Ways to scan and OCR notes taken in books (digital dump of "highlights") ?

Hello,

I'm guessing this question has come up before, but I couldn't find
anything definitieve in terms of a yes or no on it --

I'm interested in getting text files of just parts of textbooks that
I'm interested in -- instead of just highlighting the textbook,
getting a digital dump of the text I'm interested in highlighting.

I've tried a pen scanner (Quicklink) thinking it might be just the
thing, but I found it too slow (scan one line, wait for the OCR, scan
another line, wait, etc.) and awkward (each time the scanner turns on,
it seems to default to the cursor being at the beginning of the file,
so I'd have to scroll through the whole thing before I could start
scanning new text).

So I'm wondering, are there other ways that people have accomplished
this sort of thing?  Is there any desktop software that will work with
a flatbed scanner to do OCR _just_ on text that's somehow tagged
(highlighted, for instance!)?  Or better pen scanners?  (Linux
preferrably as dekstop OS, but I know I'm pushing it....)


This would be such a Holy Grail for students, or at least me as a
student -- to be able to have digital, searchable files of my
"highlights" from a book.  Worst case scenerio I'm thinking I'll
markup the physical text with good old pen while reading (can't be
beat for speed) and then go over the sections with the Quicklink
during some horribly boring times of my life.  But I sure am hoping
for better ideas....


Thanks very much,

C K


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