blog.google: As a researcher on the Artificial Intelligence User Experience team (AIUX) at Google, I spend a lot of time thinking about technology’s role in creativity. Over the past year, I've been interviewing folks about creativity, idea generation and the technology they use, and one little comment always made it into every conversation: “I prefer paper.”
21 comments:
I've always considered myself the kind of artist that enjoys traditional over digital artwork. Ever since I got an iPad I've been more inclined to use it instead of my sketchbook because of how easy it is to just pick up and draw, but I always say that I enjoy drawing on paper more. I've always wondered why that was, and reading this article, I saw a lot of the opinions expressed within myself. Whenever I am writing down ideas or sketching on a sticky note and I end up not liking it, I throw it over my shoulder in a very dramatic fashion. There is something so satisfying about it! I also like hearing my pencil on paper, it probably has about the same satisfaction as ASMR does for other people. Also, I learn to draw with pencil and paper so my comfort level with using a pencil in many different ways is much more than my ability to use a drawing program. When it comes to writing, however, I probably like paper better purely because I cannot type fast.
I love paper, I love sticky notes, I love bullet journals, and I love the feel of writing things down. Typing is by far faster and more efficient but it doesn't have the same impact as paper. Over the summer, I switched to using an Ipad and an apple pencil to try and reduce my paper usage and for the convenience of storage. I got a screen protector that makes the iPad feel more like paper and I have loved using my iPad for note-taking. It is a happy medium between computer note-taking and physical writing on paper. I still feel like there is a difference between using physical paper and the iPad but the technology has some added benefits to the paper and pencil. Although, I still care around small notebooks and pens to write down thoughts and ideas every once in a while so I can still get the feel of physical note-taking. I find that when I type things out I get a lot down but then find it daunting to look back through all the notes, whereas with my handwritten notes they are more interesting to look at and have been curated to only capture the important topics at hand (because the writing process is slower than the typing process)
I love paper. I write letters by hand, notes by hand, and I do all of my readings on physical pieces of paper. For me it is really helpful to have somewhat that I can hold and arrange in my space. It is much more tangible and easier to use in my opinion. I love the satisfaction of writing on paper, especially since I use fountain pens. I feel that if I write something on paper or read it on paper I remember it better, and there have been studies proving this. If I write on an iPad or type on my computer it simply is not the same. I almost feel as if my brain works in different ways depending on the medium I am using to write or type. With all of the digital writing options, it is interesting to me that a large majority of my friends all choose to take notes the "old-fashioned" way with paper and pen. I also like being able to do little doodles or things in the margins as well as draw pictures for my notes which is more difficult to do digitally.
I had a conversation with a classmate about this just earlier today– I am a hardcore hand-write things down kind of person. It's the best way for me to comprehend the notes I am taking and remember what is going on. It sounds weird, but I can tell when that is helping me understand the concepts I am working with, I almost feel it. Obviously, I’m used to using a computer for things and typing out homework or other assignments. But, for note taking and planning I need a pen and paper (or rocketbook, those work well too!). Something feels less constrained and more free flowing to me. It’s an adjustment to learn virtually as well, and in a similar way doing something like learning new software via Zoom is incredibly difficult for me to get my brain to understand because it can be difficult to listen, try to replicate on your own machine, and take notes all at once (switching between apps on a laptop too, just adds to the frustration). I’m always trying new note-taking systems but hand-writing is always my go-to.
I've been moving towards a more digital way of approaching many of the things I used to do on paper, but I still find myself reaching for a legal pad just for the flexibility that it provides me. Oftentimes, digital note taking can be quicker, easier to find later, and ultimately more helpful down the road, but I find that I feel much better being able to put ideas down in a non linear format that computer-based notes systems just don't allow me. Crossing things off, drawing circles and arrows to connect ideas, seeing the idea grow and morph is just something that doesn't feel the same or right at all when typing. I got an iPad over the summer, and this has been a good in between for me, to keep things in a digital format accessible from all of my devices wherever I am, but keep the feeling of writing and non linearity that I can't get from a laptop.
