2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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.