Writing

Imagine if you were working with a robot that could leave you written messages, or draw diagrams to explain concepts. Such a scenario has come a step closer to reality, as a university student has taught a robot how to copy what we write, and what we draw.

​Four years ago, New York/Detroit-based startup Astrohaus released the Freewrite, a "smart" electronic typewriter designed for distraction-free writing. Now, the company is crowdfunding the 50-percent smaller and lighter Traveler laptop – and its big selling point is what it CAN'T do.

​In a comment piece in Nature, astrophysicist and author Mario Livio discusses a recently rediscovered 1939 essay by Sir Winston Churchill in which he discusses the possibility of life on other planets and the exploration of the Solar System.

With the humble handwritten signature still the most commonly used form of biometric used to verify someone's identity, researchers have developed software that leverages the motion detection capabilities of a smartwatch to verify a signature as it is written.

Researchers have used an algorithm to analyze Shakespeare's writing style and some of his contemporaries, and determined which of his plays were likely collaborations and with whom. For the first time, an upcoming scholarly collection will credit Christopher Marlowe as co-author on Henry VI.

The Boogie Board line of e-writers has expanded its stable with two new models, the Jot 4.5 with Clearview and the Scribble n’ Play. Like other Boogie Boards, both use cholesteric liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, which allows users to easily write and erase with the press of a button.

The Smart Writing Set is Moleskine's latest crack at combining digital and analogue note taking tech to concoct the ideal experience for creatives looking for an alternative to scribbling on an iPad Pro or Galaxy Note tablet.

Richard Mille has turned its precision mechanical watchmaking skills to a fountain pen. The US$105,000 RMS05 runs off a self-winding Swiss movement to extend the hand-polished 18K white-gold nib automatically from the barrel at the press of a button.

Sometimes you may want to keep a digital record of your notes or sketches. If you haven't got access to a computer or you'd simply prefer to use a pen, however, digitizing your content can be problematic. The new Orée Stylograph pen, however, will digitize what you write or draw as you go.

A designer has created a rechargeable pen that can use any staining material as ink. Jessica Chan wanted to offer a non-disposable, environmentally-friendly option to people who like handwriting, drawing, etc. The pen is modular, easy to clean and uses a simple twist refill system.

A cheap but tough new electronic paper display can be written on with a magnet. It could be used in low-cost, lightweight electronic whiteboards as well as traditional classroom blackboards, and its creators hope that it will eventually reduce our dependence on real paper.

The latest book to join a growing library of digitally inspired writing platforms is Rocketbook, and it does so with an interesting twist. Further to shooting handwritten notes and doodles to the cloud, when it fills up users can stick the book in the microwave to wipe its pages clean.