Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonist
In all honesty, I take notes on paper, too. But if there were an easy to use tablet, which can transcribe and organize my notes, I'd use it. And I am sure, given time, there will be such device.
Once it's cheap enough, you'll start seeing it in class, then the same students will take it to the work-place.
P.S. I should point out, that while I take notes on paper, I don't like getting hand-scribbled notes on paper from others. I generally try to have them transcribed into a document  |
What I want to add to Sonist's discussion is below, but before I begin
I want to make clear that what I'm going to say is a deviation from my general argument for the co-existence of paper and electronic paper/electronics in general.
One thing that we can do with pen and paper that we cannot with computer and electronic paper is the sensuality involved in using pen on paper. I'm a fountain pen enthusiast and when I'm not in the field I use my fountain pens whenever I need to use a pen. There is a sensuality (not emotional, necessarily) but a physical feel that cannot be reproduced by typing on the keyboard of using a stylus on a tablet PC.
That physical feel is analogous to the physical feel one gets when one plays the piano, violin, or any other musical instrument. Yes, you can reproduce the exact sounds of a manual piano, violin, and any other musical instrument through electronic means. But is that all there is? If so, you are only focusing on the end-product and not the process and means.
Playing the piano (the manual kind as opposed to a computer synthesizer) is not only about the sound but also the physical feel. That physical feel cannot be reproduced with a computer synthesizer. Likewise, the physical feel of of pen on paper cannot be reproduced by electronics, at least not in the same way.
P.S. When I'm in running around in the field, I DO NOT use a fountain pen which I find too delicate for those purposes. For those purposes, a ballpoint pen or rollerball pen or pencil is much better. See, I'm practical. I'm not an all or nothing. I'm a, "Let's see what is most practical" kind of person.