Comments on: Is the digital pen mightier?

Past attempts at a high-tech quill have ended up as expensive paperweights, but a new crop of start-ups has higher hopes.
Photos: Pens get smarter

[eCurmudgeon]

I'll never use a digital pen

Call me a Luddite, by why must everything be digital? "Digital" pens will never make it in the marketplace -- the older generation doesn't want them, the young kids don't know what to do with them. Digital pens are bulky and unbalanced, made by people who know a lot about computers but absolutely nothing about pens, making them difficult to use for anything other than doodling smiley faces. And special paper? Oy vey!

Nothing compares to the feel of a handmade nib sliding across a sheet of fine bond paper. It is a pleasure I learned early in life and even now I still carry a Sailor fountain pen with a handmade nib. So it dates me. So what? You'd be surprised at how many authors still write their works on pen and paper before transferring them to digital media (J. K. Rowling, for one).

Besides, digitizing your writings just exposes it to theft by hacker. It is far easier to keep things private by writing them down on paper and locking them away securely in a cabinet or desk drawer. This is what I do.

[dmm]

OK: you're a Luddite!

Fountain pens are fun -- you feel so eloquent, but after using one in college for my first paper the prof's response was, "Very nice, but next time either type or print, since your handwriting is difficult to read." Ironically, my handwriting is fairly legible. But people are not used to reading handwriting anymore.

Eventually digital pens will be made that have a very nice feel (if they haven't already). Then, non-famous authors without their own secretaries to type for them will be able to "write their works on pen and paper before transferring them to digital media."

And if you encrypt your important files, hackers won't be able to steal them even if they break into your house and get access to your non-networked PC. You can't do that with handwritten stuff.

[MTGrizzly]

Have to agree...

...I wouldn't even consider a digital pen until it is based on a
fountain pen, rather than a ball point, and made by someone who
knows pens, (Schaefer would be my first choice, Mont Blanc would,
also, be a good choice). Writing with a ball point is pedestrian and
uninspired. Writing with a fountain pen really allows you to express
yourself.

I am digital everything, but I will never give up my fountain pen!!!!!

[shanedr]

What a waste!!!

If you're using paper use a pencil or pen. The only value of a digital pen is so you can draw a image on a computer screen. Anything else is a waste of time, money and basic logic.

Instead of a special pen, provide a software program that would permit someone to draw using their mouse. Oh darn, that's right they already have those.

[Paulosse]

Short-sighted

You must misunderstand what is perhaps the greatest advantage of a digital pen or tablet. They allow you to take notes and sketch diagrams, etc, WHILE AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, which can later be transferred to the computer for storage, insertion into applications or distribution, etc.
With handwriting recognition software the digitised version of the written text can be automatically turned into editable text, avoiding the need to type it up yourself (whether via keyboard or voice recognition). This can reduce the workload by half or greater depending on your normal transcription rate.

With good recogniion accuracy the uses are therefore clearly numerous but one simple example is being able to take handwritten notes in a meeting or interview, which then need to go into a typed report, without subsequently having to transcribe them yourself.

Another example of their value is the fact that in some interview situations the use of a laptop would create a barrier between the client and interview. Being able to handwrite avoids this problem. Being able to use a digital pen could be seen as the equivalent of using a laptop remotely.

[skasey]

Either you never read the article (and don't understand the concept of these pens) or you're simply short-sighted!

"The only value of a digital pen is so you can draw a image on a computer screen. Anything else is a waste of time, money and basic logic."

The Livescribe products allow me to write and draw anything on my notepad, without the need for my laptop, and then upload every page, exactly as written/drawn, to the desktop software for storage. I can retain every page within the Livescribe software or I can use OCR to convert my notes to MS Word format. I also have an audio file of everymeeting I've attended. If miss anything in the minutes I can revert back to the exact point in the audio file at which I wrote something.

In my profession (Project Management) communication and documentation is key to success. Having everything in digital format along with audio is without a doubt one of the best concepts I've come across in years.

[jypeterson]

Don't knock it until you try it

I am in the healthcare industry and the io2 is indispensible. I don't
have to keep the paper notes once the download is complete. I
have been using io digital pen products for five years now.

[mars729]

New Software Needed

I think in order for the digital pen to take off some new software needs to be written to take advantage of special features of a digital pen.

For example you need a word processor that can allows you to rearrange and edit text _without_ having to apply optical character recognition first. Of vital importance is the ability to draw an oval (or other shape) around a set of words, _drag them on the screen_ and then drop them where you like. With just about all word processors in existence the text disappears from the screen during a cut and paste operation.

Second, I believe for a pen based computer a quality mind mapping program should be included. In order to use a mind mapping program effectively the screen should be large, preferably somewhere in the range of 8 1/2 * 11 inch screen.

[Paulosse]

AceCad have already done it

The AceCad tablet alreqdy allows you to use a digital pen with normal paper. They also have handwriting recognition software.

Don't know how accurate it is, but at least it eliminates the impractical & costly requirement to use special paper.

[jamesrav]

can these pens be used to input free-hand 'text' (ie not transcribed, recognized, etc) into Windows Messenger, such that the recipient sees what you drew?