I have always preferred working with paper. Unless I am annotating slides, I take notes on paper. I print out almost every reading assignment. Even when I take notes online, I use a stylus and write them digitally. I love watching the ink of my favorite pens as they form my notes onto the page. I find this article especially interesting as it was written by someone who works in the user experience department of the Artificial Intelligence field. I find that I learn better in writing on paper than online. Paper is fast and rewarding, as this says, but I do find that it is easier to organize and change notes virtually. I do wonder if the shift towards computers will eventually result in differences in the brain, but so far, I am happy with my own balance between paper and computer. Each has their advantages and every user has to find what works best for them.
I loved this short article! This feels similar to the physical books vs. kindle debate I often see. I too, find I prefer to use paper in a number of situations. I only recently made the transfer to using my computer for my assignments and as a calendar, and it took a lot of getting used to. As this article says, paper IS rewarding. And for specific tasks, I haven’t been able to give up what paper offers me.
I find that I prefer to type most long-form assignments, (which feels a bit self explanatory as to why… holding a pencil for a long time hurts, and it’s not nearly as organized or clean.) However, whenever I draft an idea for a project, I always go to paper. And if I’m on the go, I might take a note on my phone just to transfer it to paper again when I get back home. I’m also not familiar with creating art on an electronic device, so I will sketch / realize a design on paper. (I’ve only used illustrator once to conceptualize a design so far, and it was a lot more learning than creating.) I guess what I’m saying is that while I love using my computer for essays, specific notes, etc., there is something that will always be so magical about writing on paper.
I think I'm definitely in the middle of the paper vs digital debate. I enjoy both mediums to almost an equal degree but when it comes down to it I will reach for paper first if what I'm trying to do requires more thought. I think my personal opinions on the two align heavily with the speed differences referenced in the article. I like paper more for things I have to think out. If I have to code trace or do math it's always paper but if there's a note I need to remember for later I'd rather have it digital. Even when I take notes I have different preferences for different subjects but I think that has more to do with my hand's ability to more dexterously convey things on paper. Drafting notes for instance I can't imagine doing digitally but English, history, or other classes that are more about words and memory I have no problem with. I think in recent years I've had a tendency to go for digital just for the ease of rearranging my thoughts. The ability to copy and paste and reformat things just makes digital so much easier and generally more readable for future me.
The discussion of paper vs. computer is one that has been going on for a while and I remember when I was in elementary school, computers were the way of the future so all the high school students took notes on them in class. Once I reached high school, laptops were all but banned from the classroom unless you had a really good reason because the research showed that paper note-taking made you remember stuff better. I have not seen any information on this, but a lot of my classmates use iPads and a stylus to take notes so they are “writing”, but they don’t have to keep track of notebooks or paper and they aren't wasting resources. Presumably that form of note-taking exists somewhere in the middle between using a laptop and taking notes on paper. Although I’ve never found an efficient use for sticky notes because my work station has to be portable, I did really like the authors idea of “three dimensional” sticky notes in which ideas are stacked so as not to take up extra room.
I was mildly aware of my transition from the paper (analog) works to digital ons but I never really gave a deep thought to it. When I was younger, it felt so awkward to draw with tablets, but now I only draw with my laptop unless I’m outside, want to doodle or do some quick croquis drawings. There are certainly disadvantages in using papers. One of the things being occupying space as it really hard to keep the working space neat when you have multiple drafts of notes and drawings. I think one of the biggest challenges that people have with digital devices is the process of getting used to it, but once you get all the shortcut keys or functions of the programs, it gets extremely quicker and convenient (you could never ctrl + z when you are drawing on your paper). However, although I am more towards preferring digital devices than using papers, I do not think that the paper will ever be completely fully replaced by the digital tools.
