> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bowerlabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting started

> Get up and running with Bower in under five minutes.

## Create your account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up">
    Go to [app.bowerlabs.ai](https://app.bowerlabs.ai) and create your account with email or Google sign-in. Bower sends a verification email to the address you used — you can keep going while it's unverified, but verifying lets us route account-recovery emails and invites correctly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your first workspace">
    Onboarding asks for a workspace name — typically your lab, project, or research group. The workspace is created in the same step, with you as Owner. Need a second workspace later? Email [hello@bowerlabs.ai](mailto:hello@bowerlabs.ai) — see [Workspaces in Bower](/workspaces-and-account/create-workspace).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Invite your team (optional)">
    Open **Settings → Members → Invite member**, choose Guest (free, read-only) or Paid member, and Bower hands you a unique link. Copy it and share it however you like — Bower doesn't email the invitee for you. See [Invite team members](/workspaces-and-account/invite-team-members) for the full flow.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Capture your first note

Bower turns voice recordings, photos, and files into searchable, editable notes. Try one of these:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Speak it" icon="microphone">
    Open Bower on your phone, tap the capture button, and speak your observation. Bower transcribes it with scientific vocabulary recognition.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Photograph it" icon="camera">
    Tap the camera icon, point at a notebook page, instrument display, or label. Bower reads the image and extracts the text automatically.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Import it" icon="upload">
    On desktop, click **Import** or drag files in. Bower handles images, voice recordings, PDFs, and Word documents — even mixed batches.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Type it" icon="keyboard">
    Click **New note** and start typing. The editor supports rich text, tables, and markdown.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Ask Bird

Once you have notes in your workspace, open the Bird panel on the right side of the desktop app and ask a question in plain language:

* "Summarise my notes from this week"
* "Find all pH readings above 8.0"
* "Help me plan an experiment to test salinity tolerance — what methods have we used before, and what does the latest literature suggest?"

Bird searches across everything in your workspace and gives you a synthesised answer with sources.

## What to explore next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Mobile capture" icon="microphone" href="/capture/mobile-capture">
    Voice transcription and photo text extraction on your phone.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Collections" icon="folder" href="/organisation/collections">
    Organise notes by experiment, project, or protocol.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Live agent mode" icon="tower-broadcast" href="/ai-and-search/live-agent-mode">
    Real-time conversation with Bird, with video awareness.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Search" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/ai-and-search/hybrid-search">
    Find anything by keyword or meaning.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>