Could a Pen Replace the Keyboard?

theluckman writes "Reuters has this story on how new devices like "digital pens" could possibly replace keyboards as primary data entry devices. Maybe so, but I would need my pen to make cool clicking sounds."

Comments

not for me!

[noser]

After all these years of typing, I can write way faster and more accurately with a keyboard than I could with a pen. My handwriting is for shit these days. And I couldn't imagine trying to write code with a pen!

Re:not for me!

[mark_lybarger]

exactly! until the pen learns itself to write 60 wpm it's useless.

voice recognition software is where i see major strides coming from (that and a good education everywhere on correct phonetics). i've heard that most people talk at 100 wpm (though i'm positive i've clocked my wife rambling twice that speed)

As someone who is semi-bilingual

[ProfBooty]

For inputting the english language, i can type far faster than i write, and i believe most people who ultilize computers on a day to day basis can.

However, when I type in japanese, it takes me a lot longer to type the character phonetically and then select the proper character from a list to use. Pen input of complex characters would be signifigantly faster because, assuming the character regonizer is good enough, you wouldnt need to select the character from a list.

The other main advantage of a pen is that you need not lift your hand off the keyboard to reach the mouse to manipulate a GUI. Granted for a "power user" you would have a number of hotkeys/shortcuts handy on the keyboard, but for someone who is already using the pen, its just point and click. Its also easier for someone who is just learning to navigate a computer as it is just like using a mouse.