When you read in a third-party app like Kindle or in the browser on a paper tablet, you may want to keep the page in view while you jot notes on the same screen, which is why split screen comes up so often. Here, we introduce the Record function in Picking, explaining how its transparent notes panel can sit over whatever is already open and how this workflow can be considered a possible alternative to split screen for some everyday reading and study tasks on Viwoods.
Why Users Look for Split Screen on a Paper Tablet
The real request behind asking for "split screen"
Most users are not asking for a fancy layout, only to keep two things visible at once.
- The source content they are working from
- The notes space where they can capture ideas immediately
Where the friction starts
A common reading loop is simple: read, notice something, switch to notes, write, switch back. When that loop repeats every few minutes, the interruption can feel bigger than the note itself. Split screen appeals because it keeps both spaces on screen, which makes the flow feel more continuous.
Why it comes up so often on a paper tablet
Paper tablets tend to be used for long, focused sessions, and that style of reading produces lots of small notes. A quick definition, a one-line summary, a question for later, a quote, an action item. Each one is tiny, yet the cost of switching screens adds up.
Keeping context in view is the point
People want split screen because it keeps the reference visible while they write, so they can look back at the source and capture the point accurately. In practice, it's about controlling how much context stays on screen, whether that is a full paragraph, a table, a chart, or just one line, so the note makes sense when they return to it.
Typical situations that trigger the request
Split screen searches often increase when reading happens in third-party apps or in the web browser, where users want a notes space to sit alongside the content instead of switching away to a separate view.
How Does Picking Work as a Floating Tool?
Picking as an On-Screen Capture and Note Helper
Picking opens from a desktop icon and works with whatever content is already displayed, including Learning materials, browser pages, and third-party apps. It supports quick capture and note-taking without requiring you to switch away from what you are viewing.
Where the "Record" Panel Fits Inside Picking
Record is the third tool within Picking that opens a notes panel over the current screen to support users in writing without leaving what they are viewing. In this context, "Record" is simply the name of the note panel inside Picking, not an audio recorder or a screen recorder.
What the "Record" Panel Does Today
Transparent Background: Notes Overlaid on the Screen
The Record panel appears on top of whatever you are viewing, so you can take notes without leaving the current screen. With the transparent background enabled, it becomes a light overlay that keeps the underlying page visible while you write and refer back to the content.
Portable Note Taking Tools in the Panel
Record comes with a compact toolbar that supports direct note-taking inside the panel without extra setup. These portable tools remain available as you write, allowing quick switches between them while the underlying screen stays in view.
Step-by-Step Using the "Record" for Split Screen Like Workflows
Step 1: Open Your Content in Learning, an App, or a Browser
Start where you already read. Open the material you want to work with in the Learning Section, a third-party app such as Kindle, Kobo, or a Chrome web page, then scroll to the part that you expect to quote, summarise, or respond to, since Record works best when the reference is already positioned on screen.
Step 2: Tap the Picking Floating Icon
Bring up Picking from the desktop floating icon while the content stays open underneath.
Step 3: Open the Record Panel
From within Picking, open the Record panel to create a dedicated note space over the current view, which at this point is simply a place to write.
Step 4: Enable Transparent Background
Turn on the transparent background option to switch the panel to a light overlay instead of a solid block. The goal is simple: keep enough of the page visible that you can look back at a line, a table entry, or a label while you write.
Step 5: Take Notes While Viewing the Same Screen
Capture short summaries, keywords, questions, or action items while the source remains visible behind the panel. Glance back at the underlying content as you write to keep the note tied to what you are seeing.
Step 6: Save and Revisit Your Record Notes
Once the note is done, save it and treat it as a record of what you captured from that screen at that moment. Later, return to your saved Record notes when you want to review what stood out, reuse a quote, or continue the thread, especially if your reading session spans multiple apps or multiple days.
Tips for Keeping "Record" Notes Clear and Useful
Anchor each note to what is on screen
A Record note holds up later when it starts with a small anchor that points back to what you were looking at, since memory fades faster than you think in a long reading week. Useful anchors are short and concrete, such as a section heading, a figure label, or a table name.
- Anchors: "Methods, limitation", "Table 2, cost per unit", "Figure 3, blue line".
Use quick markers instead of long explanations
Record tends to work best as rapid capture, not polished writing, so lightweight markers keep notes compact while still making them easy to scan later.
- Q: for a question you want to revisit
- → for a follow up you plan to do
- ! for a key point that should not get lost
- Example lines: "Q: What assumption is driving this claim?", "→ Check the cited study later", "! Main conclusion depends on sample size".
Keep one panel for one reading task
When one file becomes a catch-all bucket, the notes start to blur together, making it hard to remember the purpose of each entry. Assign one specific task to each file and keep the notes focused on that task.
- Good session labels: "Chapter summary", "Questions while reading", "Action items from this report".
Separate raw capture from conclusions
The clearest notes separate what the page says from what you think it means, because they serve different purposes, and you may revise your interpretation later. A simple two-line pattern keeps that boundary clean.
- Line 1: raw capture, quote, number, or named concept
- Line 2: your takeaway, decision, or next step
- Example: "Fact: 'The study found a 20% increase in productivity with breaks every hour'" then "Takeaway: Implement hourly breaks in the team's schedule for better results."
Use for one short, focused reading task
Record works well as a working layer during a session, then a quick wrap-up keeps the best lines from getting buried. Aim for a short finish that takes under a minute.
- Keep the best 3 to 5 lines
- Turn → items into a task list
- Move one key insight into your main project note if it needs to live beyond this session
- Example: after a Kindle chapter, keep the final summary line and collect your Q: items into a study list
Closing Thoughts: A Simple Way to Read and Take Notes Together
The Record function in Picking adds a transparent note panel over the screen you are already viewing, which helps you capture notes while keeping the content in sight. It's a practical option for the common situation where you want reading and note-taking to stay in the same view, and it can serve as a possible alternative to split screen in some everyday workflows. Try opening Record the next time you are reading in Kindle or the browser, turn on the transparent background, and see whether it matches the way you like to work.