I am a heavy employer of both paper and digital media for various things. I have turned to digital note-taking for all of my classes and assignments, but still in a handwritten format on apps that act as notepads. A lot of the time, when I am writing things down or doodling ideas, it's more about what is close at hand than it is about picking a specific medium. I will say, paper has thus far been irreplaceable in terms of the texture it offers. Writing and drawing and sketching on an iPad will never really beat writing and drawing and sketching on paper with pencil. The resistance is way different and paper is just more satisfying that way. However, I think digital is more convenient in terms of searching up notes, transform, sorting, et cetera though. In some ways paper will never beat digital, and in others, digital will never beat paper.
It brings me such joy that man who has a PhD and spends his time researching AI and technology keeps getting told be people how great paper is. It just feels like a cosmic joke on Google. That being said, I completely agree. I have post-it notes on my desk that I use to keep track of my assignments. I have that problem with object permeance so if a reminder or a note is in a file or a doc it might as well not exist. However, a post-it note on my wall is an instant reminder of what I need to get done. Also, for anything spatial or design, there is no easier way to convey an idea than with a quick sketch. Whether it’s a map for D&D or a set design, if I try to figure out what I want something to look like at the same that I’m trying to figure out how to use whatever software to make it happen, it’s going to be so much harder.
Although I am also a paper person, I think there is an argument to be made for computers. The article mentioned how non-committal paper is but I would like to disagree. When I write something down on paper it feels permanent, now that it is there it will become unmovable. When I write on my computer, however, it gives me more flexibility to do what I want. I can go back and edit with ease without having to leave white-out or eraser marks on my paper. I can highlight and un-highlight phrases, I can play around with the layout, amongst other things. If you have the right skills, you can pretty much have all the freedom in the world. Technology I think has given us more of a reason to rethink how we use paper and why we do it. If you have a computer, why write notes? If you have a tablet, why pull out the sketchbook? Choosing one over the other gives us more flexibility, because instead of being forced to use paper we actively seek it, making it all more enjoyable.
In every part of my life I try very consciously to be as environmentally-friendly as I can be, and to be as conscious of a consumer as possible. But when it comes to paper, I am the absolute worst. And as much as I might try to go digital, I do not see myself changing in this regard any time soon. I carry a notebook with me everywhere I go, and I have a stack of past notebooks in my room that essentially serve as a history of the past few years of my life, lists scribbled out, notes from the day, moments of journaling, you name it I have put it in a notebook. I do not think any digital medium can replace the instinct to reach for paper. I was talking with a classmate earlier today about this actually, and I think the paper vs digital debate is really interesting. I wonder if we are the last generation that will have this debate because as much as it is our instinct to reach for paper, will people start to defer to digital mediums for everything?
I’m a fan of using paper. I have a pile of sticky notes, a small journal I take everywhere, notebooks for all my classes, and more. That’s not to say that I don’t use digital technology because I do and heavily rely on it for many assignments. I just keep paper a part of the process. When I need to come up with ideas for a project, I always start on paper. I like how it’s easy to sketch on but it takes more effort to edit which is what I do way too much. When I’m typing on the computer it is so easy to erase everything I just wrote down because it’s not “good enough” even though editing should come later. With paper and a pen you are forced to just let it out without self editing. Many times I am able to form great ideas because I didn’t hold myself back.
In high school, we always got a specific script made for our one act play, complete with pictures of the original production on the front, graphics for us to use when drawing out our process, and lots of space for notes. I’m talking script on the left, lined paper on the right, for every page. When I look back through my scripts, these are my favorite ones. I wrote EVERYTHING down, but it’s all in my own words and in my own formatting. My notes still make sense to me and I can follow them clearly. I remember most of them, too. This is what I find irreplaceable with writing. We do all of our prompt scripts online, because it’s way easier, but I find that I can’t remember what our shows looked like before the finished product when I only type. Writing engrains things into my memory, and it helps me generate ideas when I come to a problem. For this reason, I will always use paper. I’ll type things up for a final copy of an essay, but a paper and pencil with forever be my go-to.
