A method of enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the method including the steps of: providing a user with at least one form printable on a surface, the form containing information relating to a notebook activity and including coded data indicative of an identity of the form and of at least one reference point of the form; receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by said user, said indicating data regarding the identity of the form and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to the form; and identifying in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity.