Paper, Pen and Digital

Paper

Extension of human memory and communication Cognitive efficiency

Easy to read.

Annotation is easy to recognize

Easy to think and communicate.

Space layout as you like.

can quickly navigate pages.

Sight memory - Color cover of files help or page positions in a book help distinguish contents.

Paper (cont’d)

Handy Cheap

No electronic power

Easy to carry: foldable, light weight.

Easy to modify

Easily annotate while reading.

Easy to cut, staple, decorate by seal/stamp

Information media in the time/space context Helped by space memory: Places in a house/room

help expect what the paper is.

Be a reminder or message: paper on refrig, Post-It on a page, Memo in car, card on a room door.

Pen

Extension of human memory and communication Cognitive efficiency

Can focus while writing.

Writing is better remembered.

Easy, fast and simple.

Smaller steps to write than digital.

Non-text (symbols, drawings) is as easy to write as text.

Free format and layout.

Can write while operating, walking, listening, conversing.

One hand operation

Handy No electric power

Cheap

Digital

Remote access Can update/input remotely.

Can share with remote people

Extension of human memory and communication Can easily store, copy, and update.

Ready to computation – search, sort, spell check, etc.

Persistent memory: Not be lost. Not be degraded physically.

Characters are beautiful. Layout automatically aligned.

Link information - Can link any information with bits/atoms: voice, image, movie, alert, Geo-tag, URL

Instant communication

My Take-away

Each paper, pen, and digital have unique advantages which is hard to replace soon. Digital industry should not simply mimic paper/pen. Digital gadget should take its advantages.

Tablet + Pen may enjoy a broad adoption soon.

If we can make it easy to exchange medium b/w paper and digital, our life will be easier.