to take. This way you are able to reuse those dots over and over again. In my kitchen I use the dots to record recipes. I will use several dots, two or three for ingredients and two or three for instructions to make me the exemplary cook and baker that I am!
For my motivational speaking engagements it helps me to organize my thoughts, notes, stories and ideas. I currently use over 2900 dots to help me keep my daily life organized and running smoothly.
I really could not imagine my life without this invaluable piece of equipment. It is a life saver and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Monica Johnson, Motivational Speaker for Vision with No Sight and Support Group Coordinator for Aurora of CNY, Syracuse, NY U.S.A.
“I have been using PENfriend for approximately 15 years. During this period it has supported me better than any other method. I have used up the labels Set A to L and want more to identify my extensive range of CDs. I love the device that has helped to keep me be as independent as possible.”
John Barrington Rowell, England, 2021 Jan
“I have been using PENfriend 1 for 10 years and I think it is a great piece of kit, simple to use and I’ve used up four sets labelling things. I want to buy PENfriend 3 where I can transfer all my recordings from 1 to 3 with a simple software provided free. Looking forward to 10 more years with PENfriend 3”
Gregory Knipe, Northern Ireland, Jan 2021
The penfriend is easy to use, pressing the top button and holding it for a few seconds, there is a beep and it is ready to go. For instructions the labeller has labels with information on how to work it. I had a sight loss worker show me personally, trust me if I can work it, then its easy to do. I can leave messages and label foods or buttons around the home. It is a personal thing, whether you can manage things better with it, it certainly is more convenient. It comes with a strap and is handy for hanging up on a hook or hanging around my neck when in use. I just put the tip of the penfriend on my label and i can hear what I have said about it, for example what record is in the sleeve or how long to cook something in the microwave or just a memo to remind me of an appointment or instructions. I am not aware if there is any time limit on the recordings, so your messages can be quite long. How clever
Lily - Our Disability Community
Very good.
Bernard Michael McHugh
This is an amazing tool for my blind daughter. We have labeled her books on CD, groceries, clothes, making her happy. It gives her so much help finding things.
MaxiAid customer
It is the best tool for someone who is visually impaired to read the prescription labels. Also a friend who cannot read can use the pen to know what prescriptions they are taking. It is a great independence living tool.
MaxiAid customer
I have used my PenFriend so much over the years and it has survived lots of accidents with water. I think that if you are new to sight loss I would recommend it as the first piece of assistive technology you buy. The device is so simple as there is no technology barrier to using it and there are so many ways it can help you be more independent.
From the RNIB website
Pros
It makes the process of discovering the products/items you want quicker and easier.
It is possible to record for as long as you like meaning it's possible to record as much informations as you want.
The stickers can be placed on items such as food packaging, beauty products, medication and labels for clothing.
It allows visually impaired people to become more independent when wanting to find the items they're after.
Cons
The only con I have for this device is that it can be quite time consuming to place the labels on products and make the recordings but this is a small negative aspect in comparison with all the positives it provides.
Our Disability Community
Five Star Review
The PenFriend is easy to work, pressing the top button button and holding it for a few seconds, there is a beep and it is ready to go.
For instructions the labeller has labels with information on how to work it.
I had a sight loss worker show me personally, trust me, if I can work it, then it is easy to do.
I can leave messages and label foods or buttons around the home.
It comes with a strap and is handy for hanging up on a hook or hanging around my neck when in use.
I just put the tip of the penfriend on my label to hear what I have said about it.
eg what record is in the sleeve, or how long to cook something in the microwave.
Or just a memo to remind me of an appointment or instructions.
I am not aware there is any time limit on the recording, so your message can be quote long.
How clever.
Lily on Amazon