OPEN SESSION: The Moleskinerie Open Thread Discussion
Welcome to OPEN SESSION: The Moleskinerie Open Thread Discussion.
Moleskinerie invites you, our visitors to share your thoughts on a special topic.
Today it is "The future of Notebooks"
A paperless society may be far off but the morphing of cellulose and digital is now fast becoming reality. Where do you see the notebook 10, 30...50..a 100 years from now?
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I don't see notebooks going away until there is an efficient digital way to replace the one key advantage notebooks have over digital devices -- and it's one key advantage I've pointed out to coworkers both past and present. I keep a notebook at my desk at work -- and I write a lot in it. Right now it's a spiral-bound notebook the company gave me when I started. I might replace it with a Moleskine when it fills up -- I'm not sure.
But like I said, I write a lot down in it, and I make sure to date everything I write and provide what project I'm working on as well. I can go back through my notebook and see everything I've written down without having to search for digital files that might be properly organized -- assuming they haven't been erased or the medium hasn't become corrupted and that I have the right one to begin with. Plus I've written down thoughts and commentaries, drawn diagrams, asked and answered questions -- all in writing.
But the key advantage to writing (especially with a pen) versus using a digital recording mechanism (such as a PDA) is this: if you cross it out, it's still somewhat readable. You can see a previous thought you invalidated for some reason, but the thought isn't completely gone. And because it's still there, it could spawn a new thought, and so on. That is something you can't do (or can't do easily) with a digital device, at least not without investing in new storage cards for your digital device.
So until a digital device can completely mimic all the advantages of a paper notebook, I don't see notebooks going away any time soon. In fact, I think as time goes by more will discover the advantage to keeping a notebook. Much of what we're doing is going paperless, such as a lot of administrative stuff, but when it comes to expressing thoughts and capturing ideas in a way that is unique and personal, and timeless, I don't think there's anything that can replace a notebook.
Posted by: Kenneth Ballard | May 29, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Unless we continue to design them to break after 2 years, digital devices will eventually eliminate all their negatives (fragility, battery life, size, expense, etc.) and bring so many positives (clean editing, change tracking, backups, sharing, duplication, search, etc.) that they will almost completely replace paper for all but the simplest applications (and neoluddites).
Posted by: Jon | May 29, 2009 at 04:57 PM
For me, digital devices never where an option. Despite of all the already mentioned drawback, it just doesn't "feel" right. The haptics, that is. Nothing beats the feeling to write or draw with a real pen on real paper.
Posted by: Kreativlink | May 30, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I HOPE that pen and paper would always be available. If books and notebooks ever seem archaic, hopefully they would always be available for the person who still loves them. There are still people listening to 72s on a turntable and driving stingray convertibles but I don't think it will be that rare. If you want to make a billion dollars you'll create a way to make recycled paper at home. Things like that will lessen the concern about paper, also you don't need trees to make paper. I hear hemp really is a valuable fiber, you can make paper out of all kinds of things. They'll always have SOMETHING. You can't get every artist to do all of their sketching on a handheld device. I think it's much more likely that you'll can READ anything in the world on something like kindle. You may never need a phone book. But I bet you can buy a Moleskine when we no longer use paper for money: It's too bad we don't know enough about being cryogenically frozen so that we could make that bet and see what happens.
ALSO: We can't guess at just what will be available in computerized things. 20 years ago nobody was online. It could become so that a digital device feels a lot like paper. Say the thing can analyze your handwrting (on a very cool stylus) and immediately translate it into text, or your Moley says, "Sir, I think cotton fiber would be appropriate here. Love notes really should be handwritten." And then she shoots out some beautiful paper, the stylus doubles as a fountain pen, you tell the voice recognition software on your "notebook", "I'd really like to hear Iris Dement." On the digital front, 100 years is a LONG TIME.
I myself have never owned a Pilot or an iphone type thing and I've never had a cell phone either but I think it will be kind of fun.
Posted by: Sophie Brown | May 30, 2009 at 03:34 PM
The answer to this depends I think on a number of issues. What do you want to record? How much needs to be recorded? The environment in which recording takes place. How important is the integrity of the data? Is the project a collaborative one? Does the data need to be manipulated using a computer e.g. numerical in Excel or easily printed or e mailed? Does the volume of date and the work lend itself to easier searching using IT.
David Starkey the historian still uses the 4000 index cards he wrote for his post graduate research. In my own case as part of a new start up I am am using an A4 bound notebook with the pages numbered and entries dated. My experience over many years in an environment where accountability was important tells me that this is a secure and ethical methodology.
On the other hand a lot of my research involves the internet and the ability to use IT to collect, collate and search this data.
This completely ignores the personal preferences such as the tactile experience of paper and pen.
So my answer is that there is space for a variety of solutions and what people use will depend on their preferences and the needs of the task / project in question.
Posted by: Kanus | May 30, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Digital devices have their place, just like paper.
Digital might be "taking over" and emerging with all sorts of new features, but it will never replace paper for journaling or some art. Paper is a medium, as is digital. Paper is simple, doesn't crash, doesn't need upgrading. Paper has been around for centuries, and will continue to be. Digital can't last like that, unless you constantly backup data and convert file types to new devices/software.
People could've asked this a 100 years ago. What will the typewriter do? What will mainframes the sizes of houses cause? Will a new type of mechanical pen that's replacing my pen and ink quill make paper a thing of the past? The answer then was no, and the answer now is no. People inclined to write or do art on paper will continue to do so, and paper now, 100 years ago, and 100 years from now, is what it is-- plain old paper.
By the way, if you take a look at technological and science predictions from decades before now, many were way off. Digital will change, and have crazy few features. Paper doesn't change or need to change like that. It's paper. The size, color, texture, or brand of paper may change, but at the end of the day, it's paper.
Posted by: c34 | May 30, 2009 at 04:44 PM
I truly hope notebooks and pens are always around. There is something about holding a pen/pencil in your hand and letting your thoughts pour out on the page in whatever form they take. The stream of consciousness comes quick and I can never seem to get what is in my head out fast enough. With the typing I stop and correct my spelling, grammar, whatever and try to make things perfect. It stops the stream. I love the plain books and can embellish with drawings and other visual items that make it so personal and unique. Plus I've owned several computers that have been nice, but never provided the inspiration or joy, like when I purchased and used a Moleskine.
Posted by: Madame Purl | May 30, 2009 at 09:11 PM
There is a common misconception that because people take on the digital age that they autaomatically stop using analogue. They each have their place and their function. For me it's like saying that because people buy cars, bicycles will become obsolete or because it's quicker to cook things in a microwave, people will stop using cookers or going out for meals.
I currently own an uber-computer (for gaming), a Macbook Pro (for work), a Samsung NC10 netbook (for convenience & traveling) and an iPhone 3g 16gb. I use each of them every single day and don't know how I survived without any of them.
I still carry my notebook everywhere I go.
Posted by: Geek girl | May 31, 2009 at 08:22 AM
Geek Girl: I don't think analogue will ever be replaced. But maybe more people think that who are thus far not so digital. Personally I was left behind about 5 years ago, so I have to play catchup right now and it's not all that much fun.
Posted by: Sophie Brown | May 31, 2009 at 01:36 PM
> There is a common misconception that because people take on the digital age that they autaomatically stop using analogue. <
True.
I've been researching handwriting (history of, letterforms in, glyphs and typefaces of, teaching of, and the non-teaching of) and I've been astounded by reading reports from elementary schools where the teachers claim there simply is no time to teach (nor interest in)handwriting. They concentrate only on keyboarding.
Next time you're at your library, see "Script and Scribble, the history of handwriting" by Kitty Burns Florey.
david boise ID
Posted by: david bogie | May 31, 2009 at 05:03 PM
They say that about recess and art and PE and all manner of other things and still we managed just fine. The schoolday isn't shorter. I don't see why teachers can't make third and fourth graders practice their cursive while doing vocabulary and book reports. That's what they did with us. And still we used computers and learned to type.
Posted by: Sophie Brown | May 31, 2009 at 09:14 PM
I think this may be a question we need to take to focus groups of 11-year-olds. Are there kids who aren't using notebooks to write things down in school yet? Probably, but at this point that might still be reserved for people of greater means who can afford the gadgets to be so ubiquitous. As long as generations are still growing up with notebooks, that is what they will continue to want to use, I suspect. Someone who grew up taking a laptop to class might tell a different story.
Posted by: Kim | June 01, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Why not have both? e.g. I often look at tv or screencasts and take some notes. Later I put them in evernote or whatever. There are PLENTY of reasons to do things with BOTH.
Posted by: Henrik | June 01, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Actually, the Internet was "created" in 1958 with APRAnet and the Web in 1989. It didn't grow in popularity until decades later, clearly. 20 years later, and we're still using our paper notebooks, and paper still is vital.
Paper will always be around. People use it in varying degrees, sociocultural shifts affect the usage of any item (for example, nearly no one uses a horse and buggy for transportation today).
Just because kids are more inclined to use the internet, video games, and other tech gadgets doesn't mean that some won't also like paper. Kids still like coloring books, drawing on "real" paper, and completing assignments on paper. I have yet to see one elementary school with assignments solely online, with no hard copy used in class or for homework. Many teachers still use composition notebooks to assign journals or writing tasks... yes, on paper.
None of us know how technology will change, or how the production/composition/usage of paper will be in the future. But, clearly paper will always be a product. It might be used for art, whether personal or school, but
Posted by: c34 | June 01, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Still I think that maybe they should start with the typing and internet in 4th grade, after everyone has learned cursive, and then they should keep journals in class, and then type other things.
The other thing really is what most people would say--when they get too interested in gaming and whatever else, these kids need to get outside and play a little more. Of course people have said forever too.
Posted by: Sophie Brown | June 02, 2009 at 10:11 AM
The Future
That is a loaded question to some. I grew up with the pen and paper so for certain things I hope it never goes out out style. I couldn't ever see myself using a PDA type instrument in place of my Moleskine daily planner. The idea is simply horrific to me.
That said I think for a lot of tasks going paperless makes great sense. Keeping records for a doctor, businesses, storing data but for personal use I NEED to physically write in my planner and journals. I do keep an online blog but it's just not the same for me. It's more of a social tool more than anything. My planner and journals are personal...
Posted by: katiya | June 11, 2009 at 05:04 AM
The digital record and electronic devices are for the foreseeable 5 or 10 decades here to stay. As for the notebooks well they are already quickly becoming a niche product. Laptops and smart phones, digital pens and smart boards/tablet pc's and intereactive lcd displays for the modern information age will gain momentum and see expanded use and adoption in countries as prices continue to decline.
The notebook will continue its place in classrooms and in backpacks of adventurists for another 50 years.
But I can think back to my social studies of elementary school clay tablets, papyrus scrolls, clay pots, all at one time a civilizations common place way to record history, culture, ideas etc. All now the dominion of museums. Oddly enough, I see Moleskine displays discussed in these discussion threads so it seems efforts to ready the curators of tomorrow to accept the notebook in places other than the national archives of a country are in hand.
Posted by: Robert Maguire | November 07, 2009 at 07:56 AM