google-site-verification: google65e716d80989ba07.html Scanning Family History Photos at Your Finger Tips! | The Armchair Genealogist

Scanning Family History Photos at Your Finger Tips!






I’m all about making the most painful jobs easier. For me, in the realm of genealogy that would be scanning and filing. With so many pictures and documents, scanning can become a rather mundane task. However, I have recently acquired a new little device that has turned my world upside down.
It is called the Zcan+ wireless mouse, and it is by all accounts a scanner in your mouse. That’s right. Until you see it for yourself you won’t believe it, so I encourage you to watch the video below, but before you do let me tell you a few things about it.

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This fit-in-your-palm scanner slides over your pictures and documents and then like magic they appear on your screen. From there you can edit them and save them into a number of formats, including Pdf, Jpg, excel, and word docs. Just to tip the scales you can also scan and save to Evernote. We all know how much genealogists love Evernote. You can also save your scan directly to Facebook, Twitter, and email. 

If you’re out in the research field such as at an archive, library or Grandma’s house, and you want to scan a picture, document or page of a book, this little mouse quickly looks after the job with a simple click of a button and few swipes across the page.


You continue to use it just like a regular mouse, but with a simple click, it becomes a scanner. There is no battery required, just recharge as needed by plugging it into the USB of your computer.

Now it’s looking pretty great so far.  Well let me add it scans in high quality, 400 dpi and it offers OCR capabilities, with 199 OCR languages. Yup, you heard me.

What about fragile photos, you ask? Don't want to drag a scanner across those treasures. They offer two size pads. Slide the picture under the protective covering and no worries about damage to your photographs. 

I am so in love with this product I can’t imagine using another mouse. This mouse comes in the wireless version; that's one I have, or you can get the USB version. I have been playing with this mouse all summer and showing it to everyone I know. I keep finding new uses for it.

This mouse also extends beyond my genealogy projects. I use it to scan my notes, I often keep a yellow pad beside my computer, I make notes, for projects, books, research, etc., all day, every day. Those yellow pads have a tendency to pile up in my office because they contain notes I made and I want to keep track of but of course they aren't organized in that stack on my desk. Now, I scan those notes at the end of the day and add them to my files in Evernote.  I have found a way to continue to make handwritten notes, which I love to do, and I’m not prepared to give up, but I’m no longer getting bogged down in all the paper.

I also use the mouse scanner to scan paper bills. I’m trying to go paperless, and get rid of the monthly paper bills that come in through snail mail. I still have a few.  I pay them online, scan the bill, save it to a digital file and get rid the paper, no more filing that already overstuffed filing cabinet.

Compatibility: Requires iOS 8.0 or later and it is compatible with: 
  • iPhone 5s / 5c / 6 / 6 Plus / 6s / 6s Plus 
  • iPad (4th generation) 
  • iPad Air and iPad Air 2 
  • iPad mini 2 / 3 / 4 and iPad Pro

Now that you heard my praises take a look at the video below and see it in action for yourself.








I also managed to garner a bit of a deal for you. Now that I’ve become an affiliate for this product, with the good folks at Shop the Hound. Also, if you know anything about me you know I only do this for products I believe in, use, and love.


Here’s the Deal



1. When you buy the Zcan+ Wireless Mouse with pads, you'll get the pads, in the small and large size for free. Just add Armchair to your cart in the Coupon area and your purchase will be discounted $19.99.

2. When you buy the Zcan USB version, you can add the large pad to your order for free. The USB version already gets the small pad so now you'll have both. Add the large pad to your order, then use Armchair in the Coupon area to get the discount.


I think you'll find the Zcan+ wireless mouse a great investment and wonderful addition to your genealogy toolbox.