Is Your Handwriting Starting To Look Like Chicken Scratch?

I've noticed recently that whenever I write on a piece of paper, I can hardly read what I write - and it's embarrassing when I'm at the grocery to have to ask someone if they can make out what I wrote down. But I've learned that if I have to do that, to just go up to a worker because at least they can show me where the item is right after making out the chicken scratch. Now I do remember my handwriting being somewhat legible and clean in high school, but with our increasing dependence on computers and typing I think handwriting might fall by the wayside. Of course, not everyone wants to abandon their "old school" ways and there are some companies that are catering to this market and bridging the technological gap - in this case, pen and paper.

When I did a little bit of research on the internet I found that there are companies like Logitech and Nokia that offer a digital pen that is written on digital paper. I then went to Amazon and couldn't find any reviews on the Nokia digital pen, but did glance at a few comments about the Logitech one - not too favorable and it's used mostly by college students for basic note taking. I did find a blogger who uses the Nokia digital pen but complained that it only saves the data in GIF format.

My cousin gave me an old issue of Wired magazine dated April 2001. It showcased articles about different technologies and people to look out for - a future reference edition basically. One company I read about was Anoto, based in Sweden. This is the daddy of the digital pen and paper setting the defacto standard for this type of technology. After checking out there website, it seems like they're healthy and growing - and you can see that from their case stories. Obviously, industries are seeing the value and benefits of using this medium to transfer their handwritten notes and reports to computers. The website also gives a straightforward explanation of how the pen, paper and transfer of data works. I find the transfer of data particularly cool - by USB or wirelessly by Bluetooth via a mobile phone. Another important item - data may be exported in any preferred format to suit the recipient system. I like it!

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