Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
1–10 of 100 posts
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#2I think it is. Scientists all carry around laboratory notebooks that they write in by hand.
While I can type faster than I can write, if I observe something that I want to record for later consideration, it's a lot quicker for me to whip out my notebook and a pen, than to whip out my computer, log in, launch a text editor then save my document.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#3I think it is. Scientists all carry around laboratory notebooks that they write in by hand. While I can type faster than I can write, if I observe something that I want to record for later consideration, it's a lot quicker for me to whip out my notebook and a pen, than to whip out my computer, log in, launch a text editor then save my document.
Agreed. There's just something about the pen and paper right there, ready to go, always. Even on a phone, with the app open, you'll probably have to unlock the screen first, and tap or something to bring up the keyboard and start typing.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#4I can't stand writing. It's slow and it's messy, and I can't read a lot of other people's handwriting. I write about 30 words per minute and I type 167 wpm. Perhaps there are some cognitive benefits but I'm willing to give them up in exchange for the ease of getting my thoughts down quickly.
The only case that I still prefer handwriting is doing math. It's much easier for me to write out equations and "explore" things with pencil and paper over using a program. That said, I normally find that having something like Mathematica or a Julia notebook open in addition to pencil/paper is the best combination. One tool for drafting and thinking, and another tool for testing my ideas out.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#5I think it is. Scientists all carry around laboratory notebooks that they write in by hand. While I can type faster than I can write, if I observe something that I want to record for later consideration, it's a lot quicker for me to whip out my notebook and a pen, than to whip out my computer, log in, launch a text editor then save my document.
Agreed. There's just something about the pen and paper right there, ready to go, always. Even on a phone, with the app open, you'll probably have to unlock the screen first, and tap or something to bring up the keyboard and start typing.
This assumes that you actually have a pen and paper with you at all times. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of times when I don't. Also, the amount of time it takes to unlock my phone's screen, open Evernote, and create a new note is actually less than that required to open my bag (if I have it with me), take out a notebook, open another compartment, take out a pen, close both compartments, open the notebook, uncap the pen, and start writing.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed. There's just something about the pen and paper right there, ready to go, always. Even on a phone, with the app open, you'll probably have to unlock the screen first, and tap or something to bring up the keyboard and start typing.
This assumes that you actually have a pen and paper with you at all times. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of times when I don't. Also, the amount of time it takes to unlock my phone's screen, open Evernote, and create a new note is actually less than that required to open my bag (if I have it with me), take out a notebook, open another compartment, take out a pen, close both compartments, open the notebo…
While I work as a programmer, my degree is in Physics.
I always have a notebook. I carry a small one in my back-left pocket, and take care always to have a pen.
I have a regular-sized notebook that I carry in my computer bag, that has graph paper rather than just lines for text, however as you say I don't have it with me.
With scientific notebooks, what's important is not to be neat, but to write it down so it's not forgotten.
At one time, for inventors, it was crucial to record the date upon which one invented something, however the US patent law was revised a few years ago so that we have "first to file" rather than "first to invent".
I even do stuff like take notes during TV commercials, if I see a product advertised that I might like to buy.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#7Yes, partly for this reason I switch to a mixture of voice, drawings and cursive for my personal diary. I also intend to use a variant of quickscript crossed with the phonetic alfabet and shorthand techniques for speed and semi-encryption (currently using the greek alphabet)
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed. There's just something about the pen and paper right there, ready to go, always. Even on a phone, with the app open, you'll probably have to unlock the screen first, and tap or something to bring up the keyboard and start typing.
This assumes that you actually have a pen and paper with you at all times. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of times when I don't. Also, the amount of time it takes to unlock my phone's screen, open Evernote, and create a new note is actually less than that required to open my bag (if I have it with me), take out a notebook, open another compartment, take out a pen, close both compartments, open the notebo…
The act of writing on a phone is such an atrocious battle with autocorrect that I much prefer carrying around my notebook.
I transcribe to Evernote (or other note taking apps) as necessary, but this introduces a welcome step of filtering the raw output of transcribing.
YMMV.
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#9Some things I wish:
- I could write on paper and have that sent to a document on the computer as if it was typed out. Something like those digital pens do, but actually ocr the text.
- To learn Stenography (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpv-Qb-dB6g)
Re: Handwriting vs. typing: is the pen still mightier than the keyboard?
#10I think it is. Scientists all carry around laboratory notebooks that they write in by hand. While I can type faster than I can write, if I observe something that I want to record for later consideration, it's a lot quicker for me to whip out my notebook and a pen, than to whip out my computer, log in, launch a text editor then save my document.
Plus you'll likely still have access to it years later. And it will remain private.