I am a huge proponent of the physical medium- I take handwritten notes because I think they help me understand more in class and process the things I need to write, and I prefer physical books because there is something so gratifying about turning an actual page and being able to see your progress as you read. This subject is honestly personal to me because one of my dad’s most strongly held beliefs is that you should always be reading a physical book, and I was raised going to the library every weekend and picking out new things to read. Paper to me not only has its practical uses but also provides that familiarity and comfort to me. As an artist as well, I much prefer working non-digitally. When I do work digitally, it is to enhance work I have done physically or add to physical pieces. I find I have much more control over movements and my perception of the whole piece when I am able to work with my hands and take a step back to view the bigger picture.
I have definitely been a pen-and-paper person for most of my life. When I first got my laptop and started using it, it was like a new toy, so very exciting to have this little fifteen-inch piece of aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, and silicon that could do so many wonderful and incredible things. Don’t get me wrong – I still love my laptop and (especially now) still use it every day, but when I have the opportunity, I still like to resort back to pen and paper. In the early days of having my laptop, I was using it for everything I could, whether necessary or not. That being said, I have found that I much prefer the traditional pen and paper. I never really was able to articulate why this was, but even now, when school is all online and most assignments are submitted virtually through sites such as Canvas, if I can, I will still do the assignment on a sheet of paper, scan it, and upload the resulting pdf as my submission. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think its really just about the physicality of a piece of paper and ink which I created that I can pick up and physically interact with, whereas documents I write on my laptop, such as this very comment, is nothing but a string of ones and zeros of electricity zooming through gold contacts and silicon chips on my laptop.
This difference between digital creation and pen and paper creation is a very interesting topic, especially as the pandemic has forced us to move into a partial/ complete digital age in our work, art and livelihoods. I identify as a kinetic learner so I guess I have always preferred to hold an actual drawing utensil and paper to either create art or write, but there are some undeniable benefits to making work digitally. In terms of writing and drawing, It gives so many opportunities to edit erase or copy your work, an option which is not available when you write physically. Yet what I think makes drawing and writing in physical paper so appealing is that you do not get all of the chances to fix your work that you would if it were digital, so it gives the work you produce more weight and value. It is interesting to consider how this affects our own learning, expecially give the studies that show that hand notetakers perform better on exams than laptop note takers.
This year, I have gotten an iPad that I take all my notes on, and I no longer have a need for notebooks, pencils, erasing, and everything that goes into paper writing. As the world turns more digital, it is something that I have increasingly noticed, just even from people watching. However, I still have a love for writing down a schedule or a to do list quickly onto a paper. When writing on an iPad, I suppose it would take the same amount of time as writing on paper, but it doesn’t. You can erase your last stroke with just a tap, and don’t need to erase the whole word. If you run out of space or write something where you don’t want it, you can just move it! However, as the article discussed, there is a lot more thoughtfulness that goes into writing because it is slow. I find myself being able to write many thorougher essays timed and in person writing rather than having an unlimited amount of time typing.
I think I might be the only person at the entire university that prefers digital mediums to paper in most cases. I literally don't think I could go back to taking notes by hand if I tried. Typing notes makes it so much easier for me to organize, re arrange, spell check, emphasis, delete, insert, the list goes on. For me, paper just doesn't have the versatility that taking notes virtually has. Digital mediums also make it so much easier to share and collaborate on work. I don't know how I ever collaborated live before the google suite. I still do love creating art by hand as I love the process surrounding it. But this is one of the few examples in which I would personally have any debate about choosing paper over computer. I’m sure scientifically people are more likely to remember things if they write them down on paper, but for me I am happy to sacrifice that to gain all of the vital benefits I see in my digital work space